Flat Finish

[Ian]

Does anyone have experience with getting a flat finish - I mean flat as the rubber on a tire, flat as a BBQ grill - really flat black. I've heard that continueing to rub over the piece as the finish dries will give a flat finish, but that wouldn't neccessarily get into the tooling. I always buff the wet dye to burnish the leather, but I'd like to put a flat finish over that. Any thoughts?

Ian

[MADMAX22]

As far as flat black vinagaroon would work. I know that projects that I just used some neats foot oil and then thru on some aussie wax turned out really flat black like what your looking for. That is once the aussie wax has absorbed into the leather.

[Ian]

Thanks Maxx - that makes a lot of sense

[esantoro]

I have no idea if black Tuff Kote would work, but you may want to give Weaver leather a call and ask.

ed

[Ian]

I have no idea if black Tuff Kote would work, but you may want to give Weaver leather a call and ask.

ed

Ed, I have all of the products Weaver sells - Tuff Kote has a super high gloss

[rdb]

I'm gonna second the vinegaroon black. I was gonna jump in with this suggestion but I thought it was a standard suggestion, so I didn't. I've given up on any commercial black, there's just too much trouble involved with them. I even use the vinegaroon to dye the edges on belts. It doesn't rub off on people's clothes at all.

It can be as dull or as shiny as you want using anything from Neatlac to Atom Wax, various cremes and finishes (tan kote, bag kote, etc.). Personally, I like the look of Sno Proof. It isn't all that shiny after it soaks in, and gives the flat black just the right finish I like. Picard's etc would probably work just as well.

You can cut any of the finishes down, like Atom Wax to reduce the shine, and still leave a sealant. You have to experiment with this to get the look you want. I have had many compliments from the biker people with this look. It just has a completely different black than what they see out there.

I also have had success using Harness dressing on some leathers, although I haven't used it on the vinegaroon as yet. On some veggi tanned it leaves a satin shine, but on other leathers it soaked in more and much less shine.

I can't think of one sealant that will leave that flat you want though. All the finishes leave some residual shine. I do have to think there is a possibility you don't have to seal the vinegar black though. Chemically it pushes all the oils and such to the top grain. Notice that after oiling and drying that water is repelled completely, even if you pour it on. It seems waterproof by itself.