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Still getting the hang of this forum. I'm re-posting my question here cuz I posted in a thread thats to old I guess. So my question is; How long can you keep a piece leather cased before you ruin it or it is no longer good to tool? I haven't tried keeping it in the fridge yet, so I'm sure that will help. I recently found out that letting your piece dry between tooling sessions will cause the tooled areas to raise when you re-wet to start tooling again! So my next project I kept cased till I was finished & it turned out way better. My latest project was much more involved & I worked on it for 3-4 days. I was starting to stress that I may ruin the leather before I finished tooling. I may have just kept it to wet though. I'm really not sure. Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

"Certainty of death, small chance of success; what're we wait'n for?"

BW Hand Tooled Leather

+BLACK FUZZ+

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I have let leather stay cased for five days or so with no trouble but when I am not using it I put it in the fridge. by the time I am using it it is pretty dry though

Tim

Tim Worley

TK-Leather

If you don't ask and dont try how are you gonna learn anything?

Posted

When I case I use a spray bottle and wet the piece a little while before I tool it. If I am not done that day, I let it dry. A few days, or weeks later when I am going agoin, I respray (I use pro-carve in the water). I have neevr noticed any negative side effercts from doing it this way.

Aaron

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As I learn more I have been wondering about this as well. What do you mean about keeping cased? How did you do that? I have just used a sponge, let the leather case, and re-wet it as needed while tooling. If I stop, I have let it dry out and wet it again when I got back to it. I have heard about using the fridge, but haven't really understood why that needs to be done. I have not noticed any of my designs raising, but I am still learning. Hopefully some experts can chime in.

Drygulch Leatherworks- Baldwin City, Kansas

www.drygulchleather.com

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Posted (edited)
As I learn more I have been wondering about this as well. What do you mean about keeping cased? How did you do that? I have just used a sponge, let the leather case, and re-wet it as needed while tooling. If I stop, I have let it dry out and wet it again when I got back to it. I have heard about using the fridge, but haven't really understood why that needs to be done. I have not noticed any of my designs raising, but I am still learning. Hopefully some experts can chime in.

I don't quite understand how the fridge deal works myself, just from reading here seems to be a good method. As far as keeping the leather cased I've just wet the piece once more after I finished tooling for the day & placed in a ziplock bag (used plastic wrap on a larger piece). It made quite a difference on my last project.

By the way; Thanks Tim & Aaron for the info!

Edited by Bryan

"Certainty of death, small chance of success; what're we wait'n for?"

BW Hand Tooled Leather

+BLACK FUZZ+

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Posted

I have kept a piece cased for about 6 days under a smooth glass cutting board. You'll have to wet it well once (maybe twice depending on your environment) each day. Or you can put it in the fridge for long term casing. The fridge will retard any mold growth, and if you place it in a ziplock or press & seal wrap for larger items, it won't let the fibers dry out.

Re-wetting a dry piece will not kill the piece, but it will make tooling a little harder, because the water has a tendency to leach out the fats and oils used in the tanning process. I have been using a concoction lately dubbed the Ben Cox formula that seems to keep the flexibility in the leather even if it drys and you re-wet and it also gives a much better burninsh of the leather during tooling.

You can do a search on "baby shampoo" and find the recipie...it seems weird, but it smells good and cases great.

Marlon

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What is casing? I think I know but want to make sure!

Don't be scared live to win, although they're always gonna tell you it's a sin. Grab ahold don't let go, don't let them rob you of the only way you know - Motorhead

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - St Augustine

Posted
What is casing? I think I know but want to make sure!

This prepares leather for tooling. You get it wet in some way - some use plain water, some use a special formula (such as the one referred to above with baby shampoo in it) - and then, once it is thoroughly wet through and through, you let it start to dry until the surface just feels dry. Leather tools easier at that point.

It takes practice to get it to the perfect texture for tooling... every now and then I get it right and the leather tools really well... I still have a great deal to learn... :wacko:

They say princes learn no art truly, but the art of horsemanship. The reason is, the brave beast is no flatterer. He will throw a prince as soon as his groom. - Ben Jonson

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Posted

OK, I see then. I have never done it that way. I have a rather large pan that I fill with water, put it on the stove for a few minutes till it barely starts to steam but less than a low boil. I soak the leather in it till no more bubbles come out, let it hang for a couple of minutes till it stops dripping, wipe with a sponge to get the last of the surface moisture off and it tools great for me that way. I did the kidney piece for my jacket that way 3 or 4 times.

Don't be scared live to win, although they're always gonna tell you it's a sin. Grab ahold don't let go, don't let them rob you of the only way you know - Motorhead

The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering. - St Augustine

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Posted
OK, I see then. I have never done it that way. I have a rather large pan that I fill with water, put it on the stove for a few minutes till it barely starts to steam but less than a low boil. I soak the leather in it till no more bubbles come out, let it hang for a couple of minutes till it stops dripping, wipe with a sponge to get the last of the surface moisture off and it tools great for me that way. I did the kidney piece for my jacket that way 3 or 4 times.

Redbeard,

That is a variation of the old way of casing. Looks like you've got it down packed. Bottom line is, do what works best for you.

Happy tooling!

Marlon

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