Pro tip: I switched from a bone folder to a Teflon folder for my leather work and it changed my finishing.

For a long time, I used a standard bone folder for everything, from scoring paper to smoothing leather. It worked fine, but on a recent commission for a full leather journal, I kept getting faint, shiny marks on the dark leather when I was burnishing the edges. I tried lighter pressure and different angles, but the marks would still show up sometimes. A binder I met at a workshop in St. Louis mentioned she only uses Teflon folders for leather because they don't react with the tannins. I bought one for about $12 and tried it on the same project. The difference was immediate; no more shiny streaks, just a smooth, consistent finish without any risk of discoloration. It seems like a small thing, but for anyone working with vegetable-tanned or dyed leathers, it removes a whole layer of worry. Has anyone else made a simple tool swap that solved a persistent finishing problem?

2 comments

2 Comments

baker.willow1mo ago

Ever notice how the simplest tool change can fix a problem you thought was just part of the process?

amyb541mo ago

The right screwdriver changed my whole kitchen.