Fileteuse Manuelle (Heated Edge Creaser) On The Cheap

[soccerdad]

I'm not an expert on this topic, but I'll pass along my experience: I think Fenice is a good product, especially when applied as thickly as possible using one of the brass roller tools made for this purpose, then sanded between coats to shape the edge and remove flaws. In my experience, only low temperatures and numerous fairly quick strokes of the glazing tool heat Fenice so it flows enough to correct small flaws. Higher temperatures blister the finish. In both scenarios, it has changed color. Sometimes it has been a small change that looks OK after a coat of wax. In general, however, I've been happiest with the color of Fenice without heat. At times, I've shaped the edge finish with a glazing tool, sanded lightly and reapplied a final coat that dried without flaws. Campbell-Randall sells this stuff, and they are very helpful on the phone. You might ring them to talk it over. I'm also experimenting with a different edge finish from RML. It's has a waxy feel and seems to flow easier than Fenice to correct flaws. The chocolate brown color (beautiful!) I've tried also changes color with heat, but adding wax (I've tried beeswax and parrafin) seems to help. In a few experiments, I like this one best without heat after the final coat, as with Fenice.

If there's somebody out there who is an expert at using the fileteuse manuelle and glazing edges, please enlighten us! Maybe somebody at RML and Fine Leatherworking would be able and willing to produce and post tutorials. Hope so. I, for one, would patronize a business that helps customers learn these things.

[izmarkie]

I'm in the same boat. After a couple days of experimentation, I think I will use heat on the first coat or two to encourage adherence, then sand and apply more coats without heat to ensure that it's even.

I couldn't consistently get an even surface, but the heat definitely seems to help it stick. After making a dimmer box and trying different soldering tips, I think I may just try a cheap, teflon-coated iron to see if that works.

[soccerdad]

Good luck. Let us know what you find out.