Work In Progress - Shaped Breastplate

[daveydude]

Thanks for the advice guys - I think I'm going to go with the waxing option. Carnauba Creme sounds like it should do the job, but I'll have to try & smooth the flesh side of the leather first I think.

[mephits]

Thanks for the advice guys - I think I'm going to go with the waxing option. Carnauba Creme sounds like it should do the job, but I'll have to try & smooth the flesh side of the leather first I think.

I don't have any personal experience with the stuff, but Tandy Carnauba Creme says it's water-based. It likely won't be particularly waterproofing. Even their own description (designed to get people to buy it, after all), only says water resistant. Personally, I'd use beeswax. The method employed by some SCAdian armourers I know is using a propane torch to carefully heat the leather (DONT AIM IT DIRECTLY AT THE LEATHER! Just wave it near the piece until the surface is hot but not close enough to scorch), rubbing warmed but still solid beeswax over the surface, re-heating to liquifiy the wax and let it soak in (again, not aiming the torch directly at the leather; uncontrolled fire BAD, m-kay?), rubbing with a buffing cloth, then repeating the process until the desired finish is achieved. This won't fully harden the leather, but it will keep it from being so susceptible to water. It takes some practice, but can produce very nice results.

[hivemind]

A better method, I would think, would be to melt some beeswax in a can and brush it on.

[Mrs Barry Hicks]

Quick question about treating moulded leather - what should I be using on the flesh side to prevent the leather getting wet and losing shape?

I've used something called Block Out by Eco Flo. There's probably other products out there but that's what I've used. It also helps to harden the leather as well. I would put it on both front and back. To completely seal it. The only downside I've found to it is that it makes fake gold leaf tarnish.

Hope that helps. Looks great so far.