Leather Key Fobs

[SUP]

@Mablung The plane I have is tiny and works for me for edges. It cost not even $5 on Temu. I have one for straight edges and one for curved edges - total less than $10 last year. Do try Temu. One needs to be judicious about buying things there and search a bit to get the best price. Shipping is free and as long as you are ready to wait a couple of weeks, it is convenient. I have not bought anything big from them, nothing ever more than $10. I have rarely been disappointed. Returns are free, if delayed  beyond date of expected delivery they pay you $5 as penalty. Good service. I know many people don't like the China aspect of it but even the things we buy here are often made there. We just don't know that, for the most part. These days I only buy from Amazon if it is available from Vine!

I tried sanding before that and it made a mess, like @Tophee said. That is when I searched around and I think one of the people who teach burnishing used a plane. As for burnishing, I bought 2 new ones of different sizes and still find myself reaching for that piece of denim!

 

Edited July 9, 2024 by SUP

[Mablung]

Agreed that sanding can make a mess of edges. In my admittedly limited experience, it can be avoided if the right grits are used, but not always. Really clean cuts help, of course, but sometimes the whole point is to clean up a less-than-ideal cut. I’ll look into small planes at some point. 

[Tophee]

I appreciate all the advice. Alot of things for me to try out in future projects. Im focusing on smaller things at the moment but will work my way up to bigger projects as I get better.

[Dwight]

On 7/7/2024 at 4:25 PM, Tophee said:

Still new, but these are my latest creations. Still cannot get the cuts all even.

 

Let me suggest to you that you spend just a medium amount of money . . . buy yourself a small laser engraver.  I cannot vouch for the machine I'm picturing as mine are both different brands . . . but this 30 machine should cut your leather very easily . . . set it up so it does it in 2 passes . . . you will want a air blast kit with it . . . you can put the designs on it first . . . then let it cut it out . . . 

Cutting leather stinks . . . need to do it in a well ventilated area . . . or fix up one like I did . . . but the end results are fabulous . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

 

[SUP]

Just an FYI, @Tophee, These are the key chains that  I cut with a hand held die I got from Amazon last fall. They are the discards that I have around the house.  The leather used is the embossed scraps lot from The leather Guy. Those dies work.  

[fredk]

I have a few key fob dies. I use a mallet and a piece of wood to cut the leather. Scrap piece of leather on top of die blade and belt the piece of wood to cut it

This one cuts the stitching holes as well

Two other uses for the key fob piece

1. two pieces together to make a magnetic book/page marker

2. The right shape can be used as the strap loop on shoulder bags

 

[Tophee]

On 7/11/2024 at 3:04 AM, Dwight said:

Let me suggest to you that you spend just a medium amount of money . . . buy yourself a small laser engraver.  I cannot vouch for the machine I'm picturing as mine are both different brands . . . but this 30 machine should cut your leather very easily . . . set it up so it does it in 2 passes . . . you will want a air blast kit with it . . . you can put the designs on it first . . . then let it cut it out . . . 

Cutting leather stinks . . . need to do it in a well ventilated area . . . or fix up one like I did . . . but the end results are fabulous . . . 

May God bless,

Dwight

 

Thank you for the suggestion. I am short on space though, so like the presses suggested by others I wont be able to go for this. But it is something I will keep in mind for the future. 

 

On 7/12/2024 at 3:26 PM, SUP said:

Just an FYI, @Tophee, These are the key chains that  I cut with a hand held die I got from Amazon last fall. They are the discards that I have around the house.  The leather used is the embossed scraps lot from The leather Guy. Those dies work.  

Looks good, I have a couple die's saved in a list for when I get some funds to spare.

 

On 7/12/2024 at 3:56 PM, fredk said:

I have a few key fob dies. I use a mallet and a piece of wood to cut the leather. Scrap piece of leather on top of die blade and belt the piece of wood to cut it

This one cuts the stitching holes as well

Two other uses for the key fob piece

1. two pieces together to make a magnetic book/page marker

2. The right shape can be used as the strap loop on shoulder bags

 

I have this exact die saved in a list on amazon at the moment. I tried making a book marker out of leather, did not think of a magnetic one though.