What is the best way turning Leather scrapes into leather dust for embossing projects?

[billybopp]

Depending on the embossing height, if high enough I'd use a combination of layered leather bits to get up close to the level needed then dust goop for the final shape.  The main difference is that using just stacked leather, you then have to remove leather to get to the final shape, sort of like whittling wood it's a subtractive process.  Goop is more like working with clay, you pack it on and then move it around to get your shape, more of an additive process.  I haven't done anything practical with either as I'm a crap sculptor but I did play around a little just to see what it's like several years ago.

- Bill

[Gezzer]

Just  curious ...... other than being able to say " it's all leather "  would something like sanding  dust from a sander with a bag work  ?

[bruce johnson]

1 hour ago, Gezzer said:

Just  curious ...... other than being able to say " it's all leather "  would something like sanding  dust from a sander with a bag work  ?

Yessir, I took an embossing class several years ago and we used sawdust and rubber cement to make the paste. People post about Bondo, clay, wood filler, and other hardware store preps. Since it won't be seen - whatever you've got that works.  

[toxo]

On 11/15/2025 at 7:39 PM, charlesfenley said:

I have a lot of leather scraps from using leather dies to cut out leather shapes. I want to know the best way to turn those scraps into leather dust for embossing projects. I use a sharp chisel to cut the leather into small pieces about 1/8 inch in size. I used a vita mix mixer and it broke the mixer, then I used a food processor and all that did was make the leather pieces fuzzy. I want to try an electric grain mill next but that can be pricey. Is there a better way to accomplish this task?  

Am I right in thinking that you want to do this to create a chesterfield/pillow/quilted type look? If so it would be a lot easier to use foam. I used to buy 7x4 sheets of 1/4"-3/8" foam to make the modern square typr archery targets. You can get it in various densities to suit your purpose. If I'm right, look on YouTube For Cechaflo's channel for inspiration.