Can English Bridle Be Carved/tooled?

[LilRay]

Just curious. I've yet to buy my first sides, and I plan to make guitar straps. To tool/carve/stamp must I buy tooling sides?

God Bless, Ray

[aparkes]

You can sort of carve anything, but tooling leather is tanned for the specific purpose of holding surface impressions, so it's the best thing to use if you want your carvings to look good.

[LilRay]

Well, tooling leather it is then! Guess I'll just have to find a super soft lining leather. Got any suggestions?

God Bless, Ray

[aparkes]

You can use whatever you want as a lining- I've used pigskin, lambskin, garment-weight cowhide, and elk. Lambskin isn't the strongest leather out there so if you use it, make sure it's especially well adhered to the strap all over, but it is nice and soft. The guy I did the elk one for still uses his so I guess it's held up all right!

If you play guitar yourself, you'll be able to use your experience with straps for reference. I don't but according to my guitar-playing friends, the thing that makes guitar straps comfortable or otherwise is the suppleness of the leather. So when you're picking out your tooling leather, try to find something you wouldn't mind having slung over your shoulder for a few hours. You don't have to use really heavy leather; especially if you plan to use a lining, you can probably get away with lighter leather than you think. Also oiling it can make a big difference toward suppleness, and if you want an English-bridle look, just give the strap a few coats of oil (peanut oil is cheap and gives a nice color) after you're totally done tooling it and lay it out in the sun for a few hours. The more oil you use and the longer you let it "bake," the darker and more flexible it'll get, just don't completely drown it in oil- over-oiled leather is not nice. Finally, for wider straps you might consider adding some foam padding (you can get 1/4 inch stuff from Tandy) where it goes over the shoulder. You have to fiddle with it a little to get it tapered off right so the lining doesn't have weird ridges in it, but it feels really nice.

[LilRay]

You can use whatever you want as a lining- I've used pigskin, lambskin, garment-weight cowhide, and elk. Lambskin isn't the strongest leather out there so if you use it, make sure it's especially well adhered to the strap all over, but it is nice and soft. The guy I did the elk one for still uses his so I guess it's held up all right!

If you play guitar yourself, you'll be able to use your experience with straps for reference. I don't but according to my guitar-playing friends, the thing that makes guitar straps comfortable or otherwise is the suppleness of the leather. So when you're picking out your tooling leather, try to find something you wouldn't mind having slung over your shoulder for a few hours. You don't have to use really heavy leather; especially if you plan to use a lining, you can probably get away with lighter leather than you think. Also oiling it can make a big difference toward suppleness, and if you want an English-bridle look, just give the strap a few coats of oil (peanut oil is cheap and gives a nice color) after you're totally done tooling it and lay it out in the sun for a few hours. The more oil you use and the longer you let it "bake," the darker and more flexible it'll get, just don't completely drown it in oil- over-oiled leather is not nice. Finally, for wider straps you might consider adding some foam padding (you can get 1/4 inch stuff from Tandy) where it goes over the shoulder. You have to fiddle with it a little to get it tapered off right so the lining doesn't have weird ridges in it, but it feels really nice.

I've played instruments every day now for over 20 years, but I'm new to leathercraft and don't yet know the ins and outs of the different types yet.

Thanks for the detailed response.

God Bless, Ray

[TwinOaks]

For padding in cuffs and such, I get the foam "craft sheets" from Hobby Lobby. It's maaaaaybe 1/8th thick and pretty dense, but light. 3M adhesive spray holds it in place until it's stitched around...then it's pretty much not gonna move. It's sold in ~12x12 inch sheets, so it's not big enough to do the whole thing, but it's a good place to start when searching for a type of foam for padding. You could probably find it in rolls with a little bit of a search.

I like it because it's firm enough to hold shape, but not too stiff. And, with the relatively thinness of it, there's really no problem just sewing right at the edge of it without having a big 'hump' in the leather.

[LilRay]

For padding in cuffs and such, I get the foam "craft sheets" from Hobby Lobby. It's maaaaaybe 1/8th thick and pretty dense, but light. 3M adhesive spray holds it in place until it's stitched around...then it's pretty much not gonna move. It's sold in ~12x12 inch sheets, so it's not big enough to do the whole thing, but it's a good place to start when searching for a type of foam for padding. You could probably find it in rolls with a little bit of a search.

I like it because it's firm enough to hold shape, but not too stiff. And, with the relatively thinness of it, there's really no problem just sewing right at the edge of it without having a big 'hump' in the leather.

Thanks for the idea. I walk on forearm crutches, and I may get some of this stuff to make me some "cuff covers". I can't count the amount of times I've skinned the inner bend of my elbow.

And um, I'm sorry about your renovation issues....

God Bless, Ray