Is this anything to worry about?

[rmcninch108]

I noticed these lines in my leather briefcase I made for a friend and was wondering what caused this and is there anything to worry about.Made from 6oz. veg-tan, Fiebings Pro Dye, then Leatherbalm with Atoms wax, last rubbed in some Aussie Cream.I apologize for the newbie question, I just am worried of the long term affect it might have. Thanks for helping advance, Robert

The marble look of the dye is not what I mean, it is the wrinkle look similar to stretch marks when you look closely.

Edited May 14, 2023 by rmcninch108

[fredk]

To me that look likes 'tide' marks caused by uneven drying out of uneven applications of wet products. After some time it may reduce but it will never go away

[Bert03241]

I'm confused. Are you asking about the blotches of light and dark leather or the wrinkly lines in the leather?? If the blotches then I agree with Fred. The wrinkly lines well could be just the natural leather or could be the leather was folded or worked a lot . not sure

[rmcninch108]

It's not about the blotches of light and dark but the wrinkly lines. The leather was not folded or worked a lot. Do you think the leather could crack at those lines? 

 

Thanks so much.

 

 

[chuck123wapati]

22 minutes ago, rmcninch108 said:

It's not about the blotches of light and dark but the wrinkly lines. The leather was not folded or worked a lot. Do you think the leather could crack at those lines? 

 

Thanks so much.

 

 

what part of the hide did you cut them from?

[Bert03241]

2 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

what part of the hide did you cut them from?

could they be stretch marks? like from the belli?

[Frodo]

I have learned or rather This works for me

toss the dinners out with the trash and buy a plastic 1 gallon container and a funnel 

dip your leather in the container and use the funnel to pour the dye back in the bottle

[Frodo]

Personally, I like the look of stretch marks

gives it texture and character 

 

2 minutes ago, Frodo said:

I have learned or rather This works for me

toss the dobbers( damn auto correct).  out with the trash and buy a plastic 1 gallon container and a funnel 

dip your leather in the container and use the funnel to pour the dye back in the bottle

 

[TomE]

I would add moisture to the leather with a light coat of neatsfoot oil on the grain side.  Leave it overnight then buff thoroughly with a soft cloth. Rub the stitching with a bone folder to smooth the wrinkles, and lighten up on your thread tension (pulling up stitches) next time you sew to avoid the wavey edge.  I haven't used Fiebings Leather Balm but think it will allow the oil to penetrate.  As always, oiling might darken the leather - give it several days to even out before judging the final color.

[Dwight]

3 minutes ago, TomE said:

I would add moisture to the leather with a light coat of neatsfoot oil on the grain side.  Leave it overnight then buff thoroughly with a soft cloth. Rub the stitching with a bone folder to smooth the wrinkles, and lighten up on your thread tension (pulling up stitches) next time you sew to avoid the wavey edge.  I haven't used Fiebings Leather Balm but think it will allow the oil to penetrate.  As always, oiling might darken the leather - give it several days to even out before judging the final color.

TomE and I walk down the same street on this.  The blotches somehow are associated with needing an application of neatsfoot oil . . . and that will eliminate about 99% of that blotchy stuff. . . 

AND . . . it can help with the wrinkles.

But if you want to somehow get to zero defects in the product . . . you need to give up on leather . . . go to vinyl . . . leather will always have little defects here and there . . . and most can be worked around so the customer never notices it . . . but that is YOUR part of what has to be done.  A really thorough inspection of the leather to be used will take care of most of that.

May God bless,

Dwight

[rmcninch108]

I’m not sure which part of the hide I cut from, will pay better attention next time . I like the way the stretch marks look, just paranoid if it might crack later on . Thanks everyone for you advice ! 

[Klara]

I have quite a few wrinkly bits of leather in use. The only thing that "broke" was a boot (which I didn't make myself) - it developed a hole at the forefoot (where it bends with each step). I am pretty sure that the briefcase won't see as hard use as these boots, so I wouldn't worry about the wrinkles.

Taking good care of the leather will help (you could maybe give your friend a small pot of Aussie Cream, assuming that is some sort of leather grease?)

[rmcninch108]

Frodo, I do Dip Dye 99% "with the containers and funnel" of everything using Fiebings Pro Dye and love the results too. This piece was too large to fit the container so I spounged the Dye. TomE and Dwight, thanks for the Neatsfoot oil tip and less thread tension. I think I will try that also.After I dyed it and saw what happened I went ahead and cut a new pattern thinking it was ruined. My friend who I was making it for, loved the way it looked so I continued on. Thanks everyone for the tips and taking the  time to help me out.

Robert

[rmcninch108]

1 hour ago, Klara said:

I have quite a few wrinkly bits of leather in use. The only thing that "broke" was a boot (which I didn't make myself) - it developed a hole at the forefoot (where it bends with each step). I am pretty sure that the briefcase won't see as hard use as these boots, so I wouldn't worry about the wrinkles.

Taking good care of the leather will help (you could maybe give your friend a small pot of Aussie Cream, assuming that is some sort of leather grease?)

Thanks Klara,  that is what had me worried. Fiebings makes the "Aussie Cream" .