Ped's & Ro Leather Blog

Ped's & Ro Leather Blog

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Video: The Development of Patina

I am always intrigued by how Patina ultimately develops on leather. It is always different with every item and the development is never the same. These are the things that makes vegetable-taned leather so wonderful to work with and have.

Being a big fan of vegetable-tanned leather, iL Bisonte has always been one of my favorite leather goods brand. Their leather is the most beautiful I have ever seen, with quality by far the most superior. I was on their website a few days ago and found a cool short video illustrating how Patina develops on leather. The video shows the gradual color change on one of iL Bisonte's wallet. It first presents the wallet when it is still new and light in color, then gradually changing into a deeper Patina with the dirt and usage marks also present on it.

If you have not fallen in love with vegetable-tanned leather yet, this short video should. You can check out the video on the iL Bisonte website here.

Enjoy!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Phone pouch with redesign card slot

I've been tinkering with the design of the card slot on the phone pouch lately. I wanted it to be more rounded and to have more finished look. It also needs to be more usable. I have made a few blanks but never had the chance to implement it.

Well that opportunity came a few weeks ago when my friend asked me to make a pouch for his Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. I obtained the dimension of the phone from the website and start building it, a bit wary of the size since I don't have the physical phone with me. He wanted a purple thread on it.  And by the way, purple is my new favourite color to match the natural veg-tan, the colour contrast nicely, not as strong as red does but much smoother.  

The leather is burnished with beeswax and edges sealed. Some pictures:






































































Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Review: Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP

Ever since I started my leather work, I've always been on the lookout for a good leather care product, it is an essential end step in the whole process. To be honest, it's been quite difficult finding a proper product to care for a veg-tanned leather as it needs to be able to naturally protect it's delicate surface while enhancing the leather itself.

I've stop searching after I found Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP. It's a wax based product with all natural oil, all the info is on their website here.

Application is super easy, apply by using hands/fingers so the heat will melt the wax. I also find that the product does not deteriorate your skin, I have a feeling it might even nourish the skin itself. I've applied the wax into numerous items in a span of a few days using only my bare hands and i'm still waiting for that painful skin cracking.

Upon application, the wax will darken the leather slightly. Once fully absorbed, the leather is almost back to it's original colour, important for natural veg-tanned leather. It also soften the leather considerably.

Items that has been waxed with Obenauf's. The wrist bracelet is few shades darker after generous application of the wax, still retain its patina.



















The strap on the top has not been waxed yet. It's lighter in colour.



















After application, similar shades.



















Water resistant testing, normally a natural veg-tanned leather will absorb water like a sponge. Not this time, it beads on the surface instead.



















Water is seeping into the leather slowly.



















After flicking the water away. Some made it into the leather.



















After few minutes of air drying, it's back to normal.



















Another test on a veg-tanned leather.























































This test is an interesting one, the leather used is already waxed from the tannery and has some water resistant properties already. However it still absorb and 'grab' the liquid.




























































The strap is made from the same leather and has two coat of Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP. It enhances the water resistant properties to the point of being waterproof. The surface is completely dry after flicking the water away.











































One awesome product!




















I highly recommend Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP if you are serious about your leather. It's not messy, smells great and really does what it says. This one has Ped's & Ro's seal of approval. :-)