finishing leather-- oil over Resoline?

[inkfountain]

I'm making shoes. I am using milled veg-tan leather because this is what my teacher uses & I'm following along until I choose to make a different decision. I am going to dye the leather, but then I have to waterproof it. I bought some Fiebing's Resoline, which is an acrylic-based waterproofer that the sales person recommended because it will keep the leather supple and protect the dye while waterproofing. When I bought it, I didn't realize it was acrylic. Will the leather still accept regular shoe water-proofing after this? I usually Sno-Proof or mink-oil or some other oil-based protectant.

Thanks!

[chuck123wapati]

 Best thing to do is try it on some scrap then you will have first hand knowledge that you can reliably use and share. 

[Doc Reaper]

No it will not accept oil thru the resoline! It is a sealer

[tsunkasapa]

I don't use Resoline on anything, but I would think that it would seal the surface from accepting any oil afterwards.

[inkfountain]

  On 11/18/2022 at 6:38 PM, Doc Reaper said:

No it will not accept oil thru the resoline! It is a sealer

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What would you use instead? I should have asked before I bought the stuff...

[chuck123wapati]

  On 11/18/2022 at 7:25 PM, inkfountain said:

What would you use instead? I should have asked before I bought the stuff...

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They are shoes right? clear shoe polish over your favorite water proofing.

[inkfountain]

  On 11/18/2022 at 8:54 PM, chuck123wapati said:

They are shoes right? clear shoe polish over your favorite water proofing.

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  On 11/18/2022 at 3:27 PM, chuck123wapati said:

 Best thing to do is try it on some scrap then you will have first hand knowledge that you can reliably use and share. 

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Thanks! I have everything I need for that! Nothing special for veg-tan then?
I'd try it on scrap first, as I'd love to share the answer, but then I'd have to open the Resoline. As it is, I can return it. 

I know that people paint leather shoes with acrylic paints. I wonder what happens after that. That experiment I can do on my own, tho. I have acrylics.

 

[Dwight]

  On 11/18/2022 at 2:36 PM, inkfountain said:

I'm making shoes. I am using milled veg-tan leather because this is what my teacher uses & I'm following along until I choose to make a different decision. I am going to dye the leather, but then I have to waterproof it. I bought some Fiebing's Resoline, which is an acrylic-based waterproofer that the sales person recommended because it will keep the leather supple and protect the dye while waterproofing. When I bought it, I didn't realize it was acrylic. Will the leather still accept regular shoe water-proofing after this? I usually Sno-Proof or mink-oil or some other oil-based protectant.

Thanks!

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In one word . . . no . . . 

Resolene is an excellent product if applied correctly for a particular purpose.  I use it on 90+% of belts I make . . . same for holsters . . . gunbelts . . . knife sheaths . . . 

It is just the berries for products that are molded . . . and you want something to help the molding stay molded . . . it's great for that.

I made a book carrier for a college student once and used resolene on it . . . and it became way too stiff for it's intended purpose.  She hung on to it . . . tossed a flower arrangement in it . . . took it to the county fair . . . won a whole handful of ribbons with it . . . because it held up the flowers . . . 

But in answer to using it . . .  make it the last thing you put on the leather item you are making with the exception of shoe polish.  I would never have thought twice about my shoes in the military if I'd had resolene . . . shoe polish over it makes one super shine. . . . 

May God bless, 

Dwight

[inkfountain]

  On 11/19/2022 at 1:05 AM, Dwight said:

In one word . . . no . . . 

Resolene is an excellent product if applied correctly for a particular purpose.  I use it on 90+% of belts I make . . . same for holsters . . . gunbelts . . . knife sheaths . . . 

It is just the berries for products that are molded . . . and you want something to help the molding stay molded . . . it's great for that.

I made a book carrier for a college student once and used resolene on it . . . and it became way too stiff for it's intended purpose.  She hung on to it . . . tossed a flower arrangement in it . . . took it to the county fair . . . won a whole handful of ribbons with it . . . because it held up the flowers . . . 

But in answer to using it . . .  make it the last thing you put on the leather item you are making with the exception of shoe polish.  I would never have thought twice about my shoes in the military if I'd had resolene . . . shoe polish over it makes one super shine. . . . 

May God bless, 

Dwight

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Great info! Thanks for making me resolute in my decision not to use it. I like my shoes of somewhat pliable and floppy leather, more for comfort and warmth than for protecting my feet from chainsaw cuts and falling objects. 

[Dwight]

  On 11/19/2022 at 1:51 AM, inkfountain said:

Great info! Thanks for making me resolute in my decision not to use it. I like my shoes of somewhat pliable and floppy leather, more for comfort and warmth than for protecting my feet from chainsaw cuts and falling objects. 

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Make sure you post those shoes . . .  we need to see good things like that.

I'm making a pair of "sort of" moccasins maybe this winter . . . cutting the tops off a pair of my worn out favorite tennis shoes . . . adding buffalo suede tops . . . if I can figure out how to do it.  My feet are cold abuot 330 or so days a year . . . want to try and change that a bit.

May God bless,

Dwight

[EBoston]

I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I'm planning to refinish a pair of leather boots, deglazing and staining w/ Fiebings dye (link to boots FYI, mine are light grey). I'm considering using Resolene to seal them, but I'm wondering about conditioning down the road. I live in New England and between snow and road salt my shoes take a beating. If I use Resolene, do I risk the leather drying out / cracking underneath it with no way to recondition? And this there a risk that the Resolene will wear off unevenly over time? 

What's the best way to protect these post-dying so that they stay flexible, keep the color sealed in, and achieve some level of water resistance (waterproof not 100% necessary)?

Read a few other blogs/posts suggesting deglaze > dye > conditioner > carnauba wax (instead of Resolene) - would this be a good route? THANK YOU!

[chuck123wapati]

  On 12/14/2022 at 9:23 PM, EBoston said:

I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I'm planning to refinish a pair of leather boots, deglazing and staining w/ Fiebings dye (link to boots FYI, mine are light grey). I'm considering using Resolene to seal them, but I'm wondering about conditioning down the road. I live in New England and between snow and road salt my shoes take a beating. If I use Resolene, do I risk the leather drying out / cracking underneath it with no way to recondition? And this there a risk that the Resolene will wear off unevenly over time? 

What's the best way to protect these post-dying so that they stay flexible, keep the color sealed in, and achieve some level of water resistance (waterproof not 100% necessary)?

Read a few other blogs/posts suggesting deglaze > dye > conditioner > carnauba wax (instead of Resolene) - would this be a good route? THANK YOU!

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use your favorite shoe care products on your shoes. no need to overthink this.