Carving 3oz veg tan?

[AEBL]

I know nothing about carving or casing ... or about anything in general, but I just got a lot of 3oz veg tan scraps (all about coaster sized or so). Is this too thin to try to learn carving on?

[fredk]

Generally yes. You need at least 2.5mm / 6-7oz

[AEBL]

Thanks @fredk
I also found this post to be relevant, for anyone else who was interested.

 

[AEBL]

So - someone posted this (very helpful) instructional video website here not long ago, and I was watching the instructor carving the coaster pattern ... I'm not a great judge of thickness, but that leather doesn't look much thicker than 2~3oz?

Video 3, or thereabouts ...
https://co4h.colostate.edu/colorado-4-h-leathercraft-instructional-videos/
He also mentioned that he put (ceral box) cardboard on the back of his "wallet thickness" leathers for carving/tooling. He put masking tape on the flesh side, then contact cement on the cardboard.

The reason this is so important to me is that I have a LOT of scrap 3oz leather from a friend of mine that I'd like to practice with.

Edited February 24 by AEBL
more helpful information

[BlackDragon]

26 minutes ago, AEBL said:

So - someone posted this (very helpful) instructional video website here not long ago, and I was watching the instructor carving the coaster pattern ... I'm not a great judge of thickness, but that leather doesn't look much thicker than 2~3oz?

Video 3, or thereabouts ...
https://co4h.colostate.edu/colorado-4-h-leathercraft-instructional-videos/

It looks like Jim Linnell is using 10oz leather in that video. Even with his hands shaking he does fantastic work.

Tooling on 3oz leather is possible but I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner, it would be an endeavor in frustration. Keeping the leather at the correct moisture level, the leather will warp, to name a couple, isn't great to start out with. Carving thin leather can result it cutting right through the leather. Find some scrap 8oz or thicker and learn to case properly before tooling/carving.

[Tim Schroeder]

Both of these are on 3/4 oz. The practice piece is in some Brazilian Import from Frogjelly leather. Practicing on thin leather will teach you touch. In my albums there is some backgammon boards and they are both done on 2/3 oz. The pictures are 10 yrs old so you can’t click on them but you can still see what can be done on 2/3 oz.

[AEBL]

@Tim Schroeder - wow, those are nice!

[Tim Schroeder]

This is the stuff my is carrying right now. All out of 2/3 oz. from Tandy probably 10 to 12 years ago. 

[chuck123wapati]

3 hours ago, Tim Schroeder said:

This is the stuff my is carrying right now. All out of 2/3 oz. from Tandy probably 10 to 12 years ago. 

What a tease you are, lol. Now tell him how long you have been tooling. Your work is fantastic and that expertise didn't come overnight.

[Tim Schroeder]

Tandy had those 2/3 oz. hides on sale really cheap so I bought 2. I made those backgammon boards and all the stuff my wife is carrying right now. I started tooling in the 7th grade and then picked it back up 15 yrs ago. So a lot of practice. This forum and Bob Park were extremely helpful. 

[Tim Schroeder]

And yes I cut thru many times and the swivel knife blades don't like granite. Had to start doing the swivel knife on my cutting mat. Eventually you'll learn just not to cut thru. Then you have good control to get half way when you move up to thicker leather. 

[PastorBob]

On 3/1/2025 at 4:14 AM, Tim Schroeder said:

This is the stuff my is carrying right now. All out of 2/3 oz. from Tandy probably 10 to 12 years ago. 

Nice work as always!  Thanks for inspiring us!!