Members AdrianS Posted October 30, 2013 Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 Hi folks, how's it going? I've got two questions about "untreated" veg tan, as I want to try making something with a little feature with the natural tan look. I know you guys mostly dye and treat, but I'm hoping someone can answer my qusetions. See image for what I mean about the natural tan look (no comments about the quality, please). Question 1: These types of leathers are usually made for tooling, which also means they're very easily damaged when left intreated. Is there something that I can do or apply to protect the leather whilst retaining the look and feel? Does mink oil really work? Question 2: The leather I received from W&C was a little disappointing and has quite a lot of light blemishes like markings. Is there any way to remove or minimise these to get a more consistent surface like the leather in the image above? In a video I found, a pretty inconsistent piece of leather seems to be made more consistent by brushing it? Would this work with the leather above? Before: Brushing: Final product: Video link: www.youtube.com/embed/Kg8QWVgtUzc As always, any input would be really appreciated! - Adrian Quote
Members Wishful Posted October 30, 2013 Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Not sure if this is what you are looking for but there is a technique called glazing that smooths out the leather. Here is a link describing it http://en.m.wikipedi...Glazing_machine tandy sells a piece of glass to do this Edited October 30, 2013 by Wishful Quote
Members cgleathercraft Posted October 30, 2013 Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 I wet formed a large case for my mag light. I left it the natural color and put several coats of neatsfoot oil on it. After I gave it plenty of time to penetrate i threw it in the back of my car and its been rolling around in there for quite a while. Its a little darker than what is in your picture but it has the natural feel to it. Haven't tried mink oil on anything other than my work boots before I got into leatherworking, but I imagine it would work. Quote http://www.cgleathercraft.com Member of the Iron Brigade.
Members Matt S Posted October 30, 2013 Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 In the brushing video it appears the craftsman is using "English bridle" leather. This is a veg tan which has been dyed and then treated by "hot stuffing", the addition of fats, oils and waxes while warm. When it comes from the currier (craftsman who finishes leather) it has "spew" on the surface, excess treatment which is sitting on the surface. It appears to be this which he is brushing off. Quote
Members Cyberthrasher Posted October 30, 2013 Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 just put a LIGHT coat of your favorite finish on it and send it out. Lately I've been using RTC Sheridan Resist for pocket items. That will protect it, leave a very mild satin glow, and still allow you to apply a conditioner such as Montana Pitch Blend over the top. Quote hellhoundkustoms.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/hellhoundkustoms www.etsy.com/shop/HellhoundKustoms
Members AdrianS Posted October 30, 2013 Author Members Report Posted October 30, 2013 Thanks for the replies guys. The bridle "spew" is very interesting and also confirms that brushing my leather wouldn't do any good. Glazing seems to make the surface glossy, where I prefer a matte finish. I might give neatsfoot and mink oil a shot, thanks. I've taken a picture of the type of markings I was talking about. There are heaps of these which I have to work around, quite disappointing for a very expensive leather, especially as these look like damage incurred at the tannery rather than natural scars and because they're scattered all over the side, I wouldn't be able to make anything with large pieces - but thankfully that's not a problem for me, yet. Here are some more photos of other people's products with natural veg tan leather. And of course, Louis Vuitton famously uses it too and their leather seems to have zero imperfections. Surely they must do something to it. Quote
Members Cyberthrasher Posted October 31, 2013 Members Report Posted October 31, 2013 You can slick stuff like that out with a glass burnisher. Those are normal handling scuffs and not really bad marks. also, the cleanliness of your leather from the tannery will depend on the "grade" you bought. Quote hellhoundkustoms.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/hellhoundkustoms www.etsy.com/shop/HellhoundKustoms
Members chiefjason Posted October 31, 2013 Members Report Posted October 31, 2013 Unless you can send someone to the tannery or wholesaler like Louise does you get stuck with some issues to fix. I have used an oil/wax finish over the leather. Just 50/50 neatsfoot oil and beeswax by weight. It darkens the leather slightly. After you melt them together it congeals into a paste somewhere between Vaseline and shoe polish depending on materials and amount of each. I rub that on the leather then heat it with a heat gun to force it to penetrate. This holster was neatsfoot oil and 50/50 mop and glo finish. You can see it's slightly darker, but I think that piece of leather was a bit reddish too. Quote
Members Andrew Chee Posted October 31, 2013 Members Report Posted October 31, 2013 Hi chief, do you have any problems with inconsistent penetration of the finish when applying with a heat gun? I make my own finish as well but I suspend it in a solvent so it's liquid until it's applied. I'm afraid if I don't do that, the finish would penetrate unevenly when heat is applied and I would get streaks. Andrew Unless you can send someone to the tannery or wholesaler like Louise does you get stuck with some issues to fix. I have used an oil/wax finish over the leather. Just 50/50 neatsfoot oil and beeswax by weight. It darkens the leather slightly. After you melt them together it congeals into a paste somewhere between Vaseline and shoe polish depending on materials and amount of each. I rub that on the leather then heat it with a heat gun to force it to penetrate. This holster was neatsfoot oil and 50/50 mop and glo finish. You can see it's slightly darker, but I think that piece of leather was a bit reddish too. Quote
Members chiefjason Posted October 31, 2013 Members Report Posted October 31, 2013 Andrew, no real problems with streaking. I do 2 coats. On my black it comes out even. I do a brown that is splotchy anyway so that would be hard to tell. But nothing that I have noticed. I generally do a final finish of atom wax over it too. Quote
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