needing some help or guidance

[ShortApacheWrangler]

I want to know how others get a pattern or template onto leather?

[AlZilla]

I usually wet the leather as if for tooling, lay the pattern on it and trace with something blunt. Ballpoint pen works.

Laser owners can laser engrave a pattern.

I bet there are more ways.

[Gezzer]

Like AlZilla said for most things , other times I use transfer paper when placing with minimal clearance is a concern  .

[chuck123wapati]

I wouldn't suggest a ballpoint pen unless it's empty. Please don't ask me how I know but if you rip through your pattern you will draw a beautiful ink stain on your piece of leather then you can toss it.

some folks use craft tool aids, plastic impressions you tap into your piece. The really good toolers use what is called a tap-out. it is simply a leather pattern with the swivel knife marks cut into it. you case your piece and tap the leather impression onto your piece then cut it. it is much more precise than any traced pattern. The swivel knife is the most important part of the tooling process as its the basis for the design so if its off then your design will be off.

[Gezzer]

How do you know that @chuck123wapati  

Packing tape front and back is your friend ........ and makes a pattern re-usable as far as the ballpoint pens go . But like you say if it's something you will be doing a lot of, the "tap-off " is the way to go .

[Northmount]

Moved to patterns and templates

[BlackDragon]

If you're talking about a cutting pattern I'll put the pattern on the leather and use a scratch awl to trace the pattern. If I'm going to use the pattern a few times I'll glue the paper to chipboard so it can withstand more use.

If you're talking about a tooling pattern I use vellum paper and a stylus. You can draw directly on it, use a ink jet, or laser jet printer. Unlike regular paper it can take a little more abuse and doesn't fall apart as easily. It can also withstand getting a little damp. I did the tape thing for a little while but it took more time and waste than just buying the vellum paper. I paid $10 for 180 sheets.

[chuck123wapati]

50 minutes ago, Gezzer said:

How do you know that @chuck123wapati  

Packing tape front and back is your friend ........ and makes a pattern re-usable as far as the ballpoint pens go . But like you say if it's something you will be doing a lot of, the "tap-off " is the way to go .

lol its my specialty, a stylus is cheap stress free and used for more than just tracing patterns. Mine is a dulled large needle in a exacto knife handle. The really really really good toolers draw their pattern directly on the leather. I am nowhere that good but it's what to strive for if you're in it for the money.

[Dwight]

It depends to a large degree on how certain you are of what you are doing. 

Generally I will make a paper pattern buy copy/paste onto a piece of printer paper . . . cut it out with scissors . . . tape it down to a manila folder.

Cut out the manila folder and paper . . . toss the paper.

Lay the manila folder down on my leather . . .  get a black or blue ball point pen . . . and draw it out.  I'm confident in my ability to draw correctly . . . having graduated from crayons  a little over 70 years ago.

I can see the ink very well . . . cut it right down the middle . . . or slightly outside . . . and go to work making the holster.

If I should happen to have a line where it should not be . . . no big worry . . . holster will be black anyway . . .  and if not this one . . . the leather goes into the folder for the next one that will be black.

May God bless,

Dwight

[badhatter1005]

I use a stylus. You don't even have to wet down the leather if it's good leather. Trace your pattern that way and then cut it out. A ballpoint stylus is like $10 on Amazon or in any local hobby store pretty inexpensive.

[chuck123wapati]

I think I'll clarify a bit. tracing a tooling pattern on the front of your project is somewhat different than tracing a template to be cut out of a larger piece of leather. For example the rectangle that makes a wallet that you cut out of a larger piece you can trace with about anything you want as at least mine are oversized and will be trimmed off. i use a soft point pencil and trace around my pattern. my previous comments were mostly about tooling patterns. hope this helps

[dikman]

Lots of videos on youtube if you want to see it done.

[Tim Schroeder]

I draw my patterns on grid paper, then copy on regular copying paper. Then lay it on the leather and put this big heavy piece of glass on for 5 minutes. If the paper wrinkles very much it is to wet to do anything to.  You can see in the picture the paper is barely starting to wrinkle. I threw this copy away and waited a few minutes and used another copy. Then remove the glass and let sit for 5 min. and the paper starts to dry a little. Then tape it down so it can't move.  I trace with regular ball point pen with ink in it so I can see what I have traced. Knock on wood, I have never gone thru with a pen. I did try a ball point stylus in the beginning, but it just tears the paper. I try not to move the paper until I'm sure I have traced all lines. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Tim Schroeder