Help Please! Sealing An Autograph...

[Cyberthrasher]

well, now you have some mop-n-glo for your floors that will make it smell like you're on an island vacation

[Toolingaround]

Hi Elf3

I use saddle lac and resolene all the time. I would worry about the saddle lac as the alcohol in it could affect the sharpie. Not sure if it would but I would hate to risk it. Although it is very waterproof it will crack. I find this is worse if I spray it as it is hard to get it on nice and thin.

I vote for the resolene too. I have experimented with mop-n-glo but for me it was not water proof enough. Leather sheen will wear off eventually I use that all the time as well.

If I had to go the Walmart route I would go to the craft section and buy a bottle folk art or Ceramcoat acrylic varnish. It is on those racks with all those little bottles of craft paint. I painted the lapel of a leather jacket with those paints that has lasted about 22 years or more.

I will try to do a little testing today for you if you like. I will report back latter.

Cheers, Toolingaround

[Toolingaround]

For anyone who may be interested the results of my quickie sharpie tests are:

DO NOT USE SADDLE LAC!!! It is very effective at removing sharpie espeshaly on chrome tanned smooth leather.

A little note on my fast and dirty tests. I did not allow the requisit number of hours for drying between coats. I used a damp sponge to apply the last two finishes (resolene and folk art). Two thin coats full strength not watered down except by what ever water was in the sponge. I only waited about a half hour to dry before doing a water drop test and then rubbing hard with first a paper towel then a piece of canvas. I used a piece of naked veg tan, a piece of soft red drum dyed chrome tan and a piece of surface dyed chrome tan with a distressed effect put on it commercially. All three finishes removed some of the distressed effect ( even plain water did) glad I know that about that piece of leather now.

RESOLENE: FAIL

the sharpie started to come off

PLEASE NOTE I DID NOT ALLOW HOURS OF DRYING TIME

PLAID FOLK ART ARTIST VARNISH SATIN #885: Winner!!!!

A buck at Walmart and preserved the sharpie the best. It is quite water resistant and from my experience with it in the past is quite waterproof when fully cured. The only thing I noticed was a bit of a whitish look in the texture of the leather in the very soft red leather and a light removal of the sharpie after a lot of abuse. On the firmer surface dyed chrome tan it was fine.

Obviously this was not the best testing procedures and I abused the finishes long before there curing time but at this point if I had to choose one I would pick the folk art acrylic.

http://www.plaidonline.com/folkart-finishes-artists-varnish-satin-2-oz/51/885/product.htm

Anyhow this may help some future googler. I would recommend of course following the suggested drying time of the product and testing what ever you use on an inconspicuous area before trying to seal a precious autograph.

Just my two cents,

Cheers all

Toolingaround

[elf3]

Wow! Thank you for doing the testing!! I haven't sealed the boot yet, so I'll give the Folk Art Varnish from Wal-Mart. I've been searching to try to find something that won't cost me $25, so I haven't bought anything yet. I will probably buy some, then draw a dot on the other boot and seal it to see what the results are. I will let everyone know how it goes when I do it. Thank you again for all of the suggestions!

[Cyberthrasher]

What costs $25???

[elf3]

A little note on my fast and dirty tests. I did not allow the requisit number of hours for drying between coats. I used a damp sponge to apply the last two finishes (resolene and folk art). Two thin coats full strength not watered down except by what ever water was in the sponge. I only waited about a half hour to dry before doing a water drop test and then rubbing hard with first a paper towel then a piece of canvas. I used a piece of naked veg tan, a piece of soft red drum dyed chrome tan and a piece of surface dyed chrome tan with a distressed effect put on it commercially. All three finishes removed some of the distressed effect ( even plain water did) glad I know that about that piece of leather now.

You put it on with a sponge, would you recommend a sponge over a spongy craft brush? I would assume I wouldn't want to spray it. I will plan to do 2 thin coats and I will follow the instructions on the bottle for drying time.

What costs $25???

SHIPPING!

[Toolingaround]

You put it on with a sponge, would you recommend a sponge over a spongy craft brush? I would assume I wouldn't want to spray it. I will plan to do 2 thin coats and I will follow the instructions on the bottle for drying time.

Hi Elf3

Brilliant idea to do a little sharpie test on the other boot! There are so many different kinds of leather and finishes that you never know until you test.

Yes I would use a small damp sponge you will get more control in a tight space that way. I often use those little wedge shaped cosmetic sponges or I cut up a dollar store sponge ( not the cellulose kind that get hard), like the kind on a foam brush. For the small area you are trying to seal the foam brush might hold too much varnish.

Now if your leather is shiny just lightly swipe a thin coat on and don't touch it. Acrylics dry to the touch very fast and if you keep working it it will streak. However if your leather is more matt you can very lightly stroke it with the sponge in different directions to make it look matt. Try not to leave any bubbles.

Don't fret on the first coat you can fix it on the second, other than bubbles. If you are nervous practice on a scrap of cereal box to get the feel of working with it. You really only need to seal the area of the autograph not the whole inside.

If you have any more questions don't be shy to ask and please let us know how it turns out.

Cheers, Toolingaround

SHIPPING!

[elf3]

Great thanks!! Hopefully I'll get to the store tomorrow!

[elf3]

Starting to think I'm jinxed! Went to 2 stores, no one had varnish! Hopefully I can track some down this weekend.

[Cyberthrasher]

Starting to think I'm jinxed! Went to 2 stores, no one had varnish! Hopefully I can track some down this weekend.

Do you have a Tandy anywhere nearby? You may be able to call up a specific store and ask to order some to be shipped out to you cheaper that way. Or, if you have one in your local vicinity you can obviously go get whatever you need.