Leather worker question

[David Brown]

Hi Everybody,

I have a question and could use some help please.

Do you mold the leather then tool it or
Tool the leather then mold it to the handle ?

This Biodegradable Moodex stuff is confusing ?



Thank you

David

 

[Horsewright]

Dave, generally its tooled first then, molded. I do know of an exception where it is stretched and molded into place and then tooled but the leather is then in place over a hard object so it can be tooled. Most of the time you need your leather to be flat on your tooling surface.

 

[David Brown]

Thank you for the info.

Will the shaping/slicking ruin the tooling though ?

 

[Horsewright]

The dreaded double.

 

[Horsewright]

Yes it will defrom your tooling. Check where I molded along the inside of the knife here (right side of sheath in the pic). The basket stamping kinda went away.

On a tooled sheath I try to do all the molding on the back side and leave the tooling side alone as much as possible. Doesn't always work out that way but I try.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

In my experience the tooling will "blow out" depending on how much it's worked. I always tool flat, let it dry completely, then only wet the inside for relatively light molding. I can't see detailed molding (like on some folder sheaths) going well after stamping, but I'm still pretty new at all of this. Certainly I'd not try to case stamped leather and use a folder to mold with, but I'm probably stating the obvious.

Were you thinking about trying some leather on its own, or are you talking some of your hybrid work only stamped?

 

[David Brown]

Thank you all for the advice.

Leather work is challenging for this plastic guy

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Dave, generally its tooled first then, molded. I do know of an exception where it is stretched and molded into place and then tooled but the leather is then in place over a hard object so it can be tooled. Most of the time you need your leather to be flat on your tooling surface.

Dave, is this tack you are referring to? I'd love to see an example if you have a pic?

 

[Horsewright]

The forks of saddles that are carved or stamped. Just below the horn is the fork.. This part is tooled once on the tree as it is stretched and wet molded to fit and so would distort any tooling done prior. The tree is wood covered in wet rawhide which is then dried and shrunk around the wood to provide further strength to the tree.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

The forks of saddles that are carved or stamped. Just below the horn is the fork.. This part is tooled once on the tree as it is stretched and wet molded to fit and so would distort any tooling done prior. The tree is wood covered in wet rawhide which is then dried and shrunk around the wood to provide further strength to the tree.

Thanks man, I figured that's what you meant, but the pic helps.

 

[Horsewright]

Da nada buddy.

 

[David Brown]

Wow that is awesome.

Thank you for all the advice