Shrinkage?

[MtlBiker]

Does veg tan leather shrink when you wet it?  I'm guessing this is something that experienced leather workers know how to deal with, but as a novice I didn't know or expect it to happen.  I cut out my 3.5oz leather using a pattern, and then I used Edge Prep and then dyed my piece.  I just noticed that it's shrunk!  My piece which was 7 3/8" long before the dyeing process, is now only 7".  That's a lot of shrinkage!

How do you deal with this?  Do you dye the leather before cutting it out?  Seems like a waste to me, but then again in my case it's a bigger waste as I can't use that piece now.

(Again referring back to the Weaver Leather Axe Sheath video on YouTube, they cut the leather, completely joined it with the welt glued in position and THEN they dyed it.  So I thought this was the right order of doing things.)

 

[Tugadude]

I always dye before cutting and that eliminates the issue.  So long as you allow it to dry before cutting of course.  The other thing that can happen is the leather characteristics can change after it gets wet.  Sometimes after it has dried it is much firmer.

[MtlBiker]

2 hours ago, Tugadude said:

I always dye before cutting and that eliminates the issue.  So long as you allow it to dry before cutting of course.  The other thing that can happen is the leather characteristics can change after it gets wet.  Sometimes after it has dried it is much firmer.

I guess all you experienced guys (dudes!) do this from experience.  Funny though that the Weaver video did the dyeing after all the pieces were cut out and glued together (but before the stitching).  I did feel that the leather was stiffer after dyeing and drying.  Is there something that would restore the softness?

Cheers!

 

[chuck123wapati]

1 minute ago, MtlBiker said:

I guess all you experienced guys (dudes!) do this from experience.  Funny though that the Weaver video did the dyeing after all the pieces were cut out and glued together (but before the stitching).  I did feel that the leather was stiffer after dyeing and drying.  Is there something that would restore the softness?

Cheers!

 

You can dye your stuff anywhere in the process you want. when depends on what your making, a stamped or tooled  wallet for example has to be tooled first or you don't know whereto put the colors but an untooled wallet could be dyed first or last. Then there are different ways to dye your piece also, dip dying, block dying, air brush to name a few and all can be done at different times. On the shrinkage i have not really noticed it because when i wet form i shape the leather the way i want it usually over a form or mold. I use an air brush to  dye it so it doesn't really get wet enough to shrink, Your leather will stretch also when tooled most folks glue it to some heavy paper to minimize that. softening can be done with any number of products depending somewhat on the end use of the leather piece. Neats foot oil in small quantities is one of the traditional methods.

[Handstitched]

I saw " shrinkage" , and thought, ' yeh that happens as you get old'.

I don't think I've had that issue with leather shrinking. But like you said, it depends on what is being made .  If anything , I have noticed a slight increase after tooling. Its like tenderising a piece of meat . 

HS 

 

[chiefjason]

Your 3.5 oz leather is the issue.  They are using 8-9 oz shoulders.  Thin leather will shrink more noticeably than thicker leather.  But I'll sometimes have 8 oz shrink enough to surprise me after drying a molded holster front.  

[Klara]

Couldn't you wet the leather again and stretch it? Just an idea...