Coaster & Coaster holder present

[Alaisiagae]

The server migration ate my original post! I made these last Christmas as a gift to my sister and brother-in-law. It's my first by-myself, not-from-a-kit or class project. The coaster holder is from a Leathercraft Library template. I'm really proud of these, it took me a few tries to get that coaster holder cut correctly. I tried to waterproof the coasters using Sno-Seal wax and the Scotch-Guard I use on my leather dress shoes. It was fun coloring each bunny a different color, but I think the black one is my favorite because it's the most complex.

[Retswerb]

As I said on your now-lost post, I really like the coloring work you did on these. Very clean and precise.

[YinTx]

This is awesome!  Gave me some great ideas and inspiration, too!  Thanks for posting again!

YinTx

[Alaisiagae]

Thank you!

I bought detail brushes (the smallest being 0/20) and those helped a lot with painting the stamped areas and applying the resist (I used Neatlac). I used Cova Colors paint, and used several layers to make the color stand out vividly. My arbor press came in handy for doing the coaster boarder pattern, all I had to do was rotate the coaster and then pull the lever. 

[JayEhl]

How fun!  And a great gift idea, too!  

[Workinman]

Those are awesome...at any level of skill, let alone your first solo project !  Great job !!

I'm curious how your waterproofing is working ?  I also make (veg tan) coasters, but noticed they begin to stain really badly after a few weeks of use.  Coffee and wine seem to be really bad, but even water leaves a stain.  I've experimented with; 1) Fiebings Leather Balm;  2) Tandy's Eco Flo Super Sheen; 3) Tandy's Eco Flo Top Finish; 4) Mink Oil; 5) Saddle Soap, and; 6) Dr Jackson's Oil for Leather- ALL recommended by Tandy and Fiebing.  I've even experimented applying each on to dry leather, cased leather with 1 coat to as many as 4 coats.  NONE work perfectly (of course, some better than others).  Also, most leave a shiny film on the surface, which for my coaster designs is not desireable.

I'm sure open for suggestions any one

 

[Northmount]

On 7/24/2020 at 3:55 PM, Workinman said:

I'm sure open for suggestions any one

Use a lacquer finish on both sides, several thin layers, never immerse in water, wipe with damp cloth.

Tom

[Alaisiagae]

On 7/24/2020 at 5:55 PM, Workinman said:

Those are awesome...at any level of skill, let alone your first solo project !  Great job !!

I'm curious how your waterproofing is working ?  I also make (veg tan) coasters, but noticed they begin to stain really badly after a few weeks of use.  Coffee and wine seem to be really bad, but even water leaves a stain.  I've experimented with; 1) Fiebings Leather Balm;  2) Tandy's Eco Flo Super Sheen; 3) Tandy's Eco Flo Top Finish; 4) Mink Oil; 5) Saddle Soap, and; 6) Dr Jackson's Oil for Leather- ALL recommended by Tandy and Fiebing.  I've even experimented applying each on to dry leather, cased leather with 1 coat to as many as 4 coats.  NONE work perfectly (of course, some better than others).  Also, most leave a shiny film on the surface, which for my coaster designs is not desireable.

I'm sure open for suggestions any one

 

I don't know hiow they're holding up, my sister hasn't mentioned them - I don't even know if they've gotten any use. The guy at the Tandy store recommended I use Rustoleum's "Never Wet" spray. I figured I'd use the Sno-Seal and water-repellant spray that I had on hand. I used a hair drier to heat up the leather and sno-seal, hopefully that helped the sno-seal get into the pores better. Maybe I'll get some laquer as Tom suggested and ask her to let me touch up the coasters.

[Workinman]

Thanks Tom and Alaisiagae !

Tom, how would the lacquer affect the leather- other than the waterproofing ?  Would it darken it, stiffen it, or, leave a shiny film (like Super Sheen does) ?

Thanks again !

Mike

[Alaisiagae]

I spoke with my dad and he suggested using a clear acrylic finish to get waterproofing. I have a spare coaster/scap leather I can use to test it out, see if it darkens the leather or not.