would like to make a covering for a plastic paint bucket

[jhardisty]

Hi

I've just started leatherwork, ie. read a bit, 1st project, etc. I would like to make a covering for a plastic paint bucket. The problem I'm having is making the base and top. I've done a test on a small cup by cutting out a circle larger than the base, punching some holes for string to pull it and tie on the top to maintain the stretch, casing it and then stretched and tied. The problem as expected is the excess leather creates folds in certain areas, how do I get rid of them so that I end up with a smooth fold/lip that can be sewn? The leather is reasonably thick as well, like 2mm but this would happen even with the thinnest of materials.

thanks

PS. Apololgies for the multiple posts, but the New Topic page just wouldn't do anything after submitting. It obviously did something in the background

Edited May 10, 2007 by jhardisty

[dsenette]

i got rid of the other three posts for you

[abn]

J,

I've never done a project like that, so please take my advice with a grain of salt. I have seen something like that, though, in a book, and it appears that that the author used two pieces of leather to accomplish it. One piece was cut to fit the base exactly, and the second piece was wrapped around the cylinder and then stitched (or laced) to the base.

I tend to cut corners quite a bit and stay away from complex constructions. Unless there's a reason why you want the base of the bucket to be covered, why don't you simply wrap a properly-sized piece of leather around the cylinder part and then lace or stitch up the seam?

Good luck, -Alex

[jhardisty]

Those are my other 2 options, ie. a flat piece and then lace or stitch the ends. I just thought the shaping method would give a better finish.

[jhardisty]

Came across a book in a bookstore yesterday and saw something interesting. Unfortunately, the book covers quite a bit of what I need to learn (tools, lacing, stitching) but then also covers a lot of things I don't want to learn (handbag making, etc). So I guess I'm gonna have to spend a few days visiting the store and reading the sections I'm interested in :-)

Anyhow, this is my first attempt at shaping the bottom piece of the covering. Basically, I outlined the drum on a piece of chip board, cut out the circle with a jigsaw, added to a second piece of board raised the approximate height for the overlap required, nailed part of the leather to the bottom board, then pushed the left over cutout down over the leather. Unfortunately, in my haste I did not take into account the thickness of the leather and the thickness of the blade difference, ie. leather thicker than blade, so it was an extremely tight fit trying to get the cutout over the circle now covered with leather. In the process, the one side cracked as it's only chipboard and not very strong allowing a slight fold in the leather at that point and scratching about a 2cm section of the bend. But it looks like it accomplishing what I wanted it to do, so far anyways. I'll only find out tomorrow once the leather has dried and I remove the cut out. But it looks good enough for now, especially for a first try...not folds visible.

For future referrence I'll need to do the following.

1. Make the cutout a little bigger or if possible buy a thicker blade that will accomodate the thickness of the leather.

2. Use a stronger wood like pine or something.

3. Nail the leather done in such a fashion that it creates a "tent" over the shape, then apply the cutout and clamps so that it (the cutout) pulls/stretches the leather into the necessary shape.

Edited May 11, 2007 by jhardisty