Edge Kote - What To Put On Top

[hazymat]

Hi all

Having read other posts about Edge Kote on this forum, I know others' views on it range from "brilliant" to "I would never use it"... but unfortunately I can't use Bob Park's excellent method (which uses edge dye rather than Edge Kote) because I'm working with an oil tanned hide at the moment.

Here's what I'm doing:

- Wet edge then bevel

- Soap and burnish the wet edge to round it off. It doesn't gloss-up, but does harden slightly

- Apply 1 or 2 coats of Edge Kote

- ?? Final step ??

This post recommends Neat Lac OR a water based polyurethane finish for wood.

This post recommends a few things including mixing e.g. resolene with Edge Kote, but I'd rather keep it simple

My question: if I use a water-based wood finish (varnish) such as Ronseal (UK), will this harden and crack?

I also found a product at my local hardware shop called "Protective decorative varnish - dead flat finish". It's a "clear acrylic varnish with a durable shine free finish that protects decorative surfaces against finger marks, stains, and scuffing". Says it works with wallpaper, plaster, fabric, interior wood.

Does the above sound like a good thing to put on top of Edge Kote?

Of course, I can test now - but I need to know it will also stand the test of time...

Thanks!

Edited June 6, 2012 by hazymat

[mlapaglia]

Sheridan Leather (888-803-3030) Sells Neat-lac under a different name. Use that.

[rosiart]

Sheridan Leather (888-803-3030) Sells Neat-lac under a different name. Use that.

The problem the OP and I both have is that the product can't be shipped by mail. I haven't been able to find a retailer in Canada that sells it and I think the OP will have the same problem in GB.

[mlapaglia]

good point, O well I tried.

[DoubleC]

I use Bobby's method to a certain point. I sand the leather, saddle soap the edge good, burnish with canvas, dye it with any dark dye, don't use an anything special for the edges, burnish that with denim, redo if there are light spots, then just use my regular finish on it. Leather Sheen, resolene, whatever I happen to grab off the shelf. I prefer resolene, but I usually save that for things someone else is getting because I'm low and haven't reordered. I used to add it to my acrylics when I was thinning them, so don't know why you couldn't thin it with the edge kote. I wouldn't use a wood product on leather and find out 6 months from now it cracked. Had that happen when I used a clear glue on inlaid rhinestones, and 6 months later the finish was cracking and rhinestones raining down. Cheryl

[hazymat]

1339026740[/url]' post='251513']

I use Bobby's method to a certain point. I sand the leather, saddle soap the edge good, burnish with canvas, dye it with any dark dye, don't use an anything special for the edges, burnish that with denim <snip>

Hi Cheryl

The problem is that I can't use Bobby's method because I can't use dye on the leather. It is an oil tanned hide therefore dyes don't properly impregnate the edges as well as it would with veg tanned. That's why I need to use Edge Kote which is a product that sits on top of the edge. Problem is that I do really need to add a layer on top of the Edge Kote. Unfortunately I wasn't given the Edge Kote in the original bottle and I can't find instructions online!

As rosiart rightly mentioned, the issue is that I need an alternative to NeatLac that I can pick up in a UK store.

Can anyone enlighten me as to what NeatLac is, so I can hunt down an alternative? Ie what it is primarily used for? What section of a hardware store I might find it in?

[DoubleC]

Oh Hazy, I'm sorry I missed somehow that edge kote had to be used on that type of leather. I'm not familiar with all the ends and outs of different leathers yet. I have no idea what neat lac is, resolene won't go over the edge kote effectively? And I'll assume you can't get that either for some reason, a friend of mine just reminded me after I posted here that mop and glo (or shine, dag, what is that stuff called) the all in one application that cleans and shines can be used in place of resolene. None of that? OK, then I go ahead and try a small bottle of lacquer from your hardware store (going from the neat 'lac') and test it. If it doesn't work you can always use it on your furniture I guess? Cheryl

[Kevin]

You don't need anything on top of Edge-Kote.

Kevin