Leather Finish

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

How does one achieve the gloss finish on leather?

Paul B.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

As part of the currying process, leather was treated with cod liver oil and tallow.
The U.S. Ordnance Department looked to this mixture as a finish:

3 pints of milk
1 oz. glycerin
5 pints of blood
1 oz. carbolic acid
3 gallons of water
10 oz of beeswax or carnauba wax

Today, some makers offer no finish, some makers a "wax" finish of some kind, and many of the Run of the Mill, Brand X, Indian/Pakistani, and Mainstream Sutler Row makers use gloss acrylic finish over black aniline dye.

Curt

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Hallo!

As part of the currying process, leather was treated with cod liver oil and tallow.
The U.S. Ordnance Department looked to this mixture as a finish:

3 pints of milk
1 oz. glycerin
5 pints of blood
1 oz. carbolic acid
3 gallons of water
10 oz of beeswax or carnauba wax

Today, some makers offer no finish, some makers a "wax" finish of some kind, and many of the Run of the Mill, Brand X, Indian/Pakistani, and Mainstream Sutler Row makers use gloss acrylic finish over black aniline dye.

Curt

Curt,

Me Culpa, I should have clarified...as I'm familiar with the process and effects of proper currying...what you have described above, will provide some amount of gloss (resultant from buffing with a good stiff/soft cloth), it's not what I had in mind.

I'd also love to see a citation for the formula listed above.

The gloss finish I'm looking for is that like patent leather found on original artifacts, and some very well made products today from respected craftsmen.

Paul B.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Aha.. that is a horse of a different color.

I will dig out the formula listing when I get home.

The 1861 U.S. Ordnance Manual, page 174 lists:

Varnish for Holsters, Scabbards, &c., (or Patent Leather).

(For first and second coats.)

Prussian blue, in lumps............................................4 .
Sugar of lead.............................................. ..........0.7
Aqua fortis............................................ ...............0.7
Linseed-oil, boiled............................................ .....70
Spirits turpentine........................................ ..........24.6

The ingredients, except the turpentine, are boiled together in an iron kettle eight hours, when the mixture will assume a brilliant black color. When the varnish is nearly cool, stir in the turpentine. The kettle in which the varnish is made should be of a capacity to hold double the quantity of varnish to be boiled.

;)

Curt

(For the third or finishing coat.-- Copal Varnish.)

Gum copal (in clean lumps)......................................26.5
Boiled linseed-oil............................................... .....42.5
Spirits turpentine........................................ ...........31.

This varnish is made in a copper vessel, smallest at top, in the form of a still.
Put the copal in the vessel, set it on a charcoal fire for one hour, in which time it will melt, and all the watery particles will evaporate. Add the oil while the copal is warm, but not boiling hot. When nearly cool, add the turpentine, which will give it a proper consistency for use.
For 5 lbs. copal and the proper proportions of oil and turpentine of oil and turpentine, the vessel should hold 6 gallons.

[John Peterson]

Do you have any actual experience mixing and
using these formulas or are you just transcribing?

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

Just posting.

Curt

[markj]

How does one achieve the gloss finish on leather?

Paul B.


Try this recipe...if you dare.

Yours, &c.,

Mark Jaeger