Method for sealing flesh side of vegetable tanned leather

[esantoro]

This information on a very simple method of sealing the flesh side of vegetable tanned leather stems from two other threads. I thought it deserved a thread topic of its own. I'll upload pictures a bit later.

Ed

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Karl: I'd be willing to bet real money that the white sealer is PVA based.

See the way it has a very slight bluish tint?

I use a lot of PVA based adhesives, including Pros-Aide (a medical adhesive ) and they all exhibit the bluish tint. Also they all go on white and dry clear. They will form a moisture proof barrier when dry.

You can dilute PVA with plain tap water.....

Karl

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Here's this from a nineteenth-century leather tanning journal:

Taking cues from this article and Karl's post, I diluted tanner's bond with tap water. Look no further: It works beautifully, though I am curios to pry a bit further and follow the articles suggestion of mixing in pure soap and a bit of oil. Any idea of that these might provide?

Thanks, Karl.

Ed

[esantoro]

Here are pictures.

[esantoro]

Here are pictures.

[tonyc1]

Here are pictures.

I've never seen leather that rough,Ed.

Tony.

[esantoro]

I've never seen leather that rough,Ed.

Tony.

That's just some scrap leather from the belly I keep around for the odd experiments.

Ed

[esantoro]

Here are pictures.

For the water section and the gum trag section I rubbed down the leather with a bone folder, which was not done to the diluted PVA section.

Ed

[TwinOaks]

So, in regards to mixing in soap and oil, maybe thin the tanner's bond with water and mix in some Lexol?

[esantoro]

So, in regards to mixing in soap and oil, maybe thin the tanner's bond with water and mix in some Lexol?

Hi Mike,

I mixed in some Lexol, and I think it adds a smoothness and flexibility that is significant. I imagine that neatsfoot would also work well in the event Lexol is not available.

Thanks,

Ed

[Shorts]

Alright, totally tangent question here. What/when/why do you seal the flesh side of leather? As in what projects or items is this done? Is this particular method done for a particular reason? Or is it just an option available?

I make holsters and the inside gets sealed with Resolene. Is that the same idea as what's here?