Finishing Edges

[rktaylor]

I have started my second saddle and want to do a really good job on the edges. I have been following Bob Park's guide for the most part. I sanded the edges and edged with a #4 western edger. Then I wet the edges, applied Fiebings glycerin bar soap (liberally) and rubbed it with a piece of canvas coated with saddle soap. The edges seem pretty good, but I could probably burnish them some more. You can see in the two photos (the leather is damp in the first photo) that I am getting some soap on the surface and not just the edges. Is this a problem? Am I being too sloppy? I am not planning to dye the edges, but I think the surface needs to be cleaned before I oil it.

Any advice is appreciated.

Randy

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Certainly if you follow Bob Parks process you can't go wrong. Edges are one of my pet peeves, and over the years I strive to get better at it with each saddle. I always fuss over them not just when I am making a piece, but; every time I pick up that piece and fit it to the saddle. By the time I finally get a saddle done, I have probably worked all of the edges at least as many times as I have put it together during the building process. Regardless of whether you stain or not, the edges are just one of those details that bespeak of quality. Here are a couple of pics of what I mean

Bob

[CWR]

Randy,

I don't believe you will need to clean the surface before oiling. After oiling the soap probably won't show. You do need to go over those edges again with the canvas. They ought to look like glass when you are done. I would not add anymore soap just water and rub with the canvas. That rub rag ought to burn your hand by the time you finish.

CW

[Billy H]

Hi Randy,

I guess I will add my 2 cents worth. Your edges are looking pretty good, but I think you rubbed with the leather just a little to wet.

I will bet that when you where done rubbing, the edges felt really smooth and maybe even glass like and then after the leather dried they felt more like what your picture shows ( frustrating ). I have done the same and pulled my hair out trying to figure what was happening.

My suggestion is take what you have done so far and barely wet the edges with water-- let sit until almost dry and rub bees wax over the edges then take your canvas and rub until your hand starts to burn like CW said, I think you will be surprised at the end result.

The edge will burnish to a darker harder edge. Regards Billy

Edited July 2, 2014 by Billy H

[rktaylor]

Thanks for all the feedback. Billy, you are correct, that I thought these were really smooth. However when they dried, they were not so smooth. I stopped rubbing initially because I though they were starting to get rough and I was concerned with over-burnishing them. Either that or I was getting tired of rubbing. I'll give them a little more TLC like Bob says. These are my fenders, so I will get a lot more chances to burnish them before they are installed.

Randy

Edited July 2, 2014 by rktaylor