Major Cracks...

[PirateWolf]

Hi there,

I just dyed and finished a little keychain; when I went to bend the leather around the key ring, cracks developed (picture attached). Does anyone know why this happened? I used the Eco-Flo Pro dye line and the coorisponding matte finish.

Super new so feel free to throw out any ideas!

Thank you!!

[RiverCity]

I can't tell you for sure why it cracked. Maybe finish was too thick?

But a tip, if you fold and or crease the leather before you finish it, it puts less stress on a topcoat when you do final assembly.

Chuck

[TomG]

Based on the photo and looking at the holes, I'd say that 1 - the leather is too thick at the bend. That's more than the finish cracking. So - you need to skive it down about 50% thickness from before the bend to the tip.

2 - Wet the back of the leather and let it sit for a few minutes to soak in before you bend it.

And like RiverCity said, let the thing dry after bending and then put your finish on.

[PirateWolf]

Ahhh ok. Great advice, thank you so much!!

Tom, sorry, now I have another question for you: "you need to skive it down about 50% thickness from before the bend to the tip" - how would I do this?

Thanks again!

[TomG]

You use a skiver. Tandy has a couple and other suppliers do as well. Usually around $15 or so.

As you get more involved, you might invest in a leather splitter. But then you're talking $300 and up unless you can find a good one used. they key word being "good".

Here's photos of the 2 from Tandy...

[PirateWolf]

Thank you so much!! Have a great day!

[Northmount]

Your photo shows the surface of the leather actually cracked, not just the finish. So cure is like mentioned above, skive the leather thinner, and dampen the leather so the surface can stretch without cracking. If your leather is really dry, maybe even old, so really dried out, you need to add some natural oils to help condition the leather, but don't get carried away with it. More is not better!

Tom

[coop]

I have been using fiebings dyes and eco flo super sheen as the finish. I haven't had any issues with it till now, but I have a strap that I finished last month and went to punch the holes today, when the finish started cracking on it. It continued to crack throughout the whole strap. What advice is there too prevent this the strap is 6-7 oz. I did not oil this one before dying could that have been the cause? I don't want to put out anymore straps till I figure out the cause. Most straps I work and flex the leather throughout the process.

[Tree Reaper]

I use neatsfoot oil on just about everything I make out of leather.

The finish will crack if it's too thick but if the leather is cracking then it could be too dry or too stale.

I will also skive and wet on sharp bends.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Tree Reaper

[lightingale]

With dog collars, I bend them over the buckle area right after tooling, while the leather is still cased. If it's not cased, I wet it with a sponge.

I also dye and finish it while it's already bent into the shape I want.