Neatlac Replacement

[gtwister09]

Ben,

My fears with lacquers formulated for wood is that they would dry to a hard finish over time. When used in leather they would penetrate deeper than wood and when the leather flexes might crack the finish and maybe the leather. What are your experiences?

Keith

Keith,

I haven't been doing much with leatherwork lately for various reasons. However, I tried the Clear lac on two items about 2 years ago. One was a pair of batwing chaps for my Dad and the other was a holster for my father-in-laws Luger 22. The chaps only had the yokes, pockets and flares tooled. These have had blood, dirt and rain on them wiith no sign of cracking. The holster hasn't seen as abusive of an environment except for some rain and they have no sign of cracking. Some of the other lacquers that I tried did pentrate deeply and had lots of fine white lines when flexed. However on the flip side I have three belts, a portfolio,, some spur straps and a checkbook cover that were done with Neat lac that exhibited fine white lines from flexing a couple of weeks after being completed. Go figure. I got rid of that quart of Neat lac and started trying others. That was the last reformulation so I chalked it up to that rather than a bad batch...I might have been wrong on attributing it to a new formulation rather than the batch.

On a name serach on Google.... Behr is the only Clear lac manufacturer listed but that doesn't necessarily mean its the only one.

I would be interested in your information about the one from Panhandle Leathers.

Here's some that I have tried in the past and give some informaiton on them...

Behlen's Stringed Instrument Lacquer worked well.

Watco Brushing Lacquer didn't do well

Minwax didn't do well

Several Deft's did not do well

Zinsser did not do well either

One I didn't try but would consider is

General Finishes Gel Topcoat

Regards,

Ben

[BearMan]

Hi,

I was able to find the original chemical breakdown for "NeatLac". I also found out that the reason that everybody has stopped producing any products like NeatLac, is because of just how harmful they can be to us "Humans". Tolulene, which was part of the original Neatlac, is a pretty bad Carcinogen. Also, later on they replaced Tolulene, I believe with xylene. Which is just about as bad. So the manufacturers of NeatLac decided to stop production, just to be "safe", at least that's what I was told.

Anyway, I have been able to duplicate a version of something very similar to NeatLac. Smells the same, & works the same, & I'm sure, is just as hazardous! Here are a couple items where I used "BearLac". & Before you ask,,, just to protect myself,,, I will not make or sell any,,, of provide any info about how it's made! I'm sure you can realize just how much liability I would open myself up to if I did,,,,,, Sorry!! I hope you'll understand. Ed

[David]

No one has mentioned the Tandy product Saddle Lac. Any reason why?

My Tandy manager claims it is more flexible than Neat Lac

Dave

[kseidel]

Bearman,

Now this post was rather counter productive since you have obviously solved our problem. I certainly preferred the Neat Lac with tolulene to the re-formulated xylene. I know saddlemakers who have used the stuff for decades without harm and I have used it for over 30 years without any ssssside eeeeffectttts! Well maybe a little twitch....

I do like the finish that you have shown. Looks like the old neat lac.

I have just begun using the Clear Lac from Panhandle leather. It is not the same as Neat Lac, but does have good lacquering properties. It does handle differently, and is requiring a bit of a learning curve. It has a distinctive odor... and is pretty strong. No worse than the newest neatlac, but still quite strong. It is much thinner than Neat lac, and penetrates deep into the leather. It fully covers into the cuts and background. It dries much slower. It is not as high gloss. It lifts dye more.... especially black. It works well as a resist for antique, but requires more drying time before applying the antique. As a top coat over antique, it seals well and gives a nice satin finish, but care must be taken to avoid removing too much antique. You can't rub it near as much as Neat Lac.

Still, overall, it is a viable alternative for Neat Lac.

LCI makes several more products that I will try and report more on in the future.

Keith

P.S. Bearman, If you have a change of heart, I would love to have that recepie to make some bearlac. I assure you there will be no "politically correct" legal liability from me!

[kseidel]

No one has mentioned the Tandy product Saddle Lac. Any reason why?

My Tandy manager claims it is more flexible than Neat Lac

Dave

David,

The only Saddle Lac products that I have experience with are only available in spray cans. They don't wipe well and they leave a heavy "painted on" plastic look.

Keith

[gtwister09]

Ed,

Ditto to what Keith said...

P.S. Bearman, If you have a change of heart, I would love to have that recepie to make some bearlac. I assure you there will be no "politically correct" legal liability from me!

Regards,

Ben

[whinewine]

David,

The only Saddle Lac products that I have experience with are only available in spray cans. They don't wipe well and they leave a heavy "painted on" plastic look.

Keith

I don't know if it comes in anything other than spray. Most of what I use I spray anyway, and I do use saddlelac, but I still prefer neatlac (spray) over the saddlelac (but it's not bad). I prefer a shiny finish over a satin or dull finish anyway, so if you don't like shiny, you wouldn't like saddlelac, nor would you like neatlac either.

russ

[TomSwede]

Ed,

Ditto to what Keith said...

P.S. Bearman, If you have a change of heart, I would love to have that recepie to make some bearlac. I assure you there will be no "politically correct" legal liability from me!

Regards,

Ben

Ditto Keith and Ben!!

I switched to leather sheen also from Fiebings wich I apply with dauber and cloth but gotta be more careful and watch out for lift. Leathersheen takes buffing nicely too wich I felt was harder with saddle lac AND being oversensitive to allergic with strong odours I'm happy without the saddle lac. My nose can't take it.

Tom

[ryano]

Has anyone tried Weaver's Top Coat #200?

"This solvent-based formula offers a high gloss, waterproof finish. Seals veg and chrome tanned leather for effective waterproofing. Simply spray on."

That's what the add says anyway. I have never used it.

Edited April 2, 2009 by ryano

[rookie]

I saw a post on a woodworkers forum that mentioned Zinsser Quick 15 as a replacement for Neat Lac. I have not tried it yet. I was wondering if anyone has heard this before. I am going to try it, I just need to go get the stuff.