The Shining

Have you ever noticed the shiny edges on leather goods and wondered about it? Why is it like that? How does it get that way?

I did, and learned it's one of the trademarks of quality leathercrafting. It's called "slicking" and it serves a couple of pretty useful purposes. It bonds together multiple layers of leather into one seemingly big ole chuck of hide, closing up the seam. It also prevents leather edges from fraying over time and shedding little bits off to wedge themselves in your couch cushions ti buddy up with several week old Fruit Ring cereal loops and $1.27 in loose change.

One of the most labor intensive parts of crafting, slicking is a scientific miracle. To go from a suede-like chamois to a hard burnished edge requires no special chemicals; only water. Yep, good old H2O. Well, it also requires the same pressure and time that got Andy out of Shawshank. Rubbing the wet edge lightly but quickly builds heat and compresses the fibers together.

A finely burnished edge is a signature of somebody who cared enough about your product to spend time and develop a jello forearm from all that rubbing to ensure the job was done right, stand up to everyday wear, and would last a long time.

Also, I want full credit for be able to jam not one, but two Stephen King references into this post!