Leather sealer?

[Wiley Desperado]

OK, I looked at FAQ and caring for leather and didn't find the answer...what product actually seals leather?  We all seem to use various oils, waxes, conditioners, and homemade concoctions on our leatherwork.  As an example I like to finish some of my leatherwork with multiple hand rubbed coats of leather balm atom wax, but frankly I don't know if I am actually "sealing" the leather, seems to work good, I like the way it looks.  So, the question is... how do you know when you have "sealed" the leather?  Good grief I hope I've made sense with this question
Wiley

[MontanaSlick]

Good point Mr. Wiley,

After all said and done, I use an old cotton sock and rub the leather and if it has dye on it, it aint sealed.

Neat lac was okay in it's time but softer sheens is getting popular, as I use a semi-gloss and aint too happy with that either.
Specially with the black.

Now I'm trying EVOO mixed with my dys and seems to work so far on my practice design.

MS

ps when yer pants turn the color of yer leather?

[willygene]

sheridan rtc or tan coat work much better and you can make it shine or a mellow finish i have been doing custom saddles and gun leather for 30 years and i love the old neat lac and still use it some but mostly tan coat and sheridan rtc.

[Advertising]

[MontanaSlick]

Where kin ya get that TC and Sheridan?

Yer like saddles? My sidekick makes em.

http://www.westliveson.com/artists/croft/croft.html

He has a very old log school house for all of his leather, really neat.

MS

[JD Alan]

Bee-Natural makes Sheridan RTC and a whole host of leathercare products. They are based in Vancouver, Washinton, across the Columbia River from Portland, my home. They are really good people who make good products, and they make it easy to oder their products direct.

Oregon Leather in downtown Portland carries most of their stuff, so I buy it there. RTC is a pretty popular resist for carvers, and from what I understand a popular sealer as well.
 
Here's a link to their site
 
http://www.bee-natural.com/

[MontanaSlick]

JD, you live in Portland? Were neighbors....I live in Spokane.

Thanks for the web site, got I got back into this great hobby

Hey, we need to meet at the Pine State Biscuit fer some good ol Cawffe and Grubb.

MS

[Dave Cole]

I use Fiebings Leather Sheen.It is an acrylic and works very well.Dave 

[MontanaSlick]

Dave, is that Sheen similar to the Neat-lac ?

MS

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

OK, I looked at FAQ and caring for leather and didn't find the answer...what product actually seals leather?  We all seem to use various oils, waxes, conditioners, and homemade concoctions on our leatherwork.  As an example I like to finish some of my leatherwork with multiple hand rubbed coats of leather balm atom wax, but frankly I don't know if I am actually "sealing" the leather, seems to work good, I like the way it looks.  So, the question is... how do you know when you have "sealed" the leather?  Good grief I hope I've made sense with this question
Wiley

      Wiley, I test my finished leather for protection by spritzing water on it, if it beads and doesn't penetrate you have sealed the leather, be sure to wipe the water off after though, you don't want any spots, there are too many finishes to mention that will do this for you, I do natural dyes for the most part, and finish with two to three light coats of Neatsfoot or EVOO, then three coats of Skidmores Leather Cream allowing a one day between for drying and penetration and I buff between coats, this is the look I like the best for my work, but I do get request for other looks and finishes, I avoid dyeing the backs of belts whether it's the flesh side or not, my natural dye doesn't seem to be affected by this, and I don't get any rub off,  I hope this helps.

          Regards

       tEN wOLVES  

[JD Alan]

Slick, PM sent about the Portland-Spokane connection, JD

[MontanaSlick]

Got it JD, thanks, I'll E-mule later today.

TW, Thanks for yer formula, I kinda shy away from the shiney gloss finishes except for my B-Western rigs.

Dying the back of a belt is by far not a good idea in my book, But, accidents happen, what kin ya do, start all over?

I just bite the bullet and finish it up.

MS

[Wiley Desperado]

Thanks to all who responded to this post it certainly confirmed some of my understandings about sealing leather and gave me some additional information on methods and products.  Hope it helped a few others... much appreciated.   
Wiley D