Staining edges without goofs

[Longbows]

When edge staining or edge painting, what are you doing to keep from getting paint/stain on the face or backside of the leather?  I am using antique gel to stain the edges of my projects and the slightest bit of gel on the face or backside looks so amateur.  Any help is appreciated!!

[zuludog]

I used cotton buds for a while, but now I use a pencil dipped in a pot of Edgekote as an applicator. It's cheap; easy to use; you can vary the load; and once you've got used to it you can be quite precicse

The technique I use is - always work from the outside onto the edge. Use a small amount of Edgekote and angle the pencil to cover the corners of the edge; then apply a slightly thicker amount to fill in the actual edge

It only works well if you've already burnished the edge to obtain a smooth finish, with water, gum trag., Tokonole, etc.You can't get an even straight line on an irregular surface

[Longbows]

Thank you. I will try that technique!

[Dwight]

Another one is to take one of those little wooly daubers that come with the 4 oz of Feibings dye, . . . take a Bic lighter to it and burn it down about half way, . . . being careful not to make a torch out of it.  Rub  all the carbon off it, . . . dip it in the dye, . . . shake off the excess . . .  and paint your edge.

This is the only way I do it, . . . and I do very little of it.  It is efficient though, . . . just practice a bit on some junk leather laying around, . . .  you might like that process too.  The dauber will then dry hard if you don't clean it with thinner, . . . and you'll have to roll it around a bit next time you need it to bet it pliable again, . . . I have a black one and a brown one for whichever I need.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Handstitched]

G'Day,

I have used a few methods, the cotton buds, that ' zuludog' mentioned. I use those for many jobs,they are quite handy, but some are better than others I've noticed. Some hold their shape, some go all ' fluffy' with fluffy bits hanging off.  The other method I have used is, sheep skin off-cuts , cut into swabs that I use for  all my dying, they are around 2" square, some  are bigger. I trim one corner   neatly to use for edge dying.  Just practice on some scraps first.

HS

[Longbows]

Great thank you!  I will try those additional techniques!