thekid77

Hi Bob!!! First off, let me just say that I am soooo impressed with your work!!! I am humbled that you have replied to my question... The piece could be trimmed before wet forming, but the only problem is that it is just difficult to estimate exactly where the end of the cut should be when trying to take into account the thickness of the leather....thanks for the reply!!

Yeah great idea, that's what I was thinking...I'm going to use a fresh x-acto blade and protect the leather with some plastic film to keep the blade from nicking the leather..

Hey Cyber, the problem was that after I cut the leather out, it was so thin it wanted to move all over while I was buffing...so, looking back, it probably would have been easier to buff before cutting it out..

Lol, thanks Josh...hindsight is always 20/20

Thanks Tree, I have the book...it really doesn't say anything about how to trim the leather without getting into the bottom leather other that to "carefully trim"... I was going to try again and maybe use a piece of overhead projector film to protect the bottom leather while i'm trimming...just got this idea so i'll see what happens....thanks again

Thanks Tree, I like the technique...I see that it is still being used today on cases for pool cues...which brings me back to my original question... It would be great if anyone could tell me how to neatly trim off the leather flaps at the corners without cutting into the leather near the bottom... Let's assume that a person is using the box pocket technique and is not molding/forming the leather... Thanks!!!

Hey everyone, thanks so much for the feedback... I actually have wet formed quite a few items and had much success...but this was a different technique that I found in the Stohlman case making book that I was curious about.... Why does the box pocket technique exist when molding the leather is so much easier?? Is it mainly for making pockets out of lighter weight leather?? I'm at a loss... Can anyone shed some light on the "box pocket" technique and when it might ideally be used? Thank you everyone!!!

Hi friends, This was my first go at a box pocket... I was wondering if anyone could suggest a way to neatly trim off the excess leather flaps on each corner??? As can be seen in the photos, I trimmed off the flaps, but they look raw and unfinished... I have thought about getting some thin transparency film to lay on the leather when i'm making the cuts so that I can trim as close as possible without cutting the leather along the edge... Anyone chime in? Thanks!!!

Hi there, i'm new to leatherwork also (started last December)...for tools, look for Bruce Johnson on this forum or go to google and search "Bruce Johnson tools"...Bruce set me up with a great starter kid of tools....he is also very knowledgeable and you can ask him questions...other gents that are very helpful are Nigel Armitage, Chuck Burrows, and Ian Atkinson (Leodis Leather on youtube)...in addition, there are many other folks on this forum who are very friendly and always willing too help....hope this helps!!!

Thanks Silver, yet another awesome idea!!! Much appreciated!!!

Thanks Dwight, I love these ideas...have a great day!!!

Thank you TwinOaks, a truly wonderful idea!!! I really appreciate all of the help!!!

Nigel to the rescue!!! WOW...awesome suggestions...where I thought i'd have to start over, now I have some options...thank you so much!!!

Friends, I made a huge mistake...I am making a lined case for an ipod...i finished contact cementing the liner in when I realized that I forgot to install the button snap!!! How could I forget??? I have no idea what to do now...please help Thank you!!!

Wow!!! That looks awesome...now I think i'm going to have to try that out one of these days

nice!!! post up some pics so we can see bro...sounds awesome!!!

You should try it out bro!!! Many brands of tips are composed of only a single piece of leather, eg, Triangle, Le Pro, Elk Master, etc... Just speaking from experience, multi layered tips are prone to delaminating....if this happens, you have to hope that it is the top layer that comes off, or you're out a whole tip... Go for it bro!!!

Thanks for the compliments Nige, it's very encouraging!!! Great information Dwight, I will have to try that technique out some time....cell phones keep getting bigger so it's a great challenge to come up with something that will offer protection and still fit comfortably in the pocket

Thanks for the kind words Dwight, I followed Ian Atkinson's tutorial on youtube (thanks Ian) for the case...it's good practice.. May I ask, what is a fortifying strip?

Thanks for always sharing your insight Dwight, will do!!!

Okay, thanks for the input everyone...i had an idea to just let steam get to the inside of the case, so it gets damp enough to stretch but not sopping wet... Don't know if it will work though...hate to experiment on finished projects :/

Hi friends, I recently made a pancake case for the Galaxy S3... It is really tight... Is there anything I could do to stretch it a bit on the inside? or break it in a lil better? The phone almost fits but not without a bit of forcing...thanks!!!

Thanks Blues

I noticed that Blanchard offers pricking irons with "inverted teeth"... Which direction is considered inverted? Top of stitching hole pointed down? or up? Thanks excuse me, I meant is inverted with the stitch holes angling towards you, or away from you?

thanks so much!!! (recovering student here)