Cutting Leather At Angle To Create Retention Lip On Pouch?

[Roger J]

Quite a mouthful I know, but this picture should help clear things up:

Notice that the leather of lid and body is cut at an angle to "lock" in place when closed.

I'm guessing that they probably use some type of press, and I don't think I could do this cleanly with just a knife.

Is there a special technique or affordable tool that would help one accomplish this?

[DavidL]

my guess, and its only a guess is that the piece of leather was flat first and a round cut was made. He then wet moulded both pieces into a circle. The curve comes from the two pieces bending into that circle shape. So imagine a line and it is cut then both pieces are joined and molded, the angle where the two pieces meet will still be touching but the angle will be changed. I could be wrong, it may have been moulded then cut. I would email him and ask him, he may be incline to give away the process.

Edited April 13, 2014 by DavidL

[Tree Reaper]

You can put it on edge and cut it with a band saw.

[Dwight]

Tree Reaper has the right idea.

I would first mold the pocket, half circle, pouch, . . . whatever you call it.

Add the fastener and all the snaps, . . . glue and sew it to it's base, . . . making the thing all done except for the final cutting.

Then I would stain the thing and get at least one good coat of resolene on it, . . . making sure it is dry as can be.

Then I would cut out the lid, . . . but I would use a coping saw, . . . but that is me, . . . band saws are too fast for my reflexes.

You could then touch up the edges of the cut pieces with dye and more resolene.

Good luck, . . . looks like an interesting project.

May God bless,

Dwight

[DavidL]

a steady hand may be able to cut that out, along with a straight knife

[Roger J]

Thanks guys.

Bandsaw: not a bad idea as the blade goes only in one direction and they do make 1/8" blades with 32 TPI. All I have right now are 1/2" 3TPI rip blades...it would be a bit rough.

Coping saw: I had thought the back and forth movement of the blade might give a ragged edge to the leather. I'll see if I can adapt some ultra fine scrollsaw blades to fit my coping saw.

I would email him and ask him, he may be incline to give away the process.

Might end up doing that, but it would feel kinda weird, like asking a chef for his secret recipe.