Finishing steps in your words............

[phillipsimsleatherwork]

I have heard many different peoples steps in finishing a project. Some swear by this or that and others wont do this before they do that. I think if everyone was to post their own process it would help not only me but MANY people in this forum. So lets start with antiquing. How do you get that "perfect" finish, what products, and what tools(wool,dauber,ect.)

Lets hear it. I know some of you old timers have to have some tried and true ways that you will do every time and I would love to hear them!!! I want detailed descriptions so that they will be easy to follow for me and others.

Thanks alot and I hope this will help everyone!!!!!

Phillip Sims

[ToddB 68]

Hi Phillip

Looks like you & I are running just about neck and neck with our posts, 50 + views and 0 replies ! LOL

I think your idea is really a good one and can't figure why none of the old timers have responded. Are they gittin stingy with tips & advice, or are they just too tired to crunch out a detailed post ?

Wish I could help you, but I'm still a newbie trying to learn.

If you want to take a look, my post is here: Leatherworker Board > How can I do that ? > Need advice on Making Utility tool sheath (Oct. 12, 2009).

Good Luck with yours.

Todd

Edited October 16, 2009 by ToddB68

[Peter Ellis]

It might just be that discussion about antique application, finishing, dyes and all of that is generally going on in the forum that is dedicated to those subjects.

You might find that what you're asking for is already there

[Tkleather1]

Well I am not an oldtimer but I will at least try to help instead of telling you to keep looking.

to antique this is my method Usually.

1. Light oil and let dry

2. Dye where needed and let dry at least overnight

3. buff dye

4. apply neat lac ( or substitute)with trimmed sheep skin usually two coats and let dry (usually an hour or so will do.)

5. apply Feibings andtique paste using trimmed sheepskin and rub in using circular motion and dont be stingy you want quite a bit.

6. Here you can immediatley wipe off excess for a lighter color or let it sit for a little while before you wipe it all off.

7. Wipe off all paste using a clean piece if sheepskin rub vigorously. Let dry for a half hour or so.

8. apply another two coats of Neat lac Same as before.

Optional

9. Apply Tan Kote Same way as neat lac

10. another cat of Neatlac.

I dont know if its right but it works for me.

Tim Worley

TK-Leather

[Double U Leather]

I agree with Tim. I just don't Neat Lace as much. My formula is "ONAT".

O- Oil with Neatsfoot

N- Neat Lac

A- Antique

T- Tan Kote.

After ONAT, I finish the edges. I'm not an old-timer either, but this was the formula some of the old masters on here suggested.

[phillipsimsleatherwork]

Hahahahha! Thanks for the help everyone! I just wanted to see what all the other ways of finishing are but if no one wants to help its no big deal. Thank you Tkleather1 and leatherrookie for your posts. No big deal! hahah! I know where else to look I was just hoping to have a big post for everyone to be able to put in their 2 cents!

Phillip Sims

[KenE]

Hello,

I don't mean to sound like a commercial for them, but I found other posts about Bee Natural products. I just bought their RTC sealer/finish and their saddle oil. It looks like the process if very similar and they have a video on their website:

(All steps have drying time after, usually at least 5 hours)

- Apply any die you want as a base

- Oil with saddle oil

- Apply RTC finish

- Antique

- Apply RTC finish

I'm hoping this works because I like the idea of using as little products as possible. I'll report my experience. (I'm waiting for some dye to dry right now).

~Ken

[Jazznow]

hmm maybe its a stupid question but: 

When i seal the surface with Neat lac, satin shene or RTC Finish or something like that, how can the Antique come into the Leather? 

Hope 4 Help

Jazznow

[Chris B]

Ok after you guys oil your project. What exactly are you resisting? Or are you just resisting what you have dyed, then antiquing? That part is confusing me.

Thanks,

Chris

[JohnD]

I'm no expert with antiquing at all, but I know that, without a resist, the antique will color the leather. It comes out as dark splotches and is very hard to get any consistency or evenness in it. So, I would think, it is best to dye the leather with the color you want, then apply a resist to seal that and use the antique gel to fill in and darken only the recesses of the areas you tooled to act as a hi-liter for your tooling. In my opinion, using antique gel without a resist to dye leather looks like crap. I don't do much in the way of antiquing, but this has been my experience with it so far. If I'm wrong someone will, hopefully, set us straight. hope this helps.

John