Finishing Edges

[mrtreat32]

I believe this is what you're looking for mrtreat,

***edit*** For what it's worth I would love to know how this is done. It looks as though there's 4-5 layers there but overall it doesn't seem to be too thick. That edge is also glass and colors sharp. I would think burnishing traditionally would muddle the edges of the various colors?

Yes, that is the picture I saw originally that sparked my interest.

Like you said I have burnished colored goat with different leathers and you can see the difference in colors but it is muddy looking and I wouldn't leave it unpainted in that state.

This looks like maybe each layer is burnished separately? Is my only guess

[DavidL]

it could be 2 ounce leathers all dyed through. Glue the pieces together and leave extra allowance for the pattern and trim to size by clicker or very carefully with a knife. The top piece looks like its was edged then another piece of leather is added on top or it could be one piece? It looks like the very top piece has the edges rolled in.

The edge could be done on a sander belt and then a clear coat or transparent edge paint is added and heat tool to set it.

Looks to be something that took a year and a lot of scraps to get the final process.

[hidepounder]

That's a beautifully burnished edge!!! If I had to speculate, I suspect that edge was burnished with a steel burnisher and the clear finish coat is what's holding everything together. There is really no way to tell if a slicking agent was used or not.

[slipangle]

Hello all,

I'm new here but I lurk a bit, and learn a lot from you folks. I have a theory on that fine looking multi-colored edge on that Niwa Leather piece.

Again, I am a mere dabbler in leatherwork and no expert by any means, but I do know a little bit about materials. I'm an amateur and could no more make my edges look like Billy's fine work than ….OK, disclaimer issued. :>

In short, I don't think that is leather. At least, not all of it. I looked through all the offerings on the Niwa site and could not find a full pic of the article featuring that multi-colored edge, but I suspect it is a portfolio or notebook. If you look at the fine purses and other things on the site you'll notice all the conventionally, and very nicely done, edges. None of them show this color stripe edge that I could see. Aside from the one photo.

I think the material is plastic. At least the black, red, green, red, black center portion. Probably very thin sheets of polypropylene or some other, sewable, colored sheets, sandwiched between either two or four, pieces of leather and acting as stiffeners as well as for the color. I don't see how it would be possible to make laminated layers of 1 to 2 ounce garment or upholstery leather turn out like that, with that super glossy finish and fine definition between the colors. Even if struck through with dye.

I could be wrong. Just a theory and my 2 cents.

Thanks. I learn a lot here.

Scott

[Macca]

Its all leather, its a wallet.

4 layers, tan outer is thicker, then pink, green, pink

Inner 3 layers skived on a bell skiver for card slots, as David mentioned its died through

layers are glued, its machine stitched then a Fileteuse or the Japanese equivalent was used to put that crease beside the stitching

Burnishing by machine & hand finished.

Its an extremely well taken photograph of an extremely well made item, he has being doing these for years, you are seeing the result of years of practice, great skill & fantastic quality leather.

[slipangle]

I stand corrected , Macca. Thanks.

I knew someone who come in and correct me if I posted this. :>

Amazing work

Edited October 4, 2014 by slipangle

[Macca]

it is indeed, he makes some amazing stuff

[Macca]

heres a few more pictures of that wallet

[slipangle]

Thanks Macca,

Great pics, And I guess I missed them on his site.

A rather goofy postulation and somewhat inauspicious first post on my part.

I suspected in my heart that I was dead wrong and that I was indeed looking at the work of a magician.

Really beautiful work.

Care to elaborate on how you think he accomplishes this sort of edge? It's hard to fathom.

Phenomenal. But then, work of masters often is.

I'd be remiss if I didn't add that this thread has been very interesting and a big help.

Another satisfied and grateful reader, Hidepounder. And others.

It's really helped my progress on my edges.

Thank you.

Slip

Edited October 4, 2014 by slipangle

[DavidL]

Im going to take another stab at it.

Judging by the dyed table and custom walls he probably is skilled with a bench sander and likely used one for the edges and also freehanded the curve that is on the edge with a sander. My guess would be he cut out a single piece from the template and then would take another piece that was larger and glued them together and trimmed the excess. He would give it a quick sand once the piece is trimmed to even out the edges. From there he would repeat the last two steps again until all the edges are smooth and then coat the edge with a glossy coat and run it through a motorized burnisher or use a heating tool on neutral edge paint. On his website he does use a heating tool as some of the leathers he does are chrome. Whether he does it with veg I don't know. Last step you can see him turning the edges on the pic from macca and that would be glued ontop.

I can imagine the edge being done with a high grit sander with a lot of trial and error, but the turned edges on the top piece is flawless, especially by hand. it looks machine folded.