Leather Finishes Compared
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
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Here I look at 8 different leather finishes and compare how good they are in terms of water resistance as well as looking at how much they affect the colour of the leather and how good they smell!
You can find most of these finishes on Amazon if want to, e.g.:
► Sno Seal: amzn.to/2CcdHI1
► Fiebings Tan Kote: amzn.to/2Cdqz0K
► Fiebings Resolene: amzn.to/2BXD642
► Fiebings Leather Sheen: amzn.to/2CdTems
► Fiebings Aussie: amzn.to/2Dxhc84
► Fiebings Carnauba Cream: amzn.to/2DA5byS
Thank you so much for the smell information. I'm a disabled leather crafter who needs to avoid products with intense smells, so details like that really save me money (and save me from scent-exposure symptoms) by helping me know what to avoid buying. Unfortunately it's also very rare for content creators to include that kind of info in videos, so I really appreciate that you did.
@thebearclawjones If it's annoying you don't bloody watch it!!
Thank you so much - I appreciate the money and time it took to put this together. I'm just getting started in leatherwork and this helped me figure out what to purchase.
Thank you for this comparison. I would like to see this same test done on pieces of dyed leather so we can see the affect they have as a finish coat on a completed project as opposed to the pieces of natural leather.
Great video regardless.
I just bought Resolene to seal the interior of knife sheaths to prevent the steel from reacting to the leather.
Great video Ian! I play with these too. I dye first - try to spray it for evenness of color. Then use either carnauba, atom wax, or netsfoot to condition the leather. Then the top dressing: Tan Kote (it is ok but not water resistant), Tandy Leather Factory Satin Sheen (pretty good water resistance), or Resolene (my favorite for the reasons you showed). I also use Resolene for a dye blocker in a design. It needs to dry overnight to be really effective - as most of the other top dressings do.
And thanks again for a good video.
Joe
The Atom wax doesn't interfere with the resolene does it? I was never sure if the atom wax was a conditioner or a finish?
Commander Shepard and
Hey Ian, I started working leather about 6 months ago. I'm doing it as a hobby, making little things for friends and family for free, just to get experience with leather. I have always loved leather and have a friend started working with leather about ten years ago. I just wanted to say thank you for all that you have shared. A lot of your videos I've watched more than once. I've learned a lot from your videos because you freely share your knowledge and experience. I'm working with leather because I love everything about it. I'm an "All or none" person. I don't how to half step at anything I do. I'm either good at something or I don't do it. I'm 55-year-old, a student of traditional Karate since I was 10, a cop and a biker for 25 years. Again, just wanted to say thanks for helping out an "older" man explore his love for leather. If I'm able to turn a buck(pound) or two in the process that would be great. If I can ever return the favor, don't hesitate to ask.
Dragon
United Road Runner M/C
Bronx NY
Looks more like you want to let everyone know about you, not about Ian's finishing or anything leather. typical cop: look at me!
Perfect description! I always was kinda confused why the companies don't provide more detailled information on their products, especially Fiebings. Following your video I could succesfully narrow down the possible uses of finishes for certain products. Thank you very much!
I have to say, I doubt I will ever use these products but I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Excellent test. Very scientific. Great job.
Tan coat is used for saddles. Saddles have to be able to absorb oils and conditioners. So the finish really just needs to keep the dye from getting on your breeches. Resolene might be great for sheaths and holsters. But it will destroy a saddle over time
I just want to say thank you for making so many videos. I wish the leathercraft suppliers would do more. A lot of people are getting electronic tablets these days. I have been trying to come up with a truly, universal, fully adjustable cover. I personally think that a cover that could be moved from one tablet to the next would be a great seller. The covers you buy fall apart in a few months. And I dont think to many people would be willing to pay for a custom cover when they will probably replace there device in a few years. If you have any ideas you would be willing to share I would personally love to see them.
I'd mention that Resolene is quite glassy too, while Atom Wax is more mellow.
Thanks for the video, as you said at the beginning, it can be quite tricky to figure out which finish is the best when so many people have different opinions. Thanks for all the other videos you do, I really appreciate them.
I used to exercise race horses on the track and the tack would be subject to sweaty horses and dirt on a daily regular basis and the daily cleaning of the tack we would use a strong solution of Murphy's Oil Soap and water and says it up real good and it would always polish up nice the tack would have a sheen on it of course when it was new but it kept it kept the Saddles very beautiful. Have you ever tried Murphy's Oil Soap? Generally for wood floors that smells lemony and wonderful
Thank you for having the smell test included- I think one of the things that makes leather attractive is the smell - I haven’t seen any other reviews mention this about various products.
Love your channel!
one product I highly recommend is chap wax. designed for waterproofing leather riding chaps. thick sticky beeswax based stuff. leather boots will not soak through with it. Ive started using it over a coat of mink oil to finish knife sheaths. looks feels and smells great, and water beads right off. not too easy to find though, I had to order it from a horse packing supplier in the states. by far the best ive found though
Snoseal is supposedly beeswax in a solvent that evaporates at 125 degrees, leaving a permanent layer of wax in the top of your leather
I tried Fiebings Resolene and tried it also on flesh side of leather. Seems to work pretty well in it.
I don't use gum trag as a finish but I do use it to lock down the nap on the inside/back of pieces. To make it do it's job though, it needs to be burnished like you would do on for an edge finish.
Thank you so much. Im very newbie but helped me immensely. going to finish my project now and see what happens. Im doing a black axe sheath so I dont care about discoloration. Thanks for your testing time and posting. I got a draw knife and then a head knife and after that will prolly be on knife sheaths mostly. Maybe a few holsters later one I figure out some things.
I have had success with Resolene! It makes a great resist. I have used it with oil and water based dyes before applying antique.
Thank you for the insight. I prefer to use some thing to hydrate the leather a bit, followed by resolene for protection.
@mafejx edge coating isn't particularly necessary as long as you burnish the edges well
thanks, Ian. Beautiful job. I'll be looking into Resolene, now.
very effective demonstration.
Honestly, all of fiebings products work amazing. Although, I prefer tankote because it doesn't change the color of the leather as much as the others and it doesn't leave the leather as stiff as the acrylic finishes. I also don't like a high gloss on my products. Just my two cents. Awesome vid dude.
Ian I wish that you did a dye then compared finishes. Can you add an oil then an acrylic or because you have added an oil like neets foot then you have to add an oil based finish??? What about animal fat???
Thank you very much for taking the time to provide such in-depth information. You‘re a great teacher! I am new to leathercraft, and find it very therapeutic as it calms the racing mind.
Neatsfoot oil is made from the hooves of neat cattle: Neat cattle is old terminology for domesticated cattle (as opposed to wild cows ? , well, , , maybe they existed many years ago). Many thanks for the video, you picked up a new subscriber.
Wow! That Resoline looks amazing. Such a good comparison test.
Very good! I learn helpful information with each of his videos. He has a straightforward way of presenting.
I love the REsolene. I been using it on my leather holsters that I make.
Hi Ian. Thanks for great and very educational video.
I'm just starting out and this vid is extremely helpful! Thank you for the side/side comparison.
This was a great test to do online . Very informative. Thank you!
Very well put together, a bit long. As you mentioned not all of these are ment for a finish on the leather peice. However they all serve a different effect. For example your winner is a perfect finish, because it actually seals the leather being made from plastic resin the acrylic resonlene. Neetsfoot oil, however is a restorative to renew, soften and extend the leathers life, may offer some water resistance being an oil but not much. It is made from the cow's leg, ft not hoof all natural oil.
Have you ever used Obenauf's ? It is designed by American Woodland fire fighters made over here in the states. It has a bee's wax and tree resin mix. Smells like bee's wax and cinnamon. It has done a wonderful job water proofing my boots.
+Gergg meister I have looked into getting some but the price of shipping to the UK is at best high to extortionate, ie what is $18 in the USA, costs $140 in the UK that does include shipping.
great video man. just started my first leather job this evening and looks like i should buy a bottle of resoline. Thanks!!
Thank you, Ian. Very, VERY helpful!
Hello, your video was very helpful, however as a beginner in the craft, I would love to see start to finish of dying, conditioning, & a good finish that would keep the leather soft, shiny, and water resisted. Thanks Again
Lots of my videos show this process
Great video! Thanks for putting this together.
Thanks so much for this video! 🌸 I am absolutely glad you made it. It gives a great overview and now I can make a better decision.
Thanks for sharing this comparison test! This is very good information for me making dog collars and leashes. Well done sir!
Thanks, Ian! I've been looking to compare resolene with bag kote and tan kote, to make a purse for my wife. I'm looking for a moderately matte finish, and one coat of resolene seems to get there. 2 coats seems to get a little too glossy. I really appreciate the comparison in this, as well as your other videos.
Great info. Would've liked to see Atom Wax in the mix. I love the finish of it. I have Resolene for comparison though. Thanks!
Awesome review! Helped me a lot!
"It looks like...well, you can imagine what it looks like." lol
Thank you this is very helpful. I am about to customise a vachetta leather of my preloved LV bag ❤️
Did the sno seal get edited out? I was really hoping to see how that compared. Thank you for comparing all of these!
Good. I’m glad it wasn’t just me that noticed
I haven't no, most of them are too thick (you can't airbrush anything more viscous than milk through the small ones) plus it's better to work the finish into the grain so a cloth is better really.
Let’s just say yogurt. LOL
I’ve been using Eco-Flo Satin Sheen for years. I’m not fond of high gloss finish. I’ve read you can buff the Resolene from a medium gloss to a high gloss. I might give it a try to compare with what I use. The repelling of water in your video was excellent.
Thanks for the video.
Thanks so much. Really appreciate the thought and detail you put into this!
Awesome. Really appreciate the information here.
exactly what I needed to know. very helpful, THANK YOU.
@MrAMMiranda Some people do go ahead and try to use neatsfoot as a finish though hence the testing! I myself know what it's for and wouldn't use it as a top coat as it's not designed for that as you say.
There are dye charts on the Fiebings website, showing dyes on camera wouldn't work!
Thank you for the info, confirms my preference for resolene. However, you need to be careful not to put on too heavy a coat with resolene
Thank you so much for this!
This is the exact kind of direct comparison I've been looking for.
HI IAN i leave in Berlin Germany i been watching your videos with so much interest and passion i don t need to say that all your work is simply ART with a toutch of Magic and perfect with Harmony and love you work the leather...(sorry for my poor English) i wonder if you could do a video were you can show which product do you use after you color/Dye your work to make it look so beautiful shiny or matt i mean the leather have at the beginning a natural color and look... what do you use to make it look so beautiful when is finish? what product first and which one on the end do you use?
I am a very very beginner and i fall in love with the work you do,
ThanK YoU in advance ,
T2H
Gum trag is also a resist. If you use it, make sure you dye first.
I've been using Resolene for some time but don't like the finish as it's more a plastic feel and prone to cracking, also stops you moisturising leather later on
That was very useful, thanks Ian.
I would have liked to see the water run test on the leather pieces and would have been great to read from my side! !
Good video. Kinda wish you would have also done a test piece with mink oil, great video though.
This was extremely helpful. Thank you!
Outstanding video sir!
Thank you for doing that test and sharing it!
great video, im looking at making myself some sheathes. this video and others you have made are both interesting and informative. thank you for making them.
Ian .. I am 60 years of age . and from the time I was a young lad I can remember my Grandfather and great Grandfather
using . Beaver tallow , to Bear tallow or as they called it Bear grease . rendered down from bear fat , for water proofing ,
and also deer tallow after a kill on his knife after dressing out an animal . and for my self I have followed in the same foot steps as well .
+Lucky B You should throw up a video of this process
Great videos - well explained - good ideas. Thank you very much. (I love the red hands - they certainly stand out in the listings. Smart move.)
I would like to see the results of a coat of neatsfoot etc., covered with the resolene. Never mind, I think I will try some combinations and see how they come out.
+The45Gunslinger neatsfoot oil isn't a finish it's a conditioner, it shouldn't really affect the finish though it will darken the leather a shade.
I was thinking of flexibility and "waterproofing" and smell as a tertiary factor.
Well done and very informative video.....thanks so much...
Very valuable information. Thank you for making this video.
again, an excellent comparison/ thank you.....
great informative video as usual, we really enjoy your channel and thanks so much for sharing.
The perfect review. Thank you, Ian!
Awesome video. Super helpful. I have been using Eco Flow Super Sheen and I am curious how it would compare.
hey man great video! :D. I am currently making some gum dragon as us shoe finishers call it to use as a transparent bottom stain on shoes I make. I'm glad to see I'm not the only person in the world messing around with this stuff lol.
So if you make something that will get wet occasionally you will use dye, neatsfoot and finish off with resolin ?
Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Great video thanks for putting it up glade that I saw it before i started back to my leather work lol I now know what finish to use after the first coat I think that resolene is a finishing coat over all so I need to go over this video a few times I guess to find a first coat lol but since I am using a predye leather I do not have to worry to much about bleeding over
Very useful video,Thanks
QUESTION: I know the carnauba cream makes the leather a bit supple and softens the feel of it. What about the resolene? Does that harden the feel of it? How does the surface *feel*?
If you use carnauba first, then resolene, does it keep the nice carnauba smell and suppleness? Or does the resolene cancel that out?
I make horse equipment, the only thing I use on it is Neatsfoot oil, NEVER compound! Have had some bridles in use for 40 years and still going.
Did you notice any difference in the hardness of the leather?
Thanks. Great video. Also, I started using sno-seal. Do you still use that?
Thanks so much for this, it was really helpful.
Thank you so much for doing these videos! I have been using Resolene for a while and I like it as a finish -- I was very happy to see it "win" for water resistance. :-) It does seem to stiffen the leather a bit though, so I think I will try Neatsfoot or Carnauba Creme underneath the Resolene, to make the leather more supple for cuff bracelets. (I have tried using a leather conditioner over the dye and under the Resolene, and the conditioner did a little but not much for suppleness.) Do you have a favorite product for increasing suppleness in particular (that would also allow a Resolene topcoat)? Thanks!
Great informative videos man. Thank you!
I haven't bought either product yet as I don't want to drop 40 quid on various different finishes if I only end up deciding to use one of them. I'm just a bit worried about trying it out on my newly-made bag and have no scraps of the same pre-dyed leather left to test it on ... eek :/
Excellent review thank you!
So what would be ideal for a pair of veg tan leather shoes that will be worn barefoot? Does the resolene or any of these other products affect the breathability? Any recommendations?
Great Video. Any advice on finish that will not change color? Making bracelets dyed with Fiebings Pro Dye. I let them dry for days. I test them by letting them set in water to see if they bleed dye. 50% of the time they do. The matte finish that the leather is after dyeing is great but it changes after using resolene (color and gloss) Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Very good info, thanks!
Hi Ian! Nice videos, thanks for being such a great help to anyone who plans trying leathercraft. I'd like to ask if dyeing the leather sort of works as a finish to the leather as well? Like making it waterproof/shiny at the same time as coloring it? Thanks!
Some dyes have finish mixed in but dye itself does nothing but colour the leather, it isn't a finish.
You can mix 6% of Fiebing’s Leather Dye with 94% Fiebing’s Prime Neatsfoot Oil Compound. Apply as usual to unfinished, veg, tanned leather and allow to dry. After that, you can buff and seal with Resolene. You can use Edge Cote for the edges. It comes in different colours.
thanks mate... just got some new resolene and I wanted to know how it would fair against the others before using it...cheers
gum trag is meant to soak in as its an edge finisher and couldnt work if it didnt?? just my thoughts
A wide variety of products not really comparable to each other. Resolene is a plastic polymer, so may leave a surface coat but not penetrating conditioner or waterproofing. As to smell, "leather" smells like a variety of tanning and treating processes, thankfully not like dead skin; wet rawhide is not appetizing. Solvents common is shoe polishes are paint thinner/mineral spirits, relatively milder than acetone or toluene which aren't good to breathe in concentrations, yet acetone is not that objectionable. Nikwax may smell odd, but the brand is zealous about its eco-friendly compounds.
Your videos are awesome. Keep it up!
I've been looking for this information. You're right, reading opinions was just convoluded!
But now I wonder how these finishes work on top of colours? I tried a satin-sheen product and it just smears the stain around.
Great video thanks! Best comparison I've seen! What do you recommend for leather work gloves? I'd like to use something that'll keep them soft but help protect and make cleaning easier! Thanks!
Thank you