What Is This Leather And How Do I Edge Ostrich Like This!?

[markush]

In my bag of lizard...I mean "exotic" scrap from Springfield Leather I received this single solitary piece of non lizard...what is it? My guess is Elephant but just a guess.

I also purchased a bag of Ostrich scrap and want to know how to finish the edge like in these photos. I am sandwiching a piece of veg-tan between two layers of the ostrich and can burnish it somewhat with my wooden burnisher but it looks nothing like the photos here!

[Luke Hatley]

the first that you are asking about is ,Shark Skin.

your 2nd question i do beleive that the oystrich is skived very thin and then glued

around a filler piece with a backing on to it.

the third one is an acyrlic product that high dollar bag makers are useing to finish the edges of their bags

some folks are duplicating that with acrlyc paint.

[markush]

Thanks! Shark was my initial impression because of the grain pattern but it seems way too..i don't know...pourous? It looks like it would soak up 10 times it's weight in water, like a chamois. I thought those ostrich edges looked unreal like a plastic coating or paint. Would acrylic paint hold up to any kind of use? I guess i have another topic to google now...acrlyc paint edging...

The flesh side of the ostrich I have is very stringy and already very, very thin. Those "strings" are one of the problems I ran into when I tried burnishing it. I guess I'll see just how thin I can get a piece.

Edited September 4, 2011 by markush

[TwinOaks]

For that really stringy back, you can either invest in a machine to do it ($$$!!!!!), or get a pack of disposable razors to shave it. On REALLY stringy backs, I've even resorted to a hair clipper to shave it down to where the razor doesn't clog up as badly.

Just from the looks of it, I don't know that it'd be possible to burnish down the edges. It may be a result of the tannage, maybe the hide itself. Check out Dura-edge on the Springfield Leather site.

[amuckart]

I have a belt with that acrylic finish on it. Looks great for the first little while but after a few years the finish starts flaking off and looks terrible.

[artificer13]

I have a belt with that acrylic finish on it. Looks great for the first little while but after a few years the finish starts flaking off and looks terrible.

I agree completely. Whatever that acrylic glop is bag makers are finishing their edges with, it's not meant for (what I would consider) long term use.

My wife has a few commercial bags she's purchased over the last few years that have had those edges, and after a while they completely turn to garbage.

[King's X]

I just received a product that the sender wanted me to test run it. My understanding is that this sample has a burnishing agent, dye and lacquer all in one product. Take a look at my blog site where I recently made a prototype project and just by luck I received this product so I used it. Since the product was new and I had no experience with applying it, I made some application mistakes but all in all it worked out just as I was told it would. The final review. It is a bit shiny for me, but it covers very well and looks good. Now, disclaimer, I do not have any reviews regarding the wear capabilities, but it would probably be worth a try without buying those expensive machine found in manufacturing plants.

good luck.

[lonestar tactical]

Hey OP

IT looks like shark to me as well. I just finished up a holster for my Glock 30 using black shark bought from SLC. It kind of had a rubbery hand to it - the elephant I picked up did not have that feel to it.

Side note - I am thinking of picking up a 2lb bag of the ostrich - how big and what quality were the pieces in the bag you picked up?

[Leatherimages]

[a product that the sender wanted me to test run]

And can you tell us who the sender of the aforemention product was?

Have you tried the durable edge coat that Fiebings has introduced yet?

[King's X]

Sorry. A Japanese company called Craft makes this stuff under the label of Coba Coat. Simon Bennett over at Goods Japans was the sender. I have not tried the Dura Edge stuff yet, but I have heard some good and bad stuff about it. Since I do not have someone locally that sells it, I have not bought it. Maybe if I find it at the Texas show at the end of the month, I may get some or try it out there.

[markush]

Hey OP

IT looks like shark to me as well. I just finished up a holster for my Glock 30 using black shark bought from SLC. It kind of had a rubbery hand to it - the elephant I picked up did not have that feel to it.

Side note - I am thinking of picking up a 2lb bag of the ostrich - how big and what quality were the pieces in the bag you picked up?

The bag I received was mostly made up of scraps with usable areas in the range of 2"x3" - 2"x4". There was also a handful, 4 or 5 pieces, with a usable area of about 4"x6" . Every piece was Cognac in color except for one piece that was brown. Oddly, that one brown piece had the largest usable area of about 6"x8". The rest of the bag was made up of the edge of the hide garbage. Hope this helps.

I did get some of the Dura Edge to try on this...I only used it on one piece and am going to give it another try before tossing it. I purposely didn't finish the edge as smoothly as I could have because it states that 'no burnishing, buffing, or other labor intensive process are needed with this' . Well it looks like an unfinished edge with a sticky tar like edge coating on it. If I have to finish the edge to the degree I think I do, I'll just end up using Edge Kote.

Edited September 15, 2011 by markush

[King's X]

Are you sanding or prepping the edge before you apply your dye & edge coat? I do.

[markush]

I did get some of the Dura Edge to try on this...I only used it on one piece and am going to give it another try before tossing it. I purposely didn't finish the edge as smoothly as I could have because it states that 'no burnishing, buffing, or other labor intensive process are needed with this' . Well it looks like an unfinished edge with a sticky tar like edge coating on it. If I have to finish the edge to the degree I think I do, I'll just end up using Edge Kote.

Are you sanding or prepping the edge before you apply your dye & edge coat? I do.

I am new to all of this so take my experiences for what they are worth. I left it "unfinished" which means i did a quick evening out on a belt sander at 320 grit. But like I said, I'll try it again with a better finish on my edge...but if I have to finish my edges to the Nth degree I will end up using Edge Kote instead.

[King's X]

On a lazy day, I will sand up to 600 grit. If I have the time, I will go up to 800 grits. I just went Walmart and purchased a multi pack of half sheets of sand paper in different grits. My drum sander out side is set at 150 grit, which I use to even out the edges and remove any glue residue.

Good luck.

[Leatherimages]

On the shark, which I think may be Tiger Shark by the looks of it, you should be able to get a kick a** edge. But don't skimp on sanding.

The Ostrich would need to be skived to a feather. Glued to a veg liner, it would not be a problem to get a nice edge also, but again, you're gonna need to sand it.

I can't imagine thinking you wouldn't need to sand.

I use my naumkeg orbital sander on my finisher, starting with 100 grit, then on to a worn out 120 grit. The I'll wet the edge with water, and begin with wet/dry paper that is 1200 grit, A huge jump, but it's really all about "elbow grease". Dye, sand. Fiebings Leather Finish, burnish with canvas. Two coats of edge coat, and it's good to go.

I'm interested to use the Dura Coat, but haven't had the chance to get some yet.

I did a batch of book marks for a neighbor using acrylic and was happy with the appearance, but wouldn't use it on a belt.

Keep your Trapezius mucsels relaxed.