Annoying Tokonole effect...

[AWORKOFMARC]

Not liking this wrinkle effect when the inside of leather, treated with Tokonole, is bent inward toward itself -- it wrinkles. The bare leather looks better than that outcome.

Am I using too much? Burnishing too hard? Can 120 grit rough it up again to lose the wrinkles?  Every color does it and I'm sick of it. Is there another way to finish the inside that does not have that effect? Tragacanth?

 

[Simplejack1985]

Experiment. I like to get leather that has a finished flesh side for wallets and other things I'm not going to line.

[AWORKOFMARC]

Thanks. I was just hoping someone could short cut the learning curve.  Clearly my experiment of trying to "finish" the inside failed... back to the Lab.

[Hags]

That leather looks pretty "furry". Don't know what would get it to slick up. I tend to go with Hermann Oak because it's usually not hairy on the inside. Good luck.

[LeatherLegion]

Under the burnished surface , you still have a "spongy" substrate . If you don't have a high fiber density on the flesh side , you can't really do much about it

[Goldshot Ron]

I agree with Jack.  I recommend purchasing shoulders with pasted backs.  However, another product you can use is Fiebing's Leather Balm with atom wax.  I use it on the backside of stirrup fenders.  Once in a great while, you may have to slick it with a glass slicker to lay the fibers down, but with a few coats it gives you a nice surface.

[TomE]

I use this flexible, water based adhesive to replace the pasted back of bridle leather after splitting.  I dilute it 50:50 with water and use a glass slicker to work it into the flesh side.  They sell it in 1 qt bottles as well.   https://campbell-randall.com/product/sup-bt639-g-leather-finish-for-sealing-flesh-side-moss-back-suede-1-gal  

Edited December 2, 2023 by TomE

[AWORKOFMARC]

52 minutes ago, TomE said:

I use this flexible, water based adhesive to replace the pasted back of bridle leather after splitting.  I dilute it 50:50 with water and use a glass slicker to work it into the flesh side.  They sell it in 1 qt bottles as well.   https://campbell-randall.com/product/sup-bt639-g-leather-finish-for-sealing-flesh-side-moss-back-suede-1-gal  

 

Ah.. thanks. I'll look into the stuff.  see if they have any smaller sizes. Update. Nope.

So does that mean this leather was split? I am feeling now like maybe I got a little taken --with my novice stupidity not knowing good form bad?  The distressed side looks beautiful --but if they're selling split leather w/o being up front --that's pretty shady no?

This is the stuff I bought -- but I bought a whole side. https://www.ebay.com/itm/266400282454?hash=item3e06b1b756:g:P6cAAOSw-rxk9kkE

 

Thanks everyone -- new to the forum so it's nice that you all are so helpful!

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by AWORKOFMARC

[AWORKOFMARC]

Crazy depressing. I've spent $250. on leather now that I can't use to start making wallets and I can't return...

[Simplejack1985]

2 hours ago, AWORKOFMARC said:

Crazy depressing. I've spent $250. on leather now that I can't use to start making wallets and I can't return...

Yeah that stuff looks like it's super spongy. I'd find some herman oak or horween for wallets. Use that to make tooling bags, shop apron and various other things you find you need along the way. I bought 2 sides of like 12oz horween chromexel when I started. It took awhile to find uses and things to make. Turns out 12oz is way to thick for a wallet.

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by Simplejack1985