mask

[Roger]

hadn't done anything like this before. it's very interesting to see how veg tan leather acks when boiled!

i see from my side photo that i need to clean up the black outline around the eyes.

the holes are nice and smooth and the paint does not look that rough.

that's one of the reasons i like to take pics of projects as i go. i catch many mistakes in pics that i would not otherwise catch.

[Kevin King]

This may sound like a dumb question, but why do you boil the leather?

[Beaverslayer]

Thanks for asking that question Kevin, now we don't both sound dumb...LOL

Ken

[outcast]

Nice mask Roger. So, you gonna go as a cat this year?

Steve

[Roger]

This may sound like a dumb question, but why do you boil the leather?

Thanks for asking that question Kevin, now we don't both sound dumb...LOL

Ken

boiling makes it very moldable and when it dries it's hard as a rock!

the leather was boiled for 90 seconds and then molded. it shrinks and rolls up as soon as you put it into the water so it's a challenge just to straighten it back out and work it while you can

[Roger]

thanks steve.. my wife is going out with some friends and i have seen a few masks and figured i'ed give it a shot.

i'm not much for dressing up and going out any more

[outcast]

Roger, I've never made a mask before, but I did see a video by Cheryl Smeja entitled "Free Forming and Lasting". According to Cheryl putting vegtan in any water hotter than 150 degrees will burn the leather, and shrink it. What she does is heat the water to 120-130 degrees, and adds 1/2 to 1 cup of ammonia to 5 gallons of water. The ammonia will soften the leather, make it quite mouldable, and when it dries it's hard. She just submerges the leather into the hot water until the bubbles quit. Then she has fun with the leather making really neat things. I still like your mask tho.

Steve