Casing leather

G

grumpy_grinder

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Oct 2, 2015
Messages
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Just did a quick search and haven't found anything.

I'm just curious if pro carve actually helps with casing or is it just a hoax. I'm trying to find the best way to case leather. So far I dip my leather in the sink real quick then let it sit in a clear garbage bag over night.
I'm just curious to see what you guys do.

Thanks

Grumpy_grinder
 
Grumpy, if ten people post here, you're apt to get ten different opinions.

For me, it depends on what I am trying to do and how big the piece is.

When I was making saddles I did the old time case routine…. for instance a saddle skirt, Heavy leather, deep impression needed...dunk it 'til the bubbles stop and either put it in a bag or lay some sheep wools on top of it and check it the next day. If it was almost back to original color, start to work.

Something as small as knife sheath, (lighter leather, impression depth not so critical) I just spritz the area to be tooled with a spray bottle and wait a few minutes and let 'er rip. Results for both methods worked and have been satisfactory. The spritz is a hell of a lot faster and no long wait.

Some people swear by Pro Carve and others use a few drops of dish detergent in their water, I've tried both and both work nicely, but then for me plain water does too.

So, there you are. If you can get it wet enough and then dry enough;) to take a good impression, you should be good to to.

Paul
 
Thanks Paul , I read Bon Parks Article on casing and it gave me the impression that every piece should be left overnight to absorb moisture which confused me a bit Because like you for smaller pieces I used a sponge and now a spray bottle for consistency. I've heard the detergent and water solution a few times , I may give it a try.

thanks Paul , I always look forward to your and dave's replies.

Cheers

Shayne
 
The late Dave Cole turned me on to Pro Carve years ago, and I've seen the other Dave (Horsewright) talk of it. I like it and it works. No hype, it simply works.
 
I have to disagree with my friend Paul. I think if ya get 10 posts ya might get 11 opinions!! Cool thing they might all be right too. I think alot of all this is what works for you, in your shop, with your processes.

I'm a big advocate for the ProCarv. So I was thinking about your question last night as I was finishing off the tooling on a small batch of ten sheaths last night. They'll get sewn up today. So I was thinking why do I like Pro Carv? For years I used plain water, I've tried a little bit of soap thing like Paul and also a concotion recipe I found on line that had mouthwash in it too. Some years back a buddy suggested I try Pro Carv and havn't been without it since.

Biggest thinng I think for me is the working in the batches. Pro Carv saves me time. Things are ready to be worked on when I'm ready for them. Dunk in and out and good to go in just a couple of minutes. So I'm working on one and another has already been dunked and when I'm ready its ready and so on. Not unusual for me to do 30 or 40 at a time. I think the Pro Carv absorbs into the leather more evenly than just plain water. I get fewer too wet spots if that makes sense. I wet mold almost every sheath I make and I think the ProCarv really helps with this. I would attribute this to its more even absorption rate. The leather doesn't have to be as wet it seems to mold just as well if not better and none of em get too soggy. Now this also helps in the drying time afterwards. My sheaths are dry and ready to ship with their knives quicker. My sheaths get their baking and then overnight on the counter and they are ready to ship. Before the Pro Carv it was overnight and then a couple of days.

I think the Pro Carv keeps your water usable longer too. Seems to knock dirt, leather debris etc out of soloution. Tehachapi is a windy place and dust is everywhere, always. My shop is a triple wide plus garage and the doors are almost always open (even yesterday when it was snowing). So I take extra pains to keep leather clean and I think that Pro Carv really helps with that. Our water here is also very hard with high mineral contents and its non treated well water. I seem to get less unexplained oops where did that come from marks on my leather with the Pro Carv than without. Takes care of must of been the water.

Now interestingly I don't think it will make your tooling better. Like Paul said get it wet enough and then dry enough and you will tool well. What I think Pro Carv does is get you ready to tool sooner and I also think that it extends that window of just right for tooling. I would recommend trying it but I would also say that if you don't see any bennies I'd be quick to not use it too as it really is about what works for you, in your situation. Its not particularly cheap stuff and sometimes hard to find but it does work for me and my deal.
 
Agreed, I love how much smoother the swivel knife glides through the leather with pro carve. Tried it once without and the dragging drove me nuts! Tooling is much sharper and easier with it as well.
 
Thanks guys , thanks for taking the time to answer Dave I was secretly waiting for you to chime in. I had noticed you mentioned pro carve a few times in your posts but never really explained why and and what it did for you.

Cheers

Shayne
 
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