bruce johnson Report post Posted November 17, 2023 I'm pretty sure I have shared this method of oil application years ago but bringing it to the top again. There are several posts about applying oils - daubers, brushes, woolskin scraps. Straight line and overlapping, swirling for light applications, dipping for heavy application. After that then you get the1-4 day wait and see for the oil to even out (it will). I was doing semi-production work and didn't have that luxury to wait most of the time. I needed something to go on pretty even from the start. Here's the tip of the day - fine napped paint roller and paint tray. Pour the oil into the tray, run the roller up and down the ramp a few times with pressure to take off as much excess as you can. Roll it over your piece. Much less streaking and goes on pretty evenly. Depending on tannage, thickness, and how much oil you want - you can do multiple coats. For large areas than the width of the roller, butt your laps next to each other, you don't really need to overlap much at all. For single straps I run over them at an angle so my full width of the roller will eventually make contact the entire length. That saves stops and starts to reload. This even application really saves time and once you know your leather, you can pretty well get it right without having to reapply the next day or after. I would lay out several pieces and just roll them all at once. If had a lot of projects going I just left the paint tray sitting with the roller out of the oil. If I wasn't going to be oiling a few days I'd pour the oil back into the jug and put the roller in a ziplock. I used scrap particle board as a surface. The excess oil soaks in fast and it didn't pool and wick back into the facedown side of the leather. After weeks to months the particle board would be pretty saturated. At that point chunks of it are a dandy fire starting material. In the words of a friend, you could stack it and burn a wet mule. Hope this helps somebody! - Bruce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tsunkasapa Report post Posted November 17, 2023 Great idea! And on a smaller scale I would think painting pads would work as well. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted November 17, 2023 Thanks for this practical idea. I really enjoy learning here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dikman Report post Posted November 18, 2023 Good one, Bruce, for anyone doing quantity stuff that is a brilliant idea! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
