How to keep leather/Patterns flat while cutting.

[Littlef]

2 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

oh heck yea bank fishing is booooring  unless you are catching of course. i fly fish too, mostly nymphs. My love however is brookie fishing in the mountains with just a hook and a worm.  We go out to the lake to catch smoking size trout and walleyes for the winter. When I'm not using a sinker for bait i use my canoe and throw spoons or jig for walleys.

That sounds like a real good time.  I mostly nymph fish too, although dry flying is spectacular during a hatch.  The waters around me are mostly regulated for artificial flies only.  Which is fine, since the rivers can be crowded and the fish pressured.  I see mainly rainbow and browns, with brookies depending where you are at.  Sometimes I go up into Rock Mountain National Park for Greenback cutthroats which are beautiful.  Those are endangered, so catch and release only.

[Frodo]

Back on track

in all honesty,  I have only used a weight to hold my pattern a few times

I hold it down with my hand or hand and arm

i have used regular cheapest you can buy

masking tape, I do this for 2 reasons it works and it keeps my leather from stretching out and being “off” makes it easier to see a line to cut . I do not work on the finished side, I mark and cut on the back side

[Littlef]

2 hours ago, Frodo said:

Back on track

in all honesty,  I have only used a weight to hold my pattern a few times

I hold it down with my hand or hand and arm

i have used regular cheapest you can buy

masking tape, I do this for 2 reasons it works and it keeps my leather from stretching out and being “off” makes it easier to see a line to cut . I do not work on the finished side, I mark and cut on the back side

I can see that.  Mask down the rough side, then mark and cut.  I think the leather itself is flexing while I'm marking.  Its not bad, but I'm just trying to refine how I'm approaching it to get more precision.  Good idea.  

[Ole South]

Iron pipe caps(or nipples) work well (comes in brass, copper &  pvc too).  They come in various diameters too. If you need more weight, fill with fishing sinkers or BB shot and melt hot glue or paraffin to hold in place and some self-stick cork sheet cut to size, to make the iron ones non-marking.

Southland 2 in. Galvanized Malleable Iron Cap Fitting 511-408HN - The Home Depot Kinda pricey to buy new in iron but you may find some in Pop's junk bin.

I use copper heat transfer billets cut from old school aluminum computer CPU heatsinks.  About 1.25inch diameter and 1.5in tall, weigh from 6-10oz each.  

[Littlef]

On 3/20/2023 at 1:26 PM, Ole South said:

Iron pipe caps(or nipples) work well (comes in brass, copper &  pvc too).  They come in various diameters too. If you need more weight, fill with fishing sinkers or BB shot and melt hot glue or paraffin to hold in place and some self-stick cork sheet cut to size, to make the iron ones non-marking.

Southland 2 in. Galvanized Malleable Iron Cap Fitting 511-408HN - The Home Depot Kinda pricey to buy new in iron but you may find some in Pop's junk bin.

I use copper heat transfer billets cut from old school aluminum computer CPU heatsinks.  About 1.25inch diameter and 1.5in tall, weigh from 6-10oz each.  

Good Idea, I'll swing through plumbing next time I'm at the hardware store and see what I can find.  Thanks!!

[Metalhorseman]

Just sew up some small sandbags 4x4 or whatever size you need …

[dcv]

I make pattern weights from dumbbell weights that I pick up from thrift stores. Pictured are 2 that were $0.99 each at Goodwill. Scrap leather and some saddle stitching. These are about 5"/13cm and weigh 1.25#/.5KG.

[Littlef]

8 minutes ago, dcv said:

I make pattern weights from dumbbell weights that I pick up from thrift stores. Pictured are 2 that were $0.99 each at Goodwill. Scrap leather and some saddle stitching. These are about 5"/13cm and weigh 1.25#/.5KG.

That would do the job great, once they are protected in leather!

[Pan5N3]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:50 PM, chuck123wapati said:

there was a guy on here that made these really cool hockey puck looking weights, if you search you may find it. he was from Europe, maybe  Greece i think.

I use actual hockey pucks.  They aren't heavy (6 oz) but you should be able to find them in sports stores for cheap.  Prices have doubled during pandemic, but they are still cheap - $2..  There are 10oz pucks but they are not a common. Can find them in a lot of sports stores or on-line.

Hockey pucks also make good punch blocks. Solid vulcanized rubber.  Hard enough to hammer on but soft enough to not dull tools. Also useful for setting up decorative rivets.  Easy to drill / carve out the shape you need.  Hard enough to set the rivet but soft enough to not damage.

Up here in Canada, hockey pucks are wonder tools.  even used them for body work on cars  :-)

 

[Littlef]

A quick little project, putting suggestions to use.  1 old pair of jeans, and a pile of pennies.  That did the job.  Appreciate the suggestions!.