hidepounder Posted February 24, 2014 Author Report Posted February 24, 2014 FoamerAce, I haven't kept up with all the posts here, but when you refer to "casing with a sponge" I'm confused (and that's not uncommon, LOL!). I wet my leather with a sponge when using a spray bottle isn't practical. Casing is the process of getting uniform moisture throughout the leather when it's in a toolable state. It usually requires time for the process to complete (a few hours) and there are many variations. It's not essential that a piece of leather be cased in order to tool it, but the end results are worth the effot.
Members FoamerAce Posted February 25, 2014 Members Report Posted February 25, 2014 Well now I'm doubly confused. In order to get crisp tool marks, the proper moisture in the leather is of utmost importance yes? I've been wetting my leather by wiping it with a wet sponge and waiting several minutes. From my (very limited) experience, I have an idea about how much water to apply and what it should look like before I start tooling. The idea that I should submerge leather and let it set for hours (days?) is completely new to me. And did someone say you should keep it in the fridge? Because I don't have that option.
Members TomG Posted February 25, 2014 Members Report Posted February 25, 2014 Hey Foamer.... Bob has the excellent tutorial at the first of this thread.. Go to the first message in the thread and click that hyperlink that says Casing Leather. Basically, no you don't soak it, you pass it under a faucet or dip in a tank of water - BRIEFLY. Then set it aside for a while, until the top ALMOST returns to its dry color and it feels cool if you touch it to your cheek. You can then tool it.. The time it takes depends on the weight of the leather and how wet you get it. If you want to case it the day before, let it dry until jus a little wetter than "tooling ready" as above and seal in ziplock bag overnight. When ready, take it out and let it finish drying to "tooling ready". Use the fridge if you need to store it longer than overnight. Good Luck Tom Gregory Legacy Leathercraft www.legacyleathercraft.com www.etsy.com/shop/legacyleathercraft
Members FoamerAce Posted February 25, 2014 Members Report Posted February 25, 2014 Tom... I had read the first post article, I wasn't clear about some things. But I think you cleared up most of what most confused me. Thanks!
Members TomG Posted February 25, 2014 Members Report Posted February 25, 2014 No Prob. It's really not hard, just takes a little practice. Cut few pieces of scrap from the same piece of leather, maybe 8 oz. DIp them in water for 10 seconds, 30 seconds 1 minute, and until the bubbles stop. Let them dry to various colors, cut a few lines and bevel them You'll feel the differences and will see the difference in burnishing when they fully dry. Luck Tom Gregory Legacy Leathercraft www.legacyleathercraft.com www.etsy.com/shop/legacyleathercraft
Members camano ridge Posted February 25, 2014 Members Report Posted February 25, 2014 Foamer, I used to do as you did just dampening the surface with a sponge letting return almost to color. I always thought my tooling looked decent. However a few years ago I changed to a method pretty much like Bob's. There was a surprising amount of improvement in my tooling much better defenition. THe difference is that wetting the top surace only you have a psomwhat pliable or compressable surface that may only be a few thousands of an inch in depth. When wetting the entire piece of leather you are not casing the top surface of the leather you are casing the entire piece this leave the leather more compressable deeper into the leather and allows deeper penetration of the tooling hence deeper defenition. Not everyone may agreee with my explanation but thats my story and I am sticking to it. https://www.facebook.com/CamanoRidgeCustomLeather?fref=ts
Members grumpyold Posted March 14, 2014 Members Report Posted March 14, 2014 I case my leather in the manor described except I don't bag it. I put it in a plastic container of water until the bubbles just about stop and lay it out over night. The last two holsters I have done I have had them discolor (best way I can describe it) and have never had this before. See post in How Do I do That- Discolor Problem for pictures. I've played around with pieces of this hide and every time I case the pieces I end up with the same thing, dark and light areas. I'm starting to think it's the hide. Any input or comments would be great, as this one has me stumped. John Wayne "Life's hard it's even harder when your stupid."
Members camano ridge Posted March 14, 2014 Members Report Posted March 14, 2014 If all the pieces are from the same hide and you have never had the problem before it probably is the leather. If you have a piece not from thre same hide try it and see what happens. https://www.facebook.com/CamanoRidgeCustomLeather?fref=ts
hidepounder Posted March 14, 2014 Author Report Posted March 14, 2014 (edited) Grumpyold, The discoloring sounds similar to the "sun burning" which occurs when parts of the leather are exposed to lighting. If that's not what it is, then I would be suspicious of the leather. The process you're using isn't casing, however, you're just wetting the leather. If you don't contain the leather in a plastic box or plastic bag, you're not allowing the leather to "cook" or "cure" (for lack of better terms). If they leather is exposed to light while you're waiting for it to dry, I'm wondering if you're getting a little "sun burning" which isn't evenly spread across the leather because of the difference drying rates across the leather. Just reaching for straws here for an explanation.., Grumpyold, Edited March 14, 2014 by hidepounder
Members grumpyold Posted March 14, 2014 Members Report Posted March 14, 2014 Hidepounder; Thank you for the quick reply. I will retry using your info. The method I was using has been fine in the past but from rereading the information I can understand that I'm wetting the leather but not truly casing it. Once again thank you and I'll see what happens. John Wayne "Life's hard it's even harder when your stupid."
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