Tragacanth Powdered gum for leathercraft

Tragacanth Powdered gum 10g Pot of powder

Tragacanth is a natural gum obtained from the dried sap of several species of Middle Eastern legumes. The gum is used, amongst other things, in leather working as an edge slicking and burnishing compound. Its water solubility is ideal for ease of working and an even spread.

Features:

• Supplied in powder form so it is compact and you only need to mix a small amount with water for immediate use. If you mix the powder with water, and leave it for some days, it will grow mould.
• Produces a smooth and shiny burnished edge
• Natural product

Specifications (Approximate measurements)

• Powder weighs 10g
• Small container measuring 19mm high with a 41mm diameter

Burnishing an Edge with Tragacanth Gum

1. Sand the edges of your leather nice and flat.
2. Mix a small amount of Tragacanth powder with water until it is the consistency of thick cream.
3. Dampen the edge of the leather
4. Dab on a small amount of gum solution on the leather edge.
5. Use some pressure to push the slicker up against the edge and slide it quickly up and down the edge. You should feel slight friction while doing this. If you don't let the gum dry a little.
6. Keep going until you can tell the gum has dried out a bit.
7. Apply more gum and let it get tacky before repeating step 5.
8. If you find that you aren't getting significant results after the first couple cycles of gumming/slicking, your edges might be too dry! This means they're sucking up all the gum and not allowing it to sit properly on the surface.
9. To fix the dryness, apply a tiny amount of jojoba oil to the edges - just until they darken slightly. Then apply more gum and keep going!