Losing Gloss On Dyed Ostrich Leg

[BigDon]

I'm attempting my first inlay in a knife sheath. This will be about my 25th sheath. Out of those, only about half have went out with knives. The other half were usually first attempts and didn't turn out well so I made a 2nd, and sometimes a 3rd sheath until I got one I liked.

Last year I bought a red dyed ostrich leg skin off of ebay. It looks really good and has a gloss finish on it. Well, as I'm wetting my leather around the windows getting ready to do some stitching and I notice my sponge has a lot of red on it. I figure it's the dye but when I look, I notice the Ostrich leg skin has lost it's gloss everywhere my sponge brushed up against.

So I try a scrap piece and sure enough, The glossy finish came right off leaving a dull red ostrich skin! YUK! So I had some satin/Super sheen mix that I normally use to finish leather and tried some of it on the scrap piece of Ostrich leg skin. It brought back some shine back, but not much. (I don't like a really shiny finish normally. Super sheen is too shiny for my liking and Satin sheen is too dull so I mix the two and I like that finish. That's why I mix both)

I plan on getting another bottle of Super Sheen from the Tandy store tomorrow and trying that on the scrap piece to see if it will bring back the shine. I'm wondering what you guys/gals use to really make a piece of leather shine like a new penny? Will the Super Sheen be okay on Ostrich leg? I've never used exotic skins before and was just wondering.

[Chief31794]

I don't particularly like really gloss finishes, but Clear Lac will do that if you put it on with a dauber and let it dry and it will not rub off.

Ken

[BigDon]

Thanks Chief, I appreciate the advice!

I'll look at Tandy today for clear lac, but I'm betting I'll have to order it from Springfield. I do know my local Tandy store carries Fiebings Saddle Lac, is that the same thing?

After doing some more reading, I may try some resolene as well. I have several scrap pieces of the Ostrich leg left to try other stuff out on. Normally I don't like a real glossy finish, but the sheath is black and the glossy red of the Ostrich leg really popped. It still looks good, but a shiny finish would look best in this situation imho.

[Chief31794]

Tandy does not carry Clear Lac, Clear Lac is the replacement for Neat Lac, it has been around for a long time, it is used by most saddle shops and leather carvers particularly sheridan carvers. It does make a nice finish and the gloss can be controlled by your applcation (light or heavy, recommend 1 or 2 light coats as opposed to a heavy coat). Saddle Lac may work, I've never tried it, maybe someone else has experience with it. Springfield leather sells Clear Lac for sure, that's where I get mine.

Ken

[Bob Blea]

I've never used Saddle Lac, but Resolene, which Tandy does sell, is an acrylic sealant. If you put a couple of coats on it will make your leather glossy. I would expect the SuperShene would make it pretty glossy too.

[mikesmith648]

I would use a spray like the super sheen as I would be worried that any further rubbing would make the color bleed even more than it already has.............just my 2cents