Edge Paint Applicators

[Arturomex]

I've been doing a lot of work with chrome tan lately and I'm using Giardini basic paint over the dense base coat.  I've been applying it with an awl and I'm happy with the result. Not that happy about the time it's taking me to do it. I bought an inexpensive edge paint applicator to test drive and it was disappointing. The bearings didn't run freely, the serrated, conical tip kept freezing and it just generally made a mess.

I do like the idea of applying paint this way. Does anyone have some experience they can share with a recommendation for a tool that will work properly?  I'd also entertain buying one of those little units with the serrated or cross hatched wheel that spins through the paint bath if anyone has a positive report about that.

Thanks,

Arturo

[fredk]

Sounds like you got a bad tool. I have two of those, each is made different but they run as smooth as silk. Have you tried working the bearing to make it run smooth?

Another way to apply edge finish is to fold up a scrap of material, such as felt, grip it in a wood spring clothes peg and use the felt pad to apply the finish

[Arturomex]

Thanks, Fred.

Yeah, they're just bad bearings on, I think, a poor design. But hearing that you have two that work well is encouraging and I'll try it again.

I use felt for dye on veg tan edges. Hadn't thought about using it for edge paint. I'll give it a try and report back to you.

Regards,

Arturo

[LatigoAmigo]

@Arturomex I have converted to Tokonole edge paint. Very similar to what you are using, just a little thicker. The two different style roller pens worked OK, but got to be a little tedious as they don't hold much paint, and were a bit of a pain to clean, so I've gone to these swabs. They lay the paint down evenly and quickly, although I often find myself doing the final smoothing of the edge with my finger. I got them from Amazon for cleaning lenses, and they come in a smaller size.

Edited July 27, 2020 by LatigoAmigo

[Arturomex]

Those look interesting, Amigo. I know I've seen something like that somewhere, it's the somewhere that eludes me at the moment. LOL

Let me tug on your sleeve about Tokonole, please. I just got a bottle of the regular (clear) stuff and I'm not having the success I'd hoped for. I've been trialing it on some veg tan. It seems to take a long time to set up, it never seems to  set completely, it seems to have a sticky feel to it even after burnishing and I can't seem to get it to buff up to any appreciable gloss. Does that sound anomalous based on your experience?  I'm wondering if I got a bad bottle.

 

[LatigoAmigo]

7 hours ago, Arturomex said:

Does that sound anomalous based on your experience?

I apply thin coats, and it has always dried within a half-hour. I usually put down two or three coats to get full coverage.

[chuck123wapati]

i use the wrong end of a small paint brush, just the handle held sideways puts on a nice even coat not to thick and right where i want it. 

[Hardrada]

How thin are those edges, Artourious?

I've been tempted to buy those dense spongey bits at Superstore's make-up aisle. Maybe they'll work better than other applicators? I've not had much luck with felt (it sheds lint) or the small wool daubers: the paint smears beyond the edges onto the project's surface and it can be a pain to clean it off.

Best resuts I've gotten have been with an awl, really. Tedious, I know, but less messy.

ADDENDUM: You know, I've also gotten good results with a paddle: https://tandyleather.ca/collections/supplies/products/craftool-stainless-steel-edge-paddle

I mostly use the rough side of that paddle.

Edited July 27, 2020 by Hardrada

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, Hardrada said:

 

I've been tempted to buy those dense spongey bits at Superstore's make-up aisle.

these work ok but they soak up more product than you use on the edge itself.

[Arturomex]

1 hour ago, Hardrada said:

How thin are those edges, Artourious?

I've been tempted to buy those dense spongey bits at Superstore's make-up aisle. Maybe they'll work better than other applicators? I've not had much luck with felt (it sheds lint) or the small wool daubers: the paint smears beyond the edges onto the project's surface and it can be a pain to clean it off.

Best resuts I've gotten have been with an awl, really. Tedious, I know, but less messy.

ADDENDUM: You know, I've also gotten good results with a paddle: https://tandyleather.ca/collections/supplies/products/craftool-stainless-steel-edge-paddle

I mostly use the rough side of that paddle.

They're between 1.0 and 2.0mm.

If I recall correctly, you glass and then use edge paint. This might not help with your process but I got a pack of felt at Home Depot labelled as Everbilt "Heavy Duty Felt Blankets." It's that stuff you put under chair legs and whatnot to stop them scratching the floor.  I got two 4.25 X 6 inch pieces in the pack. It's really dense, firm stuff about 2.6mm thick and it doesn't seem to shed at all. I just cut strips to size, buck pieces off the strips, fasten them to handles and I'm good to go for dye application. I'm going to try them out with the edge paint as per @fredk and see how that works.

Next time I can I'm going to head to Superstore for the spongy bits and try them out as well.

Like you, I get the best results with an awl but I'm getting into a run of handbags and staring at a few yards of edge finishing.  Was hoping to find a quicker way to get it done.