Monday, August 17, 2020

COLOR 103 ANTIQUEING

[Originally published August 2006] 

 

Applying Antique Finishes

  • This step can be left out so that your dye job remains clean and fresh looking.
  • Antique Finish/Stain, like Eco-Flo Hi-Lite stain and Antique Gel, can be used after you have optionally dyed leather.
  • Although antique finish is water based, it is not an acrylic, so it is not very permanent and will wear and wash off. It has to be sealed with a finish / sealer.  For this I like Fiebings Leather Sheen in a spraycan.

The intended use of antique finish is as follows:

  1. Let your project dry completely after applying water-based, alcohol/spirit-based dye.
  2. Optionally cover the project with a resist, which can be any of the following : Eco-Flo Top Coat, Neatlac, Supersheen, or RTC.
  3. Let the resist dry, as in overnight.
  4. Now apply the antique paste or liquid with a damp sponge very liberally, so that it gets into all your tooling impressions and cracks.
  5. Have a clean damp sponge or dry paper towel handy and start wiping off the excess finish from the non-tooled areas. You do not want the antiquing to dry and cause streaking on the leather where there is no tooling. Gradually work towards the tooled areas and wipe the excess finish off there as well, leaving only the accentuated tooled areas with finish in.
  6. Let the antiquing dry overnight again and then apply the finish of your choice to seal the antique.

This video shows how Hi-Lite Stain is applied - the technique is exactly the same for Antique Gel (also by Eco-Flo).   You will also see a resist and dye being used first and then how that pans out when you do the antiquing over it.

Here is a long winded "Live" video that shows Hi-Lite stain even used over vinagroon:

 

 (Updated 23 August 2020)

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