spurdude101 Report post Posted April 20, 2011 hello all, I'm covering a loose leaf binder with I 'm guessing 3-4oz. veg tan ( those cheap Tandy "Craftsman" hides) anyway got into a soft spot that lays along the edge, So I would like to firm it up. what to use? I could sandwitch some stiff plastic or cardboard, but do not want to see it. the inside is a very thin pigs skin or a thin synthetic, so no help there. any suggestions? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladykahu Report post Posted April 20, 2011 I am sure one of the experianced leatherworkers will chime in with the 'proper' way.. but.. If it doesn't need to be weather proof then could you maybe mix some PVA glue with water and 'paint' that on the underside? I have used pva/water mix on leather in the past when making costume armour for school plays (cheap and just needs to look ok on stage stuff) and if you play a little and vary the amount of glue you can get varying stiffness into the leather without changing the look of the skin side. The PVA mix will soak in a little so don't slop to much on. If it needs to be weather proof then look up some stuff called 'paverpol' which is like pva to work with but handles all weather fine. Natalie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted April 20, 2011 hello all, I'm covering a loose leaf binder with I 'm guessing 3-4oz. veg tan ( those cheap Tandy "Craftsman" hides) anyway got into a soft spot that lays along the edge, So I would like to firm it up. what to use? I could sandwitch some stiff plastic or cardboard, but do not want to see it. the inside is a very thin pigs skin or a thin synthetic, so no help there. any suggestions? Powdered Viagra,perhaps! Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted April 21, 2011 Hi, This is all from the bespoke shoemaking industry, so few will have a clue what I am talking about. You need to take a piece of 4oz leather and "Hammer Jack" it. Basically, you put it on an anvil and wail on it with a "beating out" (read here large smooth faced) hammer. Start from the center and work your way out in a spiral. This will compress the leather and make it hard and not very flexible; you can hammer jack a 3oz or 4oz piece pretty thin. Use as a liner for what you need. When making heels for shoes or boots, you "hammer jack" a piece of sole leather to make heel lifts, it keeps them from squashing out in use. HTH, Art I am sure one of the experianced leatherworkers will chime in with the 'proper' way.. but.. If it doesn't need to be weather proof then could you maybe mix some PVA glue with water and 'paint' that on the underside? I have used pva/water mix on leather in the past when making costume armour for school plays (cheap and just needs to look ok on stage stuff) and if you play a little and vary the amount of glue you can get varying stiffness into the leather without changing the look of the skin side. The PVA mix will soak in a little so don't slop to much on. If it needs to be weather proof then look up some stuff called 'paverpol' which is like pva to work with but handles all weather fine. Natalie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glock21 Report post Posted April 21, 2011 Powdered Viagra,perhaps! Tony. Thats funny I almost ckoked on my lunch laughing at that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonyc1 Report post Posted April 21, 2011 Thats funny I almost ckoked on my lunch laughing at that. Couldn't help myself, sorry. Tony. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladykahu Report post Posted April 22, 2011 If you 'jack hammer' a bit of leather, surely then you won't be able to do any stamping, patterning etc on it? might kind of defeat the purpose of a journal cover really Nice info though on how its done. Natalie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jazznow Report post Posted April 22, 2011 i think, yu don't have to hammer the surface of your workpiece. Use a piece of scrap leather and hammer that. Glue it in like a liner, when finish. Thats, what i would do (but i do stupid things very often ) Greetings Jonathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted April 22, 2011 Jonathan is right, you use the hammer jacked piece as an intermediate or liner piece to stiffen the project. You could use a hammer jacked piece as a welt to stiffen an edge. If you hammer jack a 4oz piece or less, you end up with a pretty thin piece that is unobtrusive as a welt. It is generally a good workout too. They made a small roller press to do this function, but I have not been able to locate one. Art If you 'jack hammer' a bit of leather, surely then you won't be able to do any stamping, patterning etc on it? might kind of defeat the purpose of a journal cover really Nice info though on how its done. Natalie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
