Stiffener for chrome tanned leather

[327fed]

A friend who does leather came by to see how I make valet trays. He wanted to know how I made them rigid wet formed. I showed him but he uses only chrome tanned leather. I said I did not think that’s possible. Is there a stiffener to dip/brush on chrome tanned that will stiffen it?

[fredk]

The easiest way is to laminate the chrome tan, sandwiching a layer of cardboard in the middle

The harder way is to dip the chrome tan in boiling hot water. That will make it shrivel up and harden then the pattern can be cut from that

[327fed]

Thanks Fred. He is gonna try the boiling water.