Another Edging Thread - How Do You Paint Your Edges?

[KandB]

Hi everyone,

I've been poring over the forum threads learning all I can about finishing edges - burnishing and all - I want to do Bob Park's method, but in all my experiences I've run into a problem when it comes to using edge paints: how do you paint JUST the edge and not have any of the paint spill on to the front or back of the leather? I've tried a paint brush, dauber, q-tip, sponge - they almost always result in some paint on the front and back instead of only on the edge - and I see Bob (and everyone else who knows how to do this) has amazing contrasting edges with not a drop of colour on the front or back. So - what's the secret?

I was looking at one of those electric edging tools - will that help?

I work mainly in oil tanned 4-6oz and I'd like to have my edges neatly finished so they don't fray and fold.

Thanks!

[Dwight]

You and I share a common anomaly, . . . can't do the edge thingy.

FWIW, . . . I gave up, . . . just plain quit. I sand my edges smooth, . . . use my edging tool(s), . . . and using a little water, . . . (emphasis on "little" ), . . . I burnish with either a 1 horsepower / 1725 rpm motor with a 3/4 inch wooden rod, . . . or my Dremel, . . . or a combination of both.

If I cannot get it to lay down like I want it to, . . . I very sparingly add some virgin beeswax, . . . or cake/bar glycerin soap.

My edges are very clean looking, . . . polished, . . . just not colored.

Once I add my usual finish of Resolene, . . . they look very good, . . . and in most cases the burnishing process itself causes the edges to become a shade or two darker than the original, . . . but that is never a guarantee, . . . sometimes it reverts back to the dyed color.

May God bless,

Dwight

[TomG]

Some folks use a piece of 1/2" felt, dip in dye or edge dressing and pull along the edge.

I usually use a modified wool dauber. I take it outside and use a lighter to burn it until it's about 1/4" in diameter. It's not critical.

Once it's the size I want, I blow it out and knock the shell off. This leaves a hard, roundish ball with a handle. Dip into dye or edge dressing and apply to the edge.

I usually use the edge dressing as if I miss and get a little on the front, I can wipe it off as long as I do it immediately.

All of this is after I do the edge burnishing stuff.

Edited September 30, 2013 by TomG

[Tree Reaper]

I use a foam brush, mink oil on the finished side and masking tape on the flesh side.

[PappyUSA]

I use a 3” paint roller with oil dye or 50/50 trag and just lightly drag it along the edge and seldom make a boo boo. I don't use those fluffy type rollers I use the thin cheap ones.

[Spartan]

From time to time I use a permanent marker.

[WScott]

This was a good thread. Especially the sand after paint, paint again, sand, paint again...You can get some smooth edges this way.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=50391&hl=

[Cyberthrasher]

I only use Dye on my edges, or the occasional marker for a touch up. So, with that in mind, a properly slicked/burnished edge will prevent the dye from bleeding through to the front and back of the leather, restricting it to the edge only. From there, it's just practice in making sure that the edge is all you touch with your applicator - whether it's a sponge, dauber, roller, etc...... Lately I've been switching between the sponge brush and a burnt wool dauber. Another trick is to apply your finish (resolene, lac, whatever) to the front and back before doing your edges. That way if you slip, you can usually hurry up and wipe it off before it has time to settle through the finish.

[Basically Bob]

A couple of things that I have found really helpful ...

- burnish in the same direction that the leather was cut. You will know which direction is correct by rubbing a finger lightly over the edge of the leather - one direction is normally smoother than the other - that's the direction to burnish.

- I get the cleanest lines by using good quality wool felt, cut in a strip, folded over and held in a wooden clothes pin - as illustrated in Al Stohlman's "The Art of Making Leather Cases (volume one). It also really helps to singe the fuzz off of the edge of the wool with a lighter. I prefer this over wool daubers.

Here's the process I like:

- lightly wet the edge and burnish.

- dye

-burnish

- lightly apply gum trag

-burnish

-lightly apply leather balm and wax

=burnish/polish

I burnish, either with a piece of light canvas (cut from a painter's drop sheet) by hand or a canvas covered cylinder on my drill press. ... or both.

[KandB]

Thanks everyone -

I tried burning a dauber and it was definitely better - I'll try out all the other tools you all suggested and see what gives me the best one. I had used a paintbrush (a fine one) for edgepaint before, but I still got dye on the flesh side and I don't want to ruin an entire bag at the finishing stage!

Has anyone tried finishing edges on oil tanned leather, rather than vegtan and latigo? I tried the technique Bob Parks mentions on my oil tanned work, and it didn't really make a noticeable difference -whereas on my latigo projects it was amazing.