Testing leather cutting on a laser engraver.

[Olena TS]

I filmed this video last year, but I thought some of you might still find it interesting! This is the TwoTrees TTS-20PRO laser engraver that I borrowed from a friend to test. Since more and more people were asking for patterns with laser cutting file formats, I just had to give it a try! After these tests, I ended up buying my own xTool M1 — so I guess another video about that one is coming soon!

 

 

 

 

[kgg]

6 hours ago, Olena TS said:

I filmed this video last year,

I enjoyed the video.

kgg

[Ferg]

I agree very enjoyable and well done video. Keep up the good work.

I have a CO2 60W laser and have had great success with cutting and engraving leather

[Olena TS]

4 hours ago, kgg said:

Мені сподобалося відео.

кг

Thank you!

[Olena TS]

1 hour ago, Ferg said:

I agree very enjoyable and well done video. Keep up the good work.

I have a CO2 60W laser and have had great success with cutting and engraving leather

Thank you!  I wish every CO2 laser came with a big leather workshop as a free gift!  😂 My workspace is really small, so there’s not much room for something that big. That’s why I decided to focus on smaller laser engravers after testing the TwoTrees TTS.

[dikman]

Very good video, excellent quality.

[Taz575]

Just joined the forum and saw this thread!  I have a 11W and 20W diode on a 24" x 24" gantry, so I started cutting leather with the lasers recently.

1.  It's STINKY!!  I use it in the garage with the door open.

2.  It's slow, almost as slow for me cutting wood with the laser.  I actually cut wood templates and then can use those to cut the leather (like if I am doing a sew on belt loop for a knife sheath), or cut the leather itself.  I may need to clean my lasers, because mine are not cutting as fast as in that video, even the 20W.  Soot and stuff will dirty up the lenses and fans in the lasers, so they will need to be cleaned.

3.  Do test pieces.  Veg Tanned leather, pre dyed Veg Tanned leather and water buffalo veg tanned leather all cut differently on the laser, even in the same weight range!  Veg Tanned Water Buffalo in 8-10oz took nearly as long as doing 1/8" thick rosewood!  Pre Dyed wasn't as bad and the reg veg tanned was the fastest, almost like cutting poplar or basswood with the laser.  I would not cut Chrome Tanned leather with the laser; the chemicals can be nasty when burnt!  

4.  I sand off the charred edges, helps reduce the stink.  Some people wet the leather I guess, but I clean up the edges quick on the belt sander, makes it less smelly.  quick damp paper towel usually helps with the soot left behind, too.  Most of my leather is brown or black pre dye or water buffalo, so it is darker already.

5.  I started doing patterns for some of my basic knives and then a generic/oversized welt.  I fit the welt itself to each blade individually, so I can modify the outside shape as needed.  Most of my knives are in the 3-4" blade range, different blade shapes, so one "master" sheath pattern and the generic welt will cover most of my needs by cutting the welt to the individual knife.  

6.  It's nice for doing several of the same sheath.  I did a run of 4 sheaths in water buffalo outer panels and pre dyed veg tanned for the welt and even lasered in the holes for the chicago screws for the belt clip (in the pocket sheath).  They came out nice and uniform, which made things much easier!  I haven't tried lasering the stitching holes yet though, but doing small diamonds may work well and would prevent issues with hand punching?  Haven't tried engraving with the laser, either?  Something else to try!

7.  For smoke/soot residue on the backside, many people will elevate their honeycomb so the air can escape from the bottom, less soot on the material being cut.  Faster speeds, lower power and more passes may also help with this too.

8.  I gotta find something to keep the leather flat on the honeycomb; I was using my hands to hold it down as the laser goes over the area, but it's a pain to do and not shift the leather.  The magnets that came with the honeycomb suck and aren't strong enough to really hold anything.

 

[Dwight]

My laser will cut any of the leather I normally use on my stuff . . .  and it has a air tool with it . . .  so when I get done with cutting something . . .  the edge is clean . . . no soot . . . no stink . . . 

It cuts in a wooden box I made for it . . .  all the stink goes out the side of the shop with a little fan I built in to it . . . 

I'll be doing a bit more of that in the not too distant future . . .  need my templates all made up first . . . 

I use LaserGRBL and Adobe photoshop . . . makes life really simple . . .  I can go from a "lets try this pattern" . . . to a finished and tweaked pattern in all of an hour.  When I am done with the pattern . . . it is ready to be used . . . is stored on my computer . . .  all I do is call it up next time . . .

A holster takes about the same time as it takes me to cut with a razor knife . . . but it's cutting while I'm doing something else important . . . a real time saver.

The best part . . .  I almost made the mistake of buying a press . . .  and spending 100 bucks or so on every die . . . and another 100 to modify it.  With the laser . . . I simply adjust my pattern on Photoshop . . .  and re-cut it.  It'll shave off a 1/16 of an inch . . . or whatever change needs done.  

With the new head I'm looking to buy . . .  it'll go even faster and better.

May God bless,

Dwight

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

Has anyone used oil-tanned with a laser? Or does that become a fire hazard?

May you never burn your bacon,

— AZR

[BUS]

Underrated feature I've found with my laser cutter is engraving tooling patterns. Love that I can draw something in my iPad and put it right onto the leather without having to print and trace it. Honestly about the only thing leather wise I use it for at this point, other than cutouts of things I stitch onto my headcovers.