DwightT Report post Posted Wednesday at 03:58 PM I made this leather panel some 30+ years ago for a briefcase that I used to carry. The briefcase eventually fell apart, but I saved the panel. A while back my wife pulled it out of my storage, and she thinks I should hang it on the wall in my work space. I might do that, but since I tooled this way back before I knew anything about stains and antiquing, it's just plan with a little dye in the background. Before I hang it I'm thinking that some antiquing might make it pop and maybe hide some of the stains and watermarks that it has acquired over the years. Or maybe I should just leave it as is? What are your thoughts? /dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chuck123wapati Report post Posted Wednesday at 04:22 PM It's a testament to how far you have come, leave it as is IMO. It looks just fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted Wednesday at 04:37 PM I vote to leave it as is . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted Wednesday at 04:40 PM That's three "leave it" votes . . . May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyV Report post Posted Wednesday at 08:09 PM Make that 4 Leave It votes. That old patina has its own quality that can't be reproduced. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted Wednesday at 08:42 PM Make that a 5 count Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigBore Report post Posted Wednesday at 10:19 PM Well I’ll be the oddball. I say, put a topcoat on it, and then antique it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlZilla Report post Posted yesterday at 12:54 AM (edited) I don't see anything wrong with cleaning it and brightening it up. Museums do it to priceless oil paintings. It wouldn't change the actual work you did. Besides, water stains and grime aren't really historical artifacts. Edited yesterday at 01:06 AM by AlZilla Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
badhatter1005 Report post Posted yesterday at 03:49 AM Leave it. For sure Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DwightT Report post Posted 15 hours ago Well thanks all. I decided against antiquing, but I cleaned it up a bit with some Fiebings cleaner/conditioner, mounted it on a backer board, and hung it over my workbench. It looks good to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TonyV Report post Posted 12 hours ago Nicely done! It looks like it was made for that wall. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted 10 hours ago I'd just clean off the major surface dirt and then seal it. Try to preserve the character of the staining and antiquing of age. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gezzer Report post Posted 8 hours ago 7 hours ago, DwightT said: Well thanks all. I decided against antiquing, but I cleaned it up a bit with some Fiebings cleaner/conditioner, mounted it on a backer board, and hung it over my workbench. It looks good to me. Looks GREAT!!!!!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
