Edge Kote VS Gum Trag

[Uncle Chan]

All,

I hope you don't mind me asking another question.  I'm new at this leather stuff and am just looking for advice and information.

I'm about finished with my first belt.  It is looking pretty good, I think.  The edges were slicked pretty good and "finished" with gum trag.  However, I'm wondering, what would Edge Kote do for the edges and back of the belt?  Is it like Gum Trag?  Is it a sealer?  Does it actually glue down those little bits of leather fibers that poke up periodically?  I've a belt from San Pedro Saddlery and the edges and back are perfectly smoothe.  They don't have those little fibers, even though I've used it extensively.  Does Edge Kote do this?

ANY information would be helpful.

Thanks,
Uncle

[E.R.Beaumont]

Howdy Pards and Pardettes.

Howdy Uncle Chen how ya doin Pard?  I find that gum tragacanth gives a very smooth hard finished edge, but it takes some work.

Usually I sand down the edge, the finer paper you use the finer the hairs, to a point.  Then I dye the edge, I use dark brown cause I don't make black stuff so I have no black dye.  I rub the wet edge with a piece of canvas, and then redye it. I have applied the gum trag to both wet and dry edges and do not see a lot of difference in end result. Oh I forgot to mentioned that I use that same piece of canvas to burnish the gum trag on the edge.

John Bianchi uses bee's wax and a wheel of wool felt at 1800 rpm so as not to burn the wax.  I have found that you can get a good finish with bee's wax and a wooden slicker, but you gotta rub.  If you do this be sure to dye the edges first cause the dye won't penetrate the wax.

Now as to your question, I have never used edge kote so I can't say how it will work, It might be that what works best maybe based on what you want it to do. I am sure that others who actualy know what they are talking about will chime in and set us on the straight and narrow, edgewise that is.

That is all I think I know.
Regards, Beaumont

[Uncle Chan]

Beaumont,

Thanks kindly for your reply.  You've given me MUCH to talk about.  Edge Kote is made partially from bees wax, or so I've been told, so in that regard, it might have a similar affect as using plain bees wax.  Hmmmmm........

My belt has been finished with gum trag and it looks fine, but I know I can do better.  I appreciate your reply.  Like I said, you've given me much to ponder. 

thank you!

Uncle Chan

[Slowhand Bob]

I recently purchased the WILD ROSE DVD on holstermaking, Nolan addresses the loose fiber problem on it with gum trag.  My experience with this has been a bit less desirable.  One of the big commercial suppliers is actually selling a belt weight leather which is advertised as their A-B quality that, when received, had beautiful fronts and gosh awful pasted backs.  I'm not sure what they use on the back but it desolves immediatly when dampened, even slightly, with any liquid.  I'm not sure why any large firm would risk their reputation on such an inferior product but this is a new way of doing buisiness nowdays.  The gum trag does work better than what they are using but just seems to come up short on raw belt backs or areas that get rubbed in various directions, such as the mouth of an unlined holster. My best solution is to stick with known leather products that have good tight fibers on the under side.  Perhaps sometimes I will try to REALLY thin out some glue and paste up the backs of all those lousy hides I mentioned earlier.  If it works I'll post it here.   

[Trailrider]

Howdy, Uncle Chan,

Over the years, I've used Edge-Kote and Gum Tragacanth, as well as Sole and Heel Edge Dressing on the edges of belts, holsters, and assorted belt slides, etc.  I've had best results from Sole & Heel Edge Dressing and/or Gum T.  Sole & Heel Edge dressing comes in black and brown colors, and contains wax.  It is great for giving extra color finish to the edges of dyed leather.  It does require burnishing and slicking.  I use a combination of a deer antler tine for basic rubbing once the dressing is moderately dry, but not completely, and either the plastic wheel or the semi-circular slicker.

If I find the edges are just not slicking up nice & smooth, I will use the gum tragacanth, followed by slicking with the tools.

I do not use any of these products for the back (rough) side of leather.  If the leather is a bit fleshy, or to seal the dyes...especially black dyes... on both the finished and rough side of leather, I apply coat or coats of Fiebing's Bag-Kote or Tan-Kote.  This stuff stabilizes the color and also gives the surface of rough-side leather a smoother, tighter finish. Yet the Bag-Kote is not water proof!  You can still dampen the leather, and it can still "breathe".  I recommend wearing vinyl gloves and eye protection when using Bag-Kote, as it will do the same thing to your skin and eyes as it does to leather!  I usually just wipe the Bag-Kote on the surface of the leather, rough or finished, with an old cotton T-shirt dampened with Bag-Kote until the leather appears to be completely covered, then let it dry.

Hopet his helps a bit, Pard!

[Uncle Chan]

Trailrider, it helps immensely.  Thanks one and all!

Uncle