Kangaroo Lace - Color Bleeding

[Kiscien]

Thanks. By the way, it bleeds like crazy in plain water, no rubbing needed - I tried it, got black water. And it never stopped, no matter how much I rinsed it.

It may be that you bought laces that seller dyed himself without sealing the leather. Don't worry about anything . It isn't something horrible.

Sometimes, if I have leather like this I take shellack, and I dumping the laces in it for a sec. It runs great. Than after I finish plate I put few coats of finisher and voila! Try it. It's cheap and allows to save nerves .

Also try to dye laces yourself. It's the same thing. Put it into some dye for few minutes, take it out and dry, dump it with shellack. Braid something and put some finisher.

Feel free to ask questions if you have some.

[Tracym]

The leather is from Birdsall. What happens though, I think I have figured out now, is that when I bevel it of course where it's beveled it's no longer sealed. Since the latest leather is thicker, I have to bevel more, practically splitting it, and more is exposed. It was pretty horrible for me haha, completely wrecked a braid that I have to do over in a hurry.

Shellack - interesting. Sorry, I am very new to this - is that a special leather shellack? Not what you put on furniture?

[Kiscien]

It's the same thing . I'm using flakes that with I'm making mixture, but this pure, ready to use shellack should be fine too.

[Tracym]

Well I am now completely frustrated. This new leather is just awful - it is so thick, I beveled and beveled it. It's stiff on the front, but soft and shaggy on the back. As soon as I condition it, it swells up. No matter how hard I try, the braid ends up too thick. I coated it with finishing protectant spray before I braided it, and again before I rolled it. Black bled onto it again, it's ruined. Lots of hours and $$ for nothing.

I guess others can work with this leather ok, they must know something I don't. I am so sad about this, this one was a special present for a special occasion. And now it won't happen

[Kiscien]

give photos, maybe I could figure something out. If you want of course.

[Tracym]

Thank you, I'm leaving town so cannot get any photos at the moment. I ordered some lace from a different source (y-knot) so perhaps that will solve the problem.

I do have some questions about conditioning though...

Based on prior advice, I've been putting lexol on the lace, then stretching it when wet (this seems to work). Then, once basically dry, braiding it. Then conditioning the finished braid before final rolling. But I have to do a lot of rolling to get it soft and smooth, which seemed to bring out the problems with the black and pink leather.

Is there a better regimen?

From reading here, it sounds like I should soap the strands, and braid while 'wet'. And use a finishing coat. But I have also read elsewhere about people soaking the leads in conditioner overnight, etc. Should I need some sort of conditioning in addition to soap and finishing coat?

[Kiscien]

I'm using only two things. Animal fat mixed with little water (pig mostly because it's cheap), but only for natural and black leathers, or vaseline mixed with water for other colors. Natural fat has horrible tendency to darken leather only black or natural looks good after this. Vaseline is a little bit worst but still good anough (remeber to add water). If you don't want to use those, maybe try one which Aggiebraider is describing in previous post. I don't know US brands so I can't advice you which one is good. But I think he knows what to reccomend.

- I always stretch leather after 10-15 minutes from soaking.

- Braid when laces has little coat of some plaiting soap on them. Your work will be tighter.

- Rolling is not for making braid soft. Only for making it smoother. If you have to make it for a long time, than you need to prepare your laces better. And yes. You have to seal the leather first, than braid when using two colors.

So shortly speaking: For plaiting use soap, not liquid conditioners. Leather can not stain when plaiting or after, if you making at least two tone plaits. Rolling is fast and easy to do. If you have problems with this, you need to prepare your laces better .

Hope it helps.

Karol

[Tracym]

Thank you very much. At least with this leather, I am obviously not getting it prepared well enough. I will try to find some better products. I really appreciate the help.

[Art]

I am not a great braider, but dressing it with Pecard's or Montana Pitchblend paste seems to work ok.

Art

[Tracym]

Thanks everyone. I am going to look into those products.