Anyone ever heard of......

[JustWakinUp]

Yankee Wax Crayons,

From my understanding you can use these to do edgeing , anyone familiar or have a project they've used this stuff on so I can see an example?

[Kevin]

I don't know about crayons, but Yankee makes a very hard wax that is applied to the burnishing wheel on a shoe finisher and used to burnish soles. Maybe you could apply it to the edge and then burnish, I haven't tried that. My favorite edge finish is parafin wax, but I'm too impatient and get flakes of wax all over everything. I'm afraid that's what would happen with the Yankee wax if you tried to use it that way.

Kevin

[rdb]

Yankee Polish is the Best for burnishing soles, and heels. Do not burnish general leather products with it. It will rub off onto everything.

[JustWakinUp]

I'm trying to figure out the best way to burnish the edge of chrome tan leathers.

I have a piece of elephant hide sandwiched between 2 layers of 2oz chrome tan.

I've glued them together using masters contact cement. I've tried using gum trag

to burnish but I can still see the individual layers and after a period of time then

layers eventually seperate. I'm trying to find the right combination of products to

give me that comercial look of an edge. Someone recomended this yankee wax

Anyone have some ideas how to go about doing this?

[Kevin]

In my experience, you can't really burnish most chrome tan leathers, this is when to use Edge Kote or something that goes on the leather instead of into the leather. You may have already tried to dye the edge and found the dye bleeds into the leather and doesn't just stay on the edge. I've been tempted to try some plain old latex paint, but I'm just too lazy.

Of course you can skive and fold the edge, or do a French edge ala Kevin King.

A few years ago, I had a lizard watch band to make. I told the lady it would have a painted edge because the tiles on lizard won't follow a straight line when you try to fold it. My assistant said she wanted to make it. Well, she didn't know what she "couldn't" do and got it on the first try. She used a filler in the lizard and folded the lizard around that and got a perfect edge. Poor ignorant girl.

Good luck, Kevin

[JustWakinUp]

I use a french edge on my wallets but there are times with other pieces that I need to put a smooth edge on the layers of leather. The comercial guys do it, so i know it can be done. It's figuring out the process that is always the tough part.

[rdb]

Esantoro has experimented a lot with various edge dye methods. Read some of his topics.

I use a couple of edge inks that work for me on raw chrome edges. I don't believe any of them last all that long, but others may have a different experience.

I use a french edge on my wallets but there are times with other pieces that I need to put a smooth edge on the layers of leather. The comercial guys do it, so i know it can be done. It's figuring out the process that is always the tough part.

[Davy]

This might work to stop edges separating . Rough the edges to be glued with a wire wheel or something that will rough it up real good . you need to get the glue deep so it will bite . Get some bootmakers neoprene solution or sole glue . Thin it a bit with a compatible glue thinner or solvent . Brush it on and let it dry . Next, brush on the full strength glue and let it dry completely so the 2 pieces wont stick together . Next, reactivate the glue with heat , just until the glue gets tacky again . Quickly join them then clamp them firmly for a good while 10mins to 30mins orta do it or overnight if you like . This process is essential for correct sole adhesion in the foot wear industry . I forget how many times stonger the bond will be but i know it was at least 3 or more times . the edge , I'm guessing here but you could try sanding the edge the shape you want , apply a very small amount of water to the edge then glass it (thick bit of glass rubbed hard and fast on edges ) to compress the fibres . If that doesnt work , heat the edge first to harden it a bit then glass it again . Then ink and wax it . Dunno if it'll work , but thats what I'd try . The higher the melting point of wax , the harder it is to apply but gives the best results .