A couple of tips from Peter Main

[catstamp]

As a side note, I recently was doing a clutch back and didn't have any illustration board.  So I went into the kitchen and found an UNUSED, plastic, flexible cutting board and lightly applied my rubber cement to it.  I carved my piece and when I went to remove the flexible cutting mat, it peeled off with ease.   

Edited August 28, 2016 by catstamp

[JLSleather]

Minus all the "hype" -- this has been done since comfortably before I used any leather.  In the 80's, all the boys were using smooth finished bristol board - available from any art store in sizes from 8x11 to about 24 x 48.  

And tracing film (the plastic stuff).

Lay the bristol (paper) on the marble and apply a coat of rubber cement evenly.  Place the leather down on the rubber cement being sure to keep it smooth.  Wet the leather with a sponge and cover it with tracing film.  With marble under and plastic over, the leather will not dry out.  One big benefit of doing it this way -- when you begin carving and find you aren't going to get finished before you have to quit, simply place the film back over the portion of the leather which isn't finished.

Shoot... guess I should go write a book now #$!@#!~@!

 

[bikermutt07]

9 hours ago, JLSleather said:

Minus all the "hype" -- this has been done since comfortably before I used any leather.  In the 80's, all the boys were using smooth finished bristol board - available from any art store in sizes from 8x11 to about 24 x 48.  

And tracing film (the plastic stuff).

Lay the bristol (paper) on the marble and apply a coat of rubber cement evenly.  Place the leather down on the rubber cement being sure to keep it smooth.  Wet the leather with a sponge and cover it with tracing film.  With marble under and plastic over, the leather will not dry out.  One big benefit of doing it this way -- when you begin carving and find you aren't going to get finished before you have to quit, simply place the film back over the portion of the leather which isn't finished.

Shoot... guess I should go write a book now #$!@#!~@!

 

It's like the movies, Jeff. You can rehash the same story over and over again for each generation. And make a mint....

"Yojimbo", "Fist Full of Dollars", "Last Man Standing".

I have read of this technique at least three times and haven't tried it yet. Why? Full time job and a three year old make for some tough planning.

Maybe when he's ten I'll run across this again and try it. Lol.

[MADMAX22]

Biker it is a tried and true method (even before the 80s JS, you guys got it from somewhere right), ya will be very happy with your leather carving after you have let it sit for a while. Maybe not over night but if you can case your leather in the morning (say before work for us "hobbiest") and let it sit till the afternoon it will be good to go. Now if I am just doing a basket weave and boarder a few hours then pull the glass and let it air out for an hour or so and go to town. I am not sure if the saddle guys do this because of the weight of the skirting they are carving. 

[JLSleather]

Exactly my point max... not sure why we are praising some great wisdom for something which has been done for decades

 

[MADMAX22]

5 minutes ago, JLSleather said:

Exactly my point max... not sure why we are praising some great wisdom for something which has been done for decades

 

Yeah but two sides to that coin. On one side you have the internet which history wise has a bunch of info on certain things but requires people to both post that information and the big part people to search for that information. Pretty sure Peter wrote his books before the internet was a staple. Not to mention its like anything with trades that have existed for hundreds/thousands of years. Ya get a rehash or atleast use to of all the tricks of the trade.  Now a days ofcourse you have the internet. Gonna be interesting the next good sized solar flare we have that knocks out all the satellites. People are gonna get crazy lol. 

Peter does some amazing work and is very talented and has been doing this leather crafting for a few years (since the 60s I think), dont mind reading his books or absorbing any information that he relates to the field.  

[JLSleather]

The guy's work is very nice - no question.  I'm just not giving credit for THIS "tidbit", since it's not his.  

Years back, I 'figured out' that my work would still be good to finish up on later if i take the tracing film I transferred the design with, and just leave it on the unfinished portion.  Now, this is no great "revelation"... anybody coulda figured that out.  But either way, it would be silly to then say "Hey, Jeff had a great idea!" .. when fact is people did that before I ever picked up a piece of leather.

In the end .... no matter 

 

[bikermutt07]

I was just having some fun, pay me no mind.