grimmlin

On what little I've done so far, I've had pretty good success with fine grit (I finish with 400 grit), water and a piece of canvas. The only down side is its exhausting. I can't seem to get that really glossy finish if I use the saddle soap I bought. I have a wood slicker in the mail on the slow boat from China. I hope it makes the process easier, if I had known it was coming from China I wouldn't have ordered it, one thing I hate about Amazon now.

I'm new to, at this point I'm preferring the spray bottle method. I just give it an even misting and spray more as needed. It's working for me so far.

Being new to leather work, I haven't quite figured out which weight of leather to purchase for which projects. I would like to make a somewhat soft and flexible messenger bag for hauling notes around for class (no computer), notebook cover, maybe a portfolio type folder, a knife roll case and a couple of molded phone cases that hook onto a belt (would be used lightly, maybe 10 days a year). I don't know if 3-4oz or 5-6oz would be most useful for the bulk of these projects. What would you recommend? I don't want to mistakingly but a side of a weight that won't be useful for what I want to do, the nearest leather store is a Tandy that's over an hour away. Between work and school I get about 1 day a month off, so going out there to look in person isn't very feasible.

I've determined that it is in fact my tools that are the culprit for not getting any darkening on the leather. I tried making a stamp with some resin that I had laying around, and used clamps to press it in to the leather. The stamp I made didn't turn out great (I might keep trying to tweak it), BUT it did darken the leather where I pressed it....so it isn't my casing or the leather. It must be the tools.

I don't have a phobia, just an intense dislike for dirty things....and sponges used for cleaning are about as dirty as you can get. I think would prefer a spray bottle though. I keep finding myself glaring at the pack of sponges I picked up like they're guilty of something.

I want to start with a disclaimer, I'm new and don't really know what in talking about yet. Has anyone tried a solution of dish soap to dissipate oil?

That's exactly what I was wondering, I didn't know if any ole sponge would work or if I should get one of those natural sponges that don't have dyes or anything. I was hoping a cheapo sponge would do.

No problem. I understand how easy it is to overlook things and often people do it. I think on Saturday, I'll wet a piece and then try stamping a part of it every hour or so until I find the result I'm looking for. And get a sponge. Is there any particular sort of sponge that works better than others?

I've read the tutorial at least a dozen times, which just why I was starting to doubt that I was screwing up the casing process. I hadn't even thought to consider that it could be the tools I'm using. I picked up a cheap starter set from artminds, it had good reviews on amazon and I didn't want to spend a lot on something I didn't know if I would enjoy doing or not. I might have to go out and buy a sponge and try that, as a general rule I don't allow sponges in my house...but I might make an exception for a non cleaning purpose.

I'm just learning how to carve and tool leather, and I'm very confused when it comes to telling if the leather is properly cased. I've followed several tutorials and by descriptions I'm on the right track, but when I strike my tool and imprint the leather there is no color change. It seems every photo I've looked at and video I've watched shows some sort of color change when the leather is compressed. The impressions seem to take well and are sharp and clear...but there is no darkening or shading. Is there any chance that maybe the leather I'm working with just isn't very good? Or am I still just not doing it right? I'm putting the piece into cool water for several seconds, until the bubbles coming from the leather start to slow and get very fine. After that I'm letting it sit for an hour or two under loose fitting plastic to let the moisture evenly disperse and dry slightly so that it starts to lighten back up. I've also tried letting it sit covered but vented overnight, and barely letting it sit at all....all with varied success but absolutely no darkening when struck.

I like the idea of key fobs and coin purses. I was also thinking of making a clasp/closure for the new costume cape my husband wants me to make him. We've bought a couple at Ren Faires for our other capes and I'm pretty sure I now possess the skills and tools to make one.

In making my first projects I've discovered that I'm ending up with sections of scrap that I feel could be used for something, but they're not very big. I don't want to throw them away. Some of the odd shaped ones I've set aside to practice tooling on, but the pieces I want to try to use are only about 6-10 inches long, some are square, most are smaller. I've got 8-9oz leather. Are there any small projects you might recommend for a newbie?

I'm a cook at a major university and am also attending said university part time. I'm going back to school because I'm a little bit of a masochist, and it might help me advance and lay the foundation for starting a brewery with my husband in the future.

I would like in

I would be interested in this to. Guess I need to PM some folks.

I will admit that the things I'm working on, my very first projects, are very closely modeled after pictures I found online. I'm basically copying someone else's work (or trying to)...because having pictures to go by is helpful for me and I absolutely love the design and its simple enough for me to learn on. That being said, I would never try to sell something like that or claim I designed it even if I get comments on it. I would tell people I made it, but name the maker of the piece I've modeled it after. For all I know the designer is part of this forum even though this isn't where I found the pictures I'm using. I don't feel guilty about this, maybe I should, because I'm making it for me and my own use. Once I have my footing I'll be designing my own stuff.

I did a lot of cutting today, I'm making armor and using 8-9oz leather....today I cut out 6 giant maple leaves. By the end my hand was killing me, but I was doing much better keeping to my lines.

I'm curious about this to. I'm working on my first projects, but I'm avoiding stitching for now. I plan on making a pouch next and will stitch that...so I need to start learning.

Being a newbie, I'm not sure how much my opinion counts....but I'm starting with quite a few things from Tandy. I've read reviews from people who ate much farther in and I know Tandy isn't the best, but right now I know I don't need the best. I just need something to get me through a few projects to decide if I want to keep going or just be glad I gave it a shot. I don't want to invest a of money in what might turn out to be a fleeting interest. I cook for a living, and my toys now are so much different than what I started learning with. I probably would have seriously hurt myself and hated what has become my passion if I started with my Shun knives and triple clad stainless cookware. I see leather working as possibly being similar.

I accept that I will make mistakes, and because of that I'm measuring everything at least 3 times before making marks and another time or two before cutting. It still doesn't help me make good cuts. I can't seem to cut along my lines to save my life. I'm used to working with fabrics, leather is so much tougher.

Hello everyone, I'm new here (obviously) and am just getting started with leather working. I've been interested for a few years but just recently started to seriously think about trying it. I've spent the last few weeks researching, learning and purchasing the essential tools and feel I am ready to begin. I am a Renaissance Festival enthusiast and my immediate interests are making armor for myself and my husband. I've spent the last week drafting plans, patterns and mock-ups...I feel I have a good idea of what I want to make and have planned as much as I can. This morning I cut out the first piece, I'm starting with a waist cinch since what I have planned is a single piece with very little tooling required. I'm going to practice with the swivel knife on some of the little scraps I trimmed off since I am fascinated with how this tool works. I'm a cook, so naturally I have a knife obsession. I am so excited to finally be getting started but I still feel the need to double check everything I do with the internet to make sure I don't ruin the lovely piece of leather I bought (probably nicer than what a newbie should get, but I got a really good deal on it). I'm sure I will have some extremely basic questions for all of you, but I am the sort who tries to find the answer to my questions before posting about it.