Quick Tutorial: Slicking Edges on Leather
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- In this Quick Tutorial video, I show you my edges slicking process for leather projects I am working on. There are many different ways to accomplish the goal of smooth shiny edges in your leatherwork, but they all boil down to one thing... water, friction and lots of elbow grease.
I wrote an article about this subject for our blog a few years ago and here is the link to that if you would like to check it out:
dgsaddlery.com/...
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Your video is still helping people three years later.👍
Been making and selling leather since 1967 but never said i know it all. Keep an open mind. Thank you for showing your techniques.
Been doing leatherwork since the 3rd grade, I’m 23 now, yet I continue to learn better ways of getting things done. Love your channel man, top notch!
I never woulda thunk laying thin leather flat to do edging, great idea, thanks!
Ditto.
Thanks Don. We appreciate your kind sharing of your experience!
Don I have enjoyed your sharing your knowledge of leather work, I'm retired but I have a little saddle shop repair in Waller tx just east of Hempstead and after watching you I've found that I've done almost every thing wrong . Thanks
That's great. Keep on teaching us. I'm a student and I'm now Learning burnishing
I now use the ‘Gonzales Slick’ on all my work. Thanks for sharing. It works like a charm every time.
on buying canvas. I use old blue jean legs give it a try. Let me know your thoughts. Great work Don always impressed with your work.
I recently acquired all the pieces required for your slicking method. A total game changer. Thank you so much for sharing Don!
Super fast, super effective, super cheap. Works like magic.
Thanks, Don. I have been searching for glycerin without the saddle soap. Very difficult. Now I know better.
I recently found your Channel. Thank you for the great information as I start my journey to leather working.
Very useful video, thank you.
Thanks Don, I love the way you explain the process in an easy way.
Best lesson I've seen on this, Don. Thanks for making the video. Very informative.
Always good to see close-up of hand craft, because a wide view of your house interior is what we tuned in to !earn about. Zooming in so the screen only shows.hands and arms would be great.
Thanks Don! I learned a great deal from this! Keep 'em coming!
Just tried your method, wow what a time saver, thanks again. Never thought to add the glycerin to the damp edge on the first pass. Gonna throw my sandpaper away. Didn't seem to even need the canvas. Wood slicker was clicking like your canvas cloth, edge looks like glass.
Fantastic and I’m glad you found it useful! Yay!
Thanks for the video. I got a small burnishing machine for my birthday but have found that hand slicking gets me a better looking edge. Also I hav been using edge kote but I think I will now use a dye instead.
Thanks for this. I'm brand new to leatherworking and was having trouble slicking edges on 4 oz. veg tan. Your method worked very well.
Just slicked my first edge and came out the way I wanted it too!! Thanks, your videos help a lot!!
Hey Don,
Thanks for the great job on your thoughts on edge finishing, very practical and easy to follow. Keep up the good work sir, I'm in the process of developing a more simple and efficient technique. Maybe if the Lord tearies in about 5 more years I can say, I'm on to a good technique, I'll have about 25 in on leather crafting by then, but hope to be learning every day then as well. I pray we all learn something every day, and thank those whom we learn from.
God Bless you, God bless the Marines, and God bless the USA.
Semper Fi, from this old Marine.
Omg thanks for the advice this method is the best and fast I was using gum tragacanth and the edges were not as smooth this way your edges feel like if your are touching a granite stone the best I bought all you mentioned in this video and I'm slicking my belts right know thanks a lot for all your tips
This is helpful! I’ve had a hell of a time with the
thank you! Very helpful
Thanks for the info. Always eager to hear from professionals in regard to edge work. I'm fairly new to leather work and have been trying various methods of edge slicking. I agree that hand edging works best. I've been finishing with black edge coat and agree I don't care for the shiny look but like it's protection qualities so I finish with a coat of glycerin saddle soap on top with a final rub with wood burnish stick. It turns it to a real smooth matte finish.
Great video Don as always keep up the good work hope to take one of your classes in the furture
Great tips! Great technique! Thanks for sharing your skills!
Thanks Don. I don't do too much leather work as I'm just starting out and learning.
I always thought there was more to it than just water and a stick. It didn't work out for me.
Thanks again. The Lord bless you with even more knowledge about leather working, in Jesus name. As the bible says give and ye shall recieve. Give and it shall be given unto you!
Amen !
Thanks Don. Looking forward to using your technique.
I use old jeans that I cut up with saddle soap & a stick for burnishing. Especially a back pocket cause it will stay on your hand good. I have had good luck with that. I do not use the blue outside I use the gray inside. I have tried many ways. The Gum Tragacanth works good with a stick, but I still prefer either canvas or jeans with the saddle soap. I also dye after burnishing not before cause it seems to be harder to burnish if dye first. Great info cause we all can use any help we can get.
I do also use the glycerin soap also.
@@TexHoss1 is it work ?
Good video!
Very good explanation. It helps a lot! Thanks!
That was awesome thank you You’ve simplified it again for me
Lots of great stuff in here man. Thanks for sharing.
Spit workes best, however I use this only on my owne stuff. Recently I have started using hide glue watered down a bit. This on less dense, stringy stuff that seams to want to just fuz no matter what.
I do just use water and a rag n slicker after edging and sanding, but I do use the edge kote as 90% of my leather is going into a pocket holster and sweat n moisture is pretty much enemy number one for those things. I also use acrylic resolene to seal everything up good.
Very informative tutorial, thx
Great lesson
Interesting how you did the thinner leather. Thanks from Singapore!
Thanks for taking some of the confusion out of this important process for us beginners. Is your slicking stick bone, wood, or something else.
Thank you
i use same process more or less but with Johnson paste wax or some carnuba base on the rag then antler slicker though. I dye before and after.
I also dye my edges. I did it the first time that way when I was waiting on my edge paint, but it looked good and I kept with it. I’m a newbie, and I’m glad I wasn’t way off base. Thanks!
That is really close to what I do. I use "Finishing Edges by Bob Park" and they look amazing in my opinion. Enjoy watching/learning other techniques!
I'm looking to change up my edge process.
I've always dyed first(after bevelling the edge) . Then water. then glycerine and burnishing. I always wipe of the soap residue with a damp rag. Then..fenice edge paint, a necessary evil for now, as I've found that after a few months the edges will have a waxy whitish look, despite the the edges looking great initially, so i've been sadly resorting to the edge paint after burnishing as a final finish, i've at least become proficient at applying it smoothly and thinly, and though the fenice is quite nice and not as plasticky as others, nice flex, and good aging, it wears off as opposed to peeling, but I still would rather no edge paint.
Possibly the dying first is the issue, but I couldn't see how. I've bee up and down the leather forums and have tried a few of the older edging techniques and still haven't found one that i'm 100% happy with.
Ha! I use a bar of organic soap that was worthless for washing my hands as it wouldn't get soapy, but works great for burnishing. I use dye for the edge coat and use a Q-tip that I blot on some rag to make sure it doesn't apply too much.
What is it they use on expensive bags and watches that look like some sort of paint or protective layer that they put on the edge? I have seen it flake off so it definitely is some sort of thing.
How do you sharpen your knives? Edge degree, etc?
So if you make a koozie, is it necessary to seal the flesh side for max longevity?
I run my canvas rag around on my glycerin saddle soap and rub my edges nice! I do wet them first! I will however be careful on how much I rub on my canvas!!
I notice you don't use the edge tool to bevel the edges before burnishing them. I see people use wood burnishing tool without beveling the edge first and ended up with mushroomed edge. With this canvas technique, the edge doesn't mushroom out?
The piece I used in the video had already been edged with an edger... I almost always edge with an edger before slicking... unless really thin leather. Thanks a bunch!
Great video! It never hurts to review the basics. Quick question, how do you deal with edging two pieces that are glued together and have glue squeeze-out?
You just gotta sand it a little to knock the extra glue off
Thanks a lot!
Thanks for the video Don. I mostly use bone glue edge treatment, but, used this method a lot in the past. Nice slick. Do you use any sealer on top at the end? Or just oil?
Thank you for the info I'm newbie to leather so I buy remnant from hobby lobby can I still use fiebing dyes on already colored leather and the same burnishing method as for veggie tan .Thank you
Will you slick your piece and then oil it? Will it effect the burnish if it’s oiled first?
What would be the difference if using the yellow saddle soap? And that’s is for the videos! Your page is my go to when I can’t figure something out!
That’s is should be thanks lol
your cap for sale? :) ypu are the best!
Good to know other methods, a good slick edge is a sign of professionalism, IMO... I've had good success with gum trag on different weights of leather, mainly from 4 to 9 oz., Not done a lot with skirting weight stuff, other than a bend of 15 oz. "Slappers" for some kinky associates...... 😁.
Thanks man.
Thanks for the tutorial and wisdom, Dan. My question is... I'm a beginner yet an old-school hardhead who like using beeswax. What's your take on it vs Saddle Soap , gum trag, Tokonole, etc.? I'd like to know the view from more experienced hands. Thanks!
What is your thought on gum trag? I've not tried using canvas but I can't seem to get that glassy smooth, shiny look some people get. I use gum trag and a wood slicker. It gets shiny and burnished but not like glass. And it tends to get a few stray hairs that comes back up every so often.
When you line something, you line smooth side or grain side out? From what you said it is smooth side out to give it protection?
Where you at the bcyls livestock show I think I saw you there
Cool. I don't figure this will be similar to the way Chechiflo showed how to glue upholstery leather. Oops, I went off Your subject too soon.
Leather. Glove use I for slicking
in the 5 ounce piece you said I've already edged it with a number one what does this mean please? New to leather making and trying to learn as much as I can thank you.
Edgers are sized. There might be a chart somewhere but basically the higher the number the more of the edge you will take off.
Thx
Great info Mr. Don. Any particular reason you wait to dye the edges until after you slick? I usually use ivory soap and/or bees wax but after dyeing the edges first. Just curious as to your reasoning....
For me, if I slick it first and let it dry then I can use the dye and I get a more controlled application and I don’t use as much dye. Just a lot cleaner for me doing it that way.
Don Gonzales that makes sense. Guess I'll have to give it a go and see. Don't think I've ever really tried applying it last. Thank you
I think you will find you will like it that way. I have tried dying first but I have stuck with the dyeing last. I seem to get a better cover down my bevel line that way.
Why two different saddle soaps?
I'm guessing the cream is used because it disperses nicely onto the canvas, and the bar is self explanatory, it's extremely ergonomic to use on edges, and one can shape it with a knife for small nooks, and it is far less messy than trying to put a cream paste onto the edges other than the little bit in the rag, but that's caught into the texture of the canvas so it wouldnt goop all over your leather
Can we DIY SADDLE SOAP?
When you work your way around a long edge like a fender or skirt, how many inches at a time do you find works best more or less?
I prob do around 12-15” at a time... great question!
I was taught WSDWS. Wet it, Slick it, Dye it, Wax it, Slick it.
What are your thoughts on Ron's Edge Rub? Thanks.
Don, where can I purchase a slicking stick like yours?
Much appreciated. How long should one case leather?
Casing it means getting it wet throughout. So there is no rule. But know that it will mold if it stays wet and in the right conditions. I put things it the fridge for long term. You can also use a little mouth wash in the water to hold off the mold
Will regular gicylern soap work
I moisten my edges with water and then dye them. I do this before I burnish.
How does that work for you. It seems to me that if I dye my edges first & then burnish, the edges are harder to get a good burnish on them.
works good for me but I'll have to experiment.
What colour dye do you think would give the clearest result?
No wonder my edges are always crap. I was never doing it right!
You know that glycerin soap melts really easily. Just recent you scraps into a shape you want.
How long can you talk about a piece of canvas ? After 4 minutes I turned this video off.