Hi all, I am getting started on a beginner project for a friend - making a simple veg tan leather folder for his restaurant staff to deliver checks to clients. Objective is to have an eventual saddle tan color that shows patina with time and I will stamp his logo on the front. I bought natural veg tan have a few questions and would appreciate any guidance. Here are the steps I have taken thus far:
A) I cut the leather 8.5 wide by 9 inches tall; 3.29mm thick
B) I placed them outside to tan (only one day so far but will want a deeper color).
C) I made a simple, flat wooden "mold" by cutting a piece of 6mm wood (see photos)
Questions for community:
1) Should I coat them with linseed oil prior to tanning to prevent drying? I don't want them to be super stiff and will want to prevent drying out over time.
2) How do I work to finish the raw, flat inside to make it a bit smoother? Should I skive it down/split it to be thinner?
3) How do I make a cut in the center to allow for an easier fold? I tried using my edger but it is not getting the deeper, wider groove desired.
4) I tested soaking a piece of leather for 15 minutes in water, then molding it (without the groove). It is a bit thick and doesn't close flush, so the groove I think is needed. But once dried, it is super stiff leather compared to the other pieces not soaked. Any mold advice?
Thank you all for any contributions on my "hands on" second project after simple belts!
Best,
Elizabeth
Great, I am in Houston Texas , I just signed up for the one year video membership , so far its worth it
I live in the US, near San Francisco, and have found a fellow leather worker not too far away. Happy to connect.
What country do you live in? maybe you can get with a member an share tools and knowledge.
Hi Elizabeth,
is this your own design or is it based on something you've seen before? The reason I ask is to see if you can share any pictures you've found online that show what the finished product could look like. I think that would be a good place to start.
Hi!
Forgive me for asking, but what will the wood be used for? I cannot understand it.
Regarding your questions:
1) Why Linseed oil? it is a very thick oil, which means it will take a very very long time to soak into the leather and linseed oil is also known to go rancid very quick, and therefore ruining your leather. Unless you have found a linseed oil specifically formulated for leather, i would advise you to step away from it.
Regarding if you condition before or after tanning, I would personally do it after tanning so that if the tanning process stiffened your leather for any reason, you get it back to normal.
2) You can use Tokonole on the back to somehow smooth it. Splitting and skiving will not help in my opinion. On the picture you show us, the leather's fiber structure is loose, which means, even if you skive/split, it will not really change anything. Using Tokonole to burnish the back should help
3) You need to use a V Gouge. It is the same principle as a french beveller, but it will cut a V Channel into the leather to allow for a fold. You can get one here: https://tandyleather.com/products/craftool-adjustable-v-gouge?_pos=1&_sid=1e74d1514&_ss=r
4) Soaking leather in water will always stiffen it. The water will expel the oil out of the fiber, and once the water itself evaporates, you are left with a very very very dry fiber. Reconditon after soaking, a lot!
As a general question: Why did you go for a 3.something mm thick leather? that is really overkill in my opinion for such a project. 1.5 to 1.6 mm would be more than enough