Annoying problem while tooling.

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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I've had this happen before. I have a suspicion as to why it's happening, but I'm throwing it out there anyway.

I'm working on a small sheath, stacked style with a basket weave stamp on the front panel. I use a camo around the border and all tooling is inside of a grooved box.

The problem is that the panel gets distorted and doesn't fit the welt or back panel. Seems to be workable freshly stamped, but curls and just gets wonky as it dries.

Doesn't always happen, just occasionally. What's going on here?

I can take a pic if it'd help.
 
This would happen much less if the panel was leather lined. If unlined, take some wide clear packing tape and completely cover the flesh side, then carve and or tool. When the piece is completely dry remove the tape. You'll find the distortion is either much less or not at all.

Paul
 
I've used masking tape too and it doesn't work as well as the packing tape. Did you ever get the Pro Carv? Same stamping depth, with less dampness equals less distortion.
 
Okay, I haven't tried this yet, but if it works it is absolutely genius and is exactly why I ask these questions.

My thinking was that the leather was too wet, but if I let it dry any more I don't get good definition.

Dave, no, I haven't picked up the Pro Carve yet. I looked for it at the Evil Empire, but (big surprise) they don't stock it. I haven't seen it at any of the places that I've ordered from either. I'll look around right now for some. Btw, since I have your attention, Hide House shipped my order yesterday. Can't wait to check the place out in person too. They seem to have quite the variety. Their wholesale prices are very good too. Thanks for recommending them.
 
Google Bee Natural they are the company that makes it. Once you use the stuff you will never not have it on hand. I get it from Jantz when I order my knife supplies. I've a also got it from Sheridan. Use to get it from Weaver but they won't ship it to Kali which is interesting since it's all natural. Something to do with the label. But nobody else has heart burn over shipping it. Have four bottles above the sink in the laundry room where I fill up my water container for the workbench. If there is water on the workbench, (always), then there is Pro Carv in it, (always). Good deal on the Hide House. Have had nothing but excellent service from them throughout the years.
 
So it's a concentrate that you mix with water. I think you may have mentioned it before in an email (but I'm not going through dozens of emails to find it), so I'll ask you here.

Once mixed, how long is it good for? Or should I mix small amounts at a time? After reading the instructions I'm looking forward to trying it. Just dip and go, no waiting? Sign me up.
 
The tape backed idea I got from one of Al Stohlmans older books, I want to think it was a holster making guide.

I use 2" masking tape as well, but any good sticky tape works well. I haven't tried duct tape yet, but one of my friends uses it. A little spendy compared to masking or packing tape.

And there is no "if" it works, it does work, and very well. :)

Just saw the Pro carve comment, good stuff!
 
Very well, I'll absolutely try it on my next panel. :)

I ordered the Pro Carv so I'll report back on that once I've had a chance to try it.

Dave, my order arrived a few hours ago. How in the world did it get here this quickly? Doesn't matter, what's important is the quality. Aside from the $16/ft HO that I ordered from SLC (before I had any idea that I'd be doing this more or less full time), this is easily the best I've had. The grain side is nice. There are some stretch marks, and a single tiny ding about the size of a dime. Lots of feet of unblemished material. The flesh side though... This must be what they mean by buffed? It looks just like when I take the leather to the belt sander for thinning. Maybe even better. Seriously, the entire back side is smooth enough, if you were blindfolded, you might think you were touching the grain side.

The double shoulder is also well trimmed. Thickness seems consistent. I'm very pleased with this particular 14 square feet. Under a bill with shipping, that's easily the best deal I've found. My last double shoulder had lots of un trimmed waste that I payed for and cost as much or more. I won't say it was bad leather, far from it, but this is noticeably better.

dQzLAzn.jpg


sGUiKHM.jpg
 
16 a square foot? OUCH! Yea that has to sting a little eh?

That is a good looking shoulder! I know its probably up there somewhere, but where'd you get it? Spendy?

I remember a quote from an old Stohlman book where he mentions the feel of the flesh side on a good piece of leather, it should feel fuzzy and soft. The last side I got was just that, but cant find more, a once in a great while find. But so resistant to sanding and cutting it was uncanny.
 
When tooling I've always glued the leather to a piece of denim and they never distort on me and pulls off easily. 16 a sqf from SLC??? That's 400 a side, robbery.
 
Wait, wait, wait... $16/ft is an exaggeration. That was with shipping, and to be fair, it was their tiny 1-2 sqft meant for small projects.

Dwayne, it came from the Hide House. They have a big selection of leathers. This particular piece is called their Premium double shoulder. I believe it is from a Mexican tannery. They have a lower grade, and also HO sides. Wholesale, for the kind I got is $5.35/ft which I think is very good. That's for 7/8oz, I didn't check the price on my usual 8/9oz because I wanted to go a little lighter this time.

I requested a clean piece btw. I doubt that made a difference, but who knows.

High quality, really fast shipping and price. It's the trifecta. :)
 
5.35 aint bad at all! If I can get over the need to pick my own leather, I might give them a holler. Trust is earned, not automatic, and I am the poster child of "prove yourself" Nearly every single time I trusted someone to pick out my leather, I was disappointed. This from some of the top leather providers. Like pulling teeth making some of these companies back their own product.
 
I can respect that for sure. I don't have the luxury of picking for myself, unless I run to Fresno, but the prices are waaay too high for the quality I saw.

That's part of the reason why my friends here are so valuable. I have to go with my gut, and what y'all tell me. Horsewright is what I consider a very experienced buyer and accomplished crafter, so when he recommended this seller I had no problem trusting that advice. Of course leather being what it is, no one can say for sure that you'll get a high quality piece so building a relationship with the vendor is a good idea. Your relationship with your local TLF sounds like a good one. The Hide House happens to be minutes away from where my daughter lives.

Here's one more shot showing the difference between the last stuff I ordered and the new stuff. Big difference, same price.

g9hlzIF.jpg
 
Alright, I made a new panel for the sheath I'm working on. I put clear shipping tape over the back, then cased and stamped it. It still has a bit of growth in width, but it's way better than before. No curves in the straight lines.

Two things I noticed.

One- I wasn't casing properly before. Having the tape on the back really gave me an idea of how long it takes for the water to fully penetrate the leather. Much longer than I thought. I'm aware of the fact that it soaks in faster on the grain side, but still.

Two- don't remove the tape while it's still damp. I imagine leaving it on until fully dry can help, but also, the tape pulls at the nap hard enough to make it really fuzzy. I'll need to sand it because of this.

Great tip. Thanks.
 
Anthony, It's about time you started considering lining your sheaths with 2 oz. "something". I use 2 oz. Deer skin on integral loop pouches and 2 oz. veg tan on stack or blade sheaths. The tooling stretch becomes a thing of the past and you have kicked your product up a quality notch. Try just a simple flat lining flesh to flesh. The rolled lining can come later. The deer skin does have to be skived back about 1/4 inch from the edge prior to glue up so the edges will finish nicely.

Paul

Paul
 
Thanks Paul. I have lined with 2oz veg tanned pig skin. Flat lined like you said. I did it on the little sheath I'm making that has a stud. I just realized that I haven't posted any of my work in a while. Part of that is due to my crappy cell phone, and part is because all of the good pics are on the dslr and my laptop died. I'm having a bad run with tools. My belt sander just broke too. :(

I'll post some of my recent work soon so you can see where I'm at.
 
Anthony, a little more on stamping and stretching. This may sound like it's coming from "Capt. Obvious" but take a few moments and research what constitutes proper casing. It sounds like you are trying to get started while the leather is still too wet. This almost guarantees stretched and distorted leather. The leather should return almost to the original color before you start stamp.

Paul
 
That's how I roll my friend. I let it dry to where it's almost returned to color and stamp away. I've also read that some people go by the temperature (feel).

I'm saying screw it though. I payed for a bottle of that Pro Carv, but the company refunded my money. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, I can't seem to give my money away, but I'll find another vendor. I'm very interested in trying the product.
 
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