Ways to make circles and arcs on leather

[Johanna]

A friend complained that it was too hard to use a compass or wing dividers to make accurate circles or arcs on carving leather. I have always used drinking glasses, plates, coins, cans, or any object that already is a circle and about the size I want. I suppose you could make a circle on a computer, adjust it for size and trace it, too. When I explained my shortcut to my friend, I realized how easy it was to overlook the obvious. I learned from an old man who had been doing leatherwork for 30 some years. He wasn't going to get a compass out, he would slap a saucer on the wet leather and use a stylus to trace a perfect circle. Same result, half the time spent, less margin for error. Wing dividers are great for planning where the next spot or rivet should go in the pattern, or evenly punching the holes in the belt, but they weren't made to do circles, and they don't do them very well.

There is an oval cookie tin downstairs that Jon Alger used to keep beads and button in, and that was the oval on many a 8 X10 book, bible or photo album cover, and there is a smaller candy tin with needles in it that went on quite a few smaller books, and big hipster wallets. There's a bunch of rectangle and square tins with all sorts of odds and ends. Sometimes what you need is right there in the shop, just look around.

Johanna

[joel_in_bhm]

I used CD's when I first started. I found they make a nice template to make a circle. I have cut into the edge a couple of times, but I love the fact that they are thin and I have so many.

[esantoro]

I used CD's when I first started. I found they make a nice template to make a circle. I have cut into the edge a couple of times, but I love the fact that they are thin and I have so many.

I use a tunafish can for all the rounded corners on my bags. Now I'm going to try a CD.

[wolvenstien]

I have always used the wing dividers to round out corners and stuff... I will try the CD or Tuna can.... my biggest issue was cutting the rounded corner after I got it marked... I ended up ising a single 3/16 braid hole punch to cut the corners off with... is a bit or work but it maked it even and always on the line...

[CitizenKate]

Those are all fine if you don't need a specific size, diameter, or radius. That is my preferred method if I can find an object that has the radius I need. If I need a specific radius, then a compass or dividers is the only choice.

The problem with dividers is how to prevent that hole that is created in the center. Solution: Just take a piece of scrap leather and put it over your center point, then anchor your dividers there. Voila! Perfect circle or curve, without the hole poked in the center.

[wolvenstien]

Good tip. I dont like the center hole, so I usually make a pattern out of thick paper, or poster board, and the hole is there, not in the leather, then i lay the cut out pattern piece on the leather, trace it out, and cut it.

[SmkyTheBr]

If you go a store that carries drafting supplies you can buy a plastic template with different diameters of

circles. I have one that has circles ranging from 3" down to 1 1/2", and a smaller one that goes from 1 1/2" down to 1/16th" They are realitively cheap. I've had mine for over 25 years and they come in handy when you need the right size circle.

Edited March 18, 2007 by SmkyTheBr

[Brandon]

If you go a store that carries drafting supplies you can buy a plastic template with different diameters of

circles. I have one that has circles ranging from 3" down to 1 1/2", and a smaller one that goes from 1 1/2" down to 1/16th" They are realitively cheap. I've had mine for over 25 years and they come in handy when you need the right size circle.

It was more than a year ago I mentioned a circle cutter that can cut from 1.8 to 17 cm. without leaving a needle hole. I understand that some members over there had ordered it thru sites in the US.

Here is one from Japan I think: http://www.lion-office.com/nt/circle.html

The one I'm using is C - 1500P

Edited March 19, 2007 by Brandon