Widget Report post Posted December 9, 2013 Hi all, I'm looking for advice on what types of finishes you apply to leather to leave it "natural" from the tooling/carving. I'm wanting to finish the checkbook cover in the picture....what I'm thinking is using Fiebing's Chocolate Brown to die the background sections, but I'd like to leave the rest "au natural." What would I use to finish that off? Thanks for any advice, and happy holidays to you all. PS Thanks for all of you experienced folks who have been so generous with your help and advice. Its been a year since I started this addiction <er> craft, and would have given up on it if not for the help and advice of you fine folks. PPS If there's any critique of the work as well, let me know. I know in particular my pear shading and decorative cuts still need work... PPPS (Last one, promise) Ignore the splotchiness of the corners...I took this with my phone 10 seconds after I finished, so the leather is still drying. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted December 9, 2013 If you want to leave it natural Widget just use resolene cut 50/50 with water over it when you finish the other dyeing. Use a couple light coats instead of one heavy one. I dye my things including the edges and then burnish the edges when the project is dry and then put the resolene on. I think the cover looks very nice but I don't do Sheridan style carving much so not one to ask about that. Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Widget Report post Posted December 10, 2013 DoubleC, thanks for your response. I may be changing my mind and just leaving the whole thing natural...it's a Christmas gift and someone who knows the person well thinks they would just like the "natural beauty." On a test piece, I rubbed in some Resolene and a patch with Tan Kote. I like the way the Tan Kote darkened the burnished areas just a touch...in your experience is Tan Kote good enough to use as a final top coat, or should I Tan Kote then put something else on? Thanks again for your advice! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted December 12, 2013 No Tan Kote is fine. Also neatsfoot oil will darken it some and give it a weathered look with resolene. Show us the final project ok? Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
