Keeping Your Leather From Buckling?

[ShortBBL]

Hi everybody! I just today got a few stamps and want to give it a try. I notice that when done, the leather ripples and buckles here and there. How does one keep that from happening? How can you keep or return the leather to its formal nice flat state of being?

Thanks!

[joet]

Hi everybody! I just today got a few stamps and want to give it a try. I notice that when done, the leather ripples and buckles here and there. How does one keep that from happening? How can you keep or return the leather to its formal nice flat state of being?

Thanks!

That ripple and buckle effect is caused by the force of the tools driving into the leather. This is normal as leather spreads when the fibers are compressed by force. What to do to keep it from happening depends on the craftsman/woman. Glueing the leather with rubber cement to a fairly hard surface, like plexiglass, carboard (non-corrigated stuff), x-ray film, or what have you. Some people even glue the leather right to their pounding surface. This will also help with the shrinking of the leather. Problem: tacky substance on the back of the leather after tooling. No problem if it's to be used for something that has a lining like a wallet.

If the leather is to be something else, like a belt, card case (non-lined) or something like that, then use straping tape. Duct tape and masking tape will not come off cleanly and the former leaves that sticky residue. Using a piece of sticky shelf lining paper cut to size will also help. I'm sure that I didn't cover everything, and there might be someone else out there that uses their own choice of backing. If so, please sound off. The information listed above has been either tried by myself, or I have heard/read about someone else and their favorite backing.

[Big Steve]

Hi everybody! I just today got a few stamps and want to give it a try. I notice that when done, the leather ripples and buckles here and there. How does one keep that from happening? How can you keep or return the leather to its formal nice flat state of being?

Thanks!

Hi there,the way i stop the leather buckling is also to glue it to a piece of card, but first i cover the flesh side with 2" packing tape ( sellotape) and then go over that with 2" double sided tape the kind used to fasten carpets down, then attach this to the card, when you have done all your stamping/ carving then pull the card and all the tape from the leather do it when the leather is totaly, dry pull the card and tape from the leather not the leather from the card this way you wont stretch the leather and there is no glue or anytning on the back side of your project simple but it works for me.

Regards,Steve.

[ShortBBL]

Hi there,the way i stop the leather buckling is also to glue it to a piece of card, but first i cover the flesh side with 2" packing tape ( sellotape) and then go over that with 2" double sided tape the kind used to fasten carpets down, then attach this to the card, when you have done all your stamping/ carving then pull the card and all the tape from the leather do it when the leather is totaly, dry pull the card and tape from the leather not the leather from the card this way you wont stretch the leather and there is no glue or anytning on the back side of your project simple but it works for me.

Regards,Steve.

Thanks to everyone for the good ideas! I tried the tape and it worked pretty good. I'll add the cardboard and see how I like that.