putting a belt in the fridge?

[LakeOtter]

I got so used to working on small items I could tape down to a modest stone slab, and stick it in the fridge in plastic, when I'm not finising it in one evening.

This is about keeping the work moist until the next go. 

Now that I'm moving to giant-breed dog collars (and probably human belts) I was wondering if there was any option other than carefully, loosely coiling the belt and placing it in the fridge on its side...?

It gives me the willies not lying flat becasue I don't want it to deform r get squished etc.

Or... presumably people put work in the fridge because they don't want to start rotting the leather, moist in a bag without cold, but I'd never tried just leaving work room temperature for two or three days, in a more convenient spot to spread out than a fridge. I don't know how much preservative is left over in veg tan leather. There seems to be something. I mean, I've used oils that go rancid smelling in wood or rags, but which seem to do so much, much less in leather. This made me think there is at least some light preservative left over in veg tan leather, but I don't want to start unecessary bacteria colonies.

The real pros seem to trace and tool a belt all in one go.

If you don't, I'd like to hear how you store the long, moist leather belt overnight for finishing the next day or so.

Thanks!

Jeff in FL

 

 

 

[Dwight]

I've never done that . . . and it would take a bunch of convincing to get me to do that.  

Stuff dries out in the fridge almost as fast as laying on the counter.

For what stamping I do . . . if I have to shagnasty for a while . . . I leave it and hit it with the sponge when I get back.  Works fine for me

May God bless,

Dwight

[chuck123wapati]

A plastic bag works for me, or even plastic wrap but my biome is in a very high-altitude desert environment. Plus i have a sealed box that is for acrylic paint palette that I use for large flat pieces.

And not in the fridge, just leave it on the worktable.

[bruce johnson]

I’ve done both. Straps loosely rolled in a jumbo zip lock. Flat pieces left flat.  I left enough air to keep the plastic off the leather surface.  Initial case in the morning or evening, 12 hours to even out, then tool. If I didn’t finish then back in the bag. I didn’t see much difference in the refrigerator or not. 

[Stetson912]

It is my understanding that the fridge isnt doing anything for keeping moisture in. Its the bag. The fridge just delays molding. If youre doing a project that you'll have to come back too a bag should suffice fine. If it will be a few days then I'd stick it in the fridge. Peter main has a bigh sheet of tempered glass he uses. He would wet the leather and stick the glass on top and it would stay cased as long as he needed it too right on his bench. I believe this works because Moisture isnt lost much through the edges but the grain. Thats just my theory though