HeyMikey22 Report post Posted July 9 (edited) Hello, I've been making a few guitar straps from veg tan and would like to look into adding some type lining to the underside. It seems like chrome tan or suede might be softer without making them stiffer but I'm concerned about finishing the edges. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated! Mike Edited July 9 by HeyMikey22 Adding pic... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted July 9 @SUP, didn’t you experiment a while back with finishing chrome tan edges? Can’t remember where that thread is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyMikey22 Report post Posted July 9 That wasn't me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted July 9 (edited) @Mablung yes I did. I use edge paint on chrome tanned leather edges.. That thread did not really go anywhere. I was just talking about what I did and why. Edited July 9 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted July 9 (edited) 30 minutes ago, HeyMikey22 said: Any tips or suggestions are appreciated! Essentially, when finishing veg-tanned leather edges, we burnish and rub the leather down to get a burnished look. That is not possible with chrome tanned leather, where you build up the lowest section of each edge to meet the highest points. You do it in layers, applying thin layers of edge paint and sanding it down. You sand it so that the edge paint on the highest section gets rubbed off while the paint on the lowest section that you are trying to build up, remains unchanged. In this way you build up until everything is of one height. It is like if you baked a cake and it has a depression in the center, you will fill the depression with icing. If the icing gets onto the non-depressed areas, you will wipe it off because you do not want it all to increase in height, only the depression. Once the depressions is gone and the entire cake is level, then you will ice the whole thing. Same principle applies here. All this is only necessary if your cuts are less than perfect as mine invariably are! There is usually at least one section which gives me a headache. Not sure whether I am clear or just obfuscating the issue even more! The link below is for the thread that @Mablung mentioned above. https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/113745-edge-finishing-chrome-tanned-leather/?tab=comments#comment-736828 Edited July 9 by SUP Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyMikey22 Report post Posted July 9 Thanks SUP, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyMikey22 Report post Posted July 10 Here is a strap I am almost finished with. I usually just dye the inside and slick it but wanted to explore other option. Thanks for the responses. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomE Report post Posted July 10 I would glue and sew the liner when sewing the strap. I normally trim the liner and finish the edges after gluing and before sewing. I have made guitar straps using 2 layers of bridle leather (6 oz + 3 oz liner). For the next guitar strap, I'll probably use the oil tanned leather shown below as a liner. It splits and sews nicely, and burnishes to blend with the bridle leather strap. The oil tan leather is from the SB Foot tannery and sold by Beiler's as "chrome tanned oiled sides." It was about 5 oz and I split the liner to ~3 oz for this belt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyMikey22 Report post Posted July 11 Thanks, I'll check that out! Nice belt by the way! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DwightT Report post Posted August 14 FWIW: I've made a couple guitar straps for friends and family. I used Crazy Horse leather for the liner, then just burnished the edges as normal. The Crazy Horse and Veg-tan burnish together just fine. /dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HeyMikey22 Report post Posted August 14 Thanks! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
