DavidK Report post Posted January 25 (edited) Hello! I made this leather chest piece for myself and hoped for advice on making it more resistant to scratches and knicks. Maybe this is normal, maybe this could be avoided with a better leather or treatment process? Any thoughts or advice is appreciated. Process and pictures below: Cut Shapes 5-6oz leather, shoulders Case Done pretty quickly with just sponge, wetting areas to a mild dampness before working, ill case it better next time Carve Just swivel knife on edges before beveling Stamp Checkered Bevel and Pattern Stamping NF Oil lightly applied, wasn't super uniform Dye Fiebings Pro Dye 50/50 Isopropyl Dip Dye Followed with Buffing Burnished Edges, Tokonole Acrylic Resolene on grain side Two coats Buffed vigorously between coats Tokonole on flesh side I hoped the resolene would provide a bit more protection - I can scratch it with a fingernail pretty easily. Any advice to make future builds more resilient? https://ibb.co/P4VqqkF https://ibb.co/DpYjdpb https://ibb.co/6gHD5cm Thank you! Edited January 25 by DavidK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DieselTech Report post Posted January 25 What about checking out the fiebings saddle-lac. Maybe try it on a test piece of leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted January 25 You quit too early on the Resolene . . . I have armor for my Centurion of Capernaum and the Ceaserean Centurion both of which I built . . . and multiple coats of Resolene have protected both. I haven't had any real problems with either one. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidK Report post Posted January 25 9 hours ago, Dwight said: You quit too early on the Resolene . . . I have armor for my Centurion of Capernaum and the Ceaserean Centurion both of which I built . . . and multiple coats of Resolene have protected both. I haven't had any real problems with either one. May God bless, Dwight More coats? More resolene? When ive done 3+ coats in the past i can end up with this awful streaking that doesnt buff out. Not sure how to avoid that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted January 25 3 hours ago, DavidK said: More coats? More resolene? When ive done 3+ coats in the past i can end up with this awful streaking that doesnt buff out. Not sure how to avoid that? Never had that problem . . . I use a cheap 1 inch bristle brush . . . slop it on . . . brush it up into a bit of a foam . . . brush it left / right / up / down / crossways . . . until I've brushed out the bubbles . . . never have had any streaking on anything I've ever done. AND . . . I always use it reduced 50/50 with water. May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
purplefox66 Report post Posted January 25 I have to ask what is the purpose of reducing resolene with water. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted January 25 It helps to allow it to spread more evenly and to get into the leather before it dries Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
