Nicolau

I've used Leather Sheen and Super Sheen, but I much prefer the results I get with Saddle Lac on a black belt. The finish is dark, glossy, and never cloudy. I usually get some white residue when I use either of the sheens I mentioned. However, I've noticed when spraying Saddle Lac, I end up with some "splotches". I try to very carefully and evenly spray the entire belt, but they always end up a little spotty. Also, I've had the Saddle Lac flake and peel off in certain "high stress" areas. I thought the stuff was made to be very durable and flexible. In any event, I really want to keep using Saddle Lac, but I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if it's just an inferior product. I've tried searching the forums, but there doesn't seem to be any topics on it. Any advice for a hard-working newb?

Thanks, guys. I'm tempted to try that, Ian. So, I don't need to buy Deglazer? This project has cost me enough as it is. I think I'm going to order some Leather Sheen (or Super Shene); is that something I could apply over the Kiwi wax I have on there now? Or is it better to just start back at the dyeing process? I'm afraid I'm going to over-saturate the leather and ruin it somehow. It's a big belt with lots of tooling in it. It *looks* really good right now, but I think I definitely need some type of top coat to seal the dye (it keeps rubbing off whenever I wipe it with a cloth). It'd be great if I could put it on over everything else I already have. Anyone else have advice for the rookie? Here is my work in progress, if anyone is interested: The pics with the black strap were taken after the second coat of dye (the plates aren't really attached yet) and before the Tan Kote fiasco.

Hi, everyone. I recently died a belt black using three coats, leaving ample time for each coat to dry. About 24 hours after the last coat I brushed on some LexolNF and wiped it off. Everything was going fairly well, though things were a little streaky. After a few hours I applied some TanKote with a crappy brush used for painting, which was really streaky and left all these tiny little hairs and fibers in the finish. I immediately panicked and tried wiping the TanKote off (or buffing it in). When that didn't work, I used some leather wipes my wife had bought me and wiped the belt down hard. That worked in getting the finish off and removing the fibers, but a ton of black came off onto the wipes, and the belt looked awful. I panicked again and used some black Kiwi shoe polish I had and buffed it in, which made it look a lot better. I'm wondering if now I need to go back and redye the whole thing as I think some of the black may have rubbed off when I wiped it down. Is it possible to remove the black dye and get down to the veg-tanned leather? I though the dye soaked right into the leather and was impossible to remove. Also, is the Kiwi polish good enough for a finish coat, or should I start over? Can I start over? Is there something I can use to strip everything off and reapply the dye? Is that a good idea? Help!!! Thanks, Mike

Wow, that looks great!

Thanks for the replies, guys. Here are some pics of what I've been up to. It's in the very early practicing stage, but I'm having a blast with it. The black piece you see was spray-paint, just because I wanted to see it in black and I haven't bought dye yet. I'm open to any and all suggestions, pointers, critiques, and secrets. I've never done anything like this before and I'm just sort of learning as I go...

154 views and 1 reply? Did I do something wrong?

Does anyone know what kind of finish might achieve that look? I'm not sure if it's a high-gloss or just a normal satin finish...

Thanks, John. I did not know that's what casing meant. With the scrap leather I'm practicing on now, I just sort of wet it as needed. It seems to be working pretty well so far. As for the sheen, I think I'll try with the spray like you mentioned. I think if I hit it with some saddle soap first, tool it, dye it, hit with neatsfoot oil and a few coats of the sheen, I should be good. It should be soft and flexible with a nice shine finish. I'd like to eventually try the Tan-Kote or Bag-Kote, but I wouldn't know which one to go with. I'd like to try 'em all, but I have to order online and I don't want to break the bank. Thanks again, Mike

Hello, everyone. My name is Mike, and I was hoping I could ask a few questions. I've been browsing the forum and you all seem very knowledgable; I've already learned a lot just from reading through the threads. Please excuse me if I'm in the wrong forum or if I'm overstepping my bounds, but I really need help. I'm currently in the process of making my own championship belts and I want to make sure I get everything just right. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what I'm trying to create: I think I'm pretty good on the tooling part, but the leather conditioners and finishes have me confused. I really like the glossy finish on the belt I posted above, so I was hoping someone might be able to help steer me in the right direction on what type of finish or polish to use. I've heard Tan Kote, Resolene, and Sheen... not sure which one would work best. Also, it's important on these belts that the leather is soft and flexible. Should I use saddle soap on the leather before I start cutting and stamping it? Do I use neatsfoot oil before or after I dye? What type of finish should I use? And one more quick question: I keep hearing the term "casing" the leather, but I'm not sure what it means. I'm using veg. tanned 7-8oz. tooling leather (sides). Is casing something I need to be concerned with? Thank you very much in advance! Mike