Transfering symbols to leather

Gadsden

Gadsden

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Jul 19, 2014
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Good afternoon my fellow leather nuts. If this has been discussed before my apologies. I need some advise for a sheath I plan on making. I want to transfer Native American symbols from a picture to a leather sheath. I talked to a guy at work today who used to do leather work. He said to get a certain type of paper that was thick yet clear enough to see through and trace the symbol on it. Then trace the symbols on the leather. Can anyone tell me what kind of paper this might be? Thanks.
 
i use tracing paper, available at any art store, comes in various sizes. its see through but not completely so
Ive also used regular paper when i ran out of tracing paper, little tricky as you cant see through it.
Good Luck
Gene
 
Thanks for the reply. I have seen folks use a stylus for tracing projects. I figure that would work for the paper?
 
There are two kinds of transfer supplies. Transfer paper, and transfer film. The pattern on waterproof film is reusable. Both benefit from a light box. A leather stylus or modeling tool is handy, although I use a pen.

Usually after the pattern is transferred the craftsman uses a swivel knife to cut the pattern into the leather, then uses bevelers and other tools to make it look good. Look at the carvings Horsewright's SO Nichole does to get an idea of what excellent carving looks like.

Transfer patterns onto cased leather. In this instance "cased" can be wiping the leather with a damp sponge.

Tracing film (sold by the foot or yard at many places)

www.tandyleather.com/en-usd/product/tracing-film-3500-153.aspx

Edit- I can't seem to find transfer paper as I used to use. I did see some transfer paper for printing images on leather though... That could be interesting.
 
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That tracing film is the best for transferring drawings. I've used it for many years now and its always performed well. No light box here, but I hear its a help.

Get you one of those ball tipped stylus, smooth impressions are a must.
 
i second everything mentioned so far... if you want a poor man's choice ;) put a saran wrap between damp leather and simle printing paper with your lines and trace it. it will not yield the best results! but you can make do.
 
I may be all wrong, but if you draw the symbols onto the sheath paper pattern, then you could transfer the pattern using light "pricks" with a sharp awl at the same time you are transferring the sheath pattern to the leather. Then, once the leather is cut, carve along the light holes like connecting the dots and they would disappear. That should work IMHO, but I'm pretty new at this stuff:o
 
Many thanks for all of the great advice. Now I know what to get and how to go about it. Keep up the good work guys. I love to see all of the skilled craftsmanship that goes on here.
 
I transfer my sketches by lightly dampening the leather and using a ball-tipped stylus like this one from Tandy Leather:

8039-06-L.JPG-x
 
And if you don't have a lightbox you can use a window on a bright day.
At night… not so much.
 
I did not look at Tandy`s for that stylus but I will check it out. I don`t have a light box but I do have some windows. Great idea, Thanks
 
Sorry, late to this party. I also use copier transparency film. I have a bunch left over from the time when an overhead projector was THE Powerpoint Presentation. You can draw your design on them, then transfer. Or just laser print and/or copy from other sources, then transfer. Just another idea.
 
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