Members RabbitHoleExplorer Posted March 13 Members Report Posted March 13 I'm trying to make a very soft leather guitar strap inspired by one I have by PRS. Is is obviously two pieces glued together, b/c I can see a visible seam. I tried using a 1mm chrome tanned embossed crocodile cowhide over a very supple milled 5oz veg tan. However, when glued together they were much stiffer than the PRS. I noticed on the PRS strap the fibers visible on the edges are quite fuzzy (low density). Website claims it is leather so I don't think it is a synthetic. How can I make a 5mil thick strap, 2.5" wide, that is super soft and super flexible? Quote
Members Digit Posted March 13 Members Report Posted March 13 Why not use chrome tan on both sides? Possibly with a reinforcement tape in between? A while ago I've used two layers of 1.2mm (3oz) chrome tan with a reinforcement tape sandwiched in between as a leg strap for a leg bag. I's very thin, soft and supple. Quote
Members Skinjob Posted March 13 Members Report Posted March 13 I regularly use a tumbled veg tan cow hide for soft stuff. I use it for thicker pieces that need to be worn comfortably for extended periods. I make guitar straps in in too. It has a nice pebbled finish. I was told by the supplier here in the UK that the hides are tumbled with chain links in a concrete mixer to soften them. It averages 2.2mm to 2.7mm thick. Two layers back to back would be around your 5mm target thickness. This is the stuff. Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted March 13 CFM Report Posted March 13 Oils are used to soften vegetable tan. Do some tests with Neets foot oil to find the amount of softness you want in your final piece. It also darkens the leather a bit. Quote
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