Edges On Leather

[terrymac]

Hey guy, I don 't have any of that fancy stuff. I've always sanded by hand and used yellow saddle soap. I k now Bobby Parks puts beeswax on it the first time, so I just got my first beeswax since I've worked in leather to do the guitar strap with. I've always been happy with the other way though. I use old jeans to burnish the edges after the saddle soap because I have that. Just cut of a piece off the denim and rub the edges after the saddle soap, and tighten the fibers like the tutorial says, then dye them. The back pockets are really great, fit your hand pretty good:-) What Tom does I do when I'm all finished to soften everything up, and make sure there isn't any dye coming off the edges OR the project itself. Cheryl

Cheryl, I think you need to re-read Hidepounder's tutotial. He first applies glycerin soap to the edge and then goes to the saddle soap. He states Beeswax may work, but he doesn't use it as the dye won't penetrate as it should. He dies after the burnishing is finished, and the applies parafin wax as a final polish to the edge. It if a person is using Gum tag and edge coating, then this process won't matter as you are really painting the edge rather than dying and penetration doesn't matter. IMHO, a dyed edge as done by Hidepounder is in a completely different league than a painted edge. It takes work, and can be completely done without any power equipment.

Just wanted to let you know before you end up with something you didn't want.

Terry

[DoubleC]

Terry I did reread it today for the bridle I'm making. You're absolutely right, I had it completely wrong about the beeswax. As far as painting the edges, maybe I forgot the thread already, LOL but I'm not using anything but dye on this. And I think done his way yourself, you still aren't in his league. Just something we can aspire to :-)

Thanks though for writing although I've already finished the edge and dye on one part of the bridle, I didn't use beeswax, just my good old saddle soap and denim. Cheryl