Finishing techniques

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Re: Finishing techniques

#101 Post by paul »

Zach,
I would worry about dye bleeding on socks. Even with proper application techniques.
Applying dye and not having rub off is hard enough without putting it in a warm, moist environment with constant rubbing.
I've heard of some saddle makers mixing dye with their oil and staining their leather that way. It might not rub off. Something to try.
I don't know what to say about the water based dyes wickability. Haven't used it enough.
Furthermore, I think you might loose alot of the drapiness that is so appealing about this leather.
You might try asking the folks at Waterhouse if they have any suggestions about that.
And then there's the good old tradition of trial and error.
Keep us informed.
Paul
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Re: Finishing techniques

#102 Post by manuwa »

I want only theory on how to apply a dye on a wooden sandal heel and welt after construction, which among of the dying material is more preferable especialLy if i want it to be brown and black in colour.
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Re: Finishing techniques

#103 Post by kemosabi »

Is it crazy to attempt a homemade patent leather finish? Figured I'd ask first before re-inventing the wheel.

The varnish recipe seems pretty basic:

-Linseed oil
-Asphaltum (bitumen)
-Some type of pigment such as lampblack (for black finish)

Heat linseed oil and dissolve bitumen slowly. Add pigment. Brush on varnish and let dry, rubbing with a pumice stone between coats until a shiny surface is created.

Gotta love these old recipes...
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Re: Finishing techniques

#104 Post by farmerfalconer »

Sound neat! What is bitumen and where can you get it?

Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#105 Post by farmerfalconer »

Also wondering a good source for gum tragacanth.

Thanks,
Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#106 Post by romango »

Gum tragacanth is available at Tandy Leather Factory.
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Re: Finishing techniques

#107 Post by farmerfalconer »

Great! Thanks!

Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#108 Post by kemosabi »

Bitumen is petroleum pitch.

From Wikipedia:
Asphalt , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product; it is a substance classed as a pitch. Until the 20th century, the term asphaltum was also used.

Here's the link if you want more:
Bitumen

Cheers,
-Nat
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Re: Finishing techniques

#109 Post by farmerfalconer »

Interesting. I am home schooled so I am always trying to find a way to make my hobbies sound educational so that I can spend more time on them.
This might do itImage

Thanks,
Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#110 Post by kemosabi »

Ahhhh... Home schooled. That explains alot.

I was just checking out your new inseaming awl and wondering how it is a 16 year old knows the first thing about metallurgy! Nice job BTW.

-Nat
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Re: Finishing techniques

#111 Post by farmerfalconer »

Ha! Thanks. We "farm" so I have lots of time at home and lots of tools to use Image
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Re: Finishing techniques

#112 Post by dw »

Gum tragacanth is available at Tandy Leather Factory.


AFAIK, the gum tragacanth that Tandy sells is in liquid form. I think what you want for this recipe is a solid form. Carreducker has a photo on his blog somewhere that shows GT in a "crystalline" form, IIRC.

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Re: Finishing techniques

#113 Post by kemosabi »

DW,
A little confused. Which recipe are you referring to?
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Re: Finishing techniques

#114 Post by johnl »

Gum Tragacanth is used in baking and decorating cakes. You can probably pick some up a a baking supply place.
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Re: Finishing techniques

#115 Post by kemosabi »

Cody,
Just realized you were also asking where to get bitumen.

Bottom line is: I'm not sure. Still looking for a source myself.

Anybody have an idea? All I can find so far are huge corporations and foreign importers for the asphalt/paving industry.
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Re: Finishing techniques

#116 Post by farmerfalconer »

OK. Well its probably not the same but we did some distrutive disstillation of coal earlier in the year and we got coal tar which dried into on black chunk. Just put coal in a test tube over a flame and allow the gas to escape into a condenser. Its pretty messy though.
Maybe that will help.

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Re: Finishing techniques

#117 Post by farmerfalconer »

"AFAIK, the gum tragacanth that Tandy sells is in liquid form."

This may be dumb and irrelevant, but, what is AFAIK?

Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#118 Post by dw »

AFAIK? It's what the duck says when he's not on camera.Image

Seriously? IIRC, AFAIK= As Far As I Know

BTW, I was mistaken. Somehow I conflated your interest in the patent leather recipe with your request for a source for gum Trag. Probably because the two posts were right after each other.

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Re: Finishing techniques

#119 Post by farmerfalconer »

Sorry. I text about once a year only so all those abbreviations are new to me. I would ask what IIRC is but I guess I look dumb enough Image

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Re: Finishing techniques

#120 Post by gshoes »

Nate,

Very interesting.

From Wikipedia:
Asphalt , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product; it is a substance classed as a pitch. Until the 20th century, the term asphaltum was also used.

In High School in art class we made our own etching plates, covering copper plates with Asphaltum and bees wax. I never new that it was a form of pitch.

Cody, And I don't know what IIRC is either and I am not Dumb?

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Re: Finishing techniques

#121 Post by corvin »

Here's a source for gum tragacanth in powder form:

http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-284-070-008
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Re: Finishing techniques

#122 Post by farmerfalconer »

Nat,
I did some research and found a receipt for shoe varnish which "gives a shine almost equal to patent leather" in The Art of Boot and Shoemaking by John Bedford Leno, 1885. I think page 212 or 213.
Take 1/2 lb of Gum Shellac. Break into small pieces and put in a jar and cover with alchohol.
Shake several times daily and then add a piece of camphor large as a hens egg. Shake. Add 1oz. lamp black. shake and allow to dissolve for 3 days. Shake before use and apply with a paint brush.


I dont know where to get camphor or shellac but if anyone else does Id love to know.

Hope this helps if you can find the ingredientsImage

Cody
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Re: Finishing techniques

#123 Post by dw »

I do a lot of forum reading and posting--single malt forums, spey fishing/casting forums, mens wear forums, here--so there's no dumb question.

IIRC=If I recall correctly.

BTW=By The Way.

DAMHIKT=Don't Ask Me How I Know That

FTFY=Fixed That For You

ASF=And So Forth

USW=Und So Weiter. Image

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Re: Finishing techniques

#124 Post by dw »

Also...YMMV=Your Mileage May Vary. (I use that one a lot.)

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Re: Finishing techniques

#125 Post by kemosabi »

Thanks Cody.
I remember seeing this recipe and thinking the same thing. What the heck is Camphor? To me, that's part of the charm of these old recipes. Wouldn't be surprised to read one someday that calls for "eye of newt" and requires reciting dark poetry while stirring the leather in a cauldron pot!

Boil, boil, toil and trouble.
Leather varnish and cauldron bubble...
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