Scratches In Leather

[steelhawk]

I cut out a pattern from what looked like a good section of leather but when I dyed it, it was covered in long scratches. I don't want to find out after I have done lots of work that a piece has bad cosmetic defects, but don't know how to detect this when it looks like a good piece, but isn't. I can't try anything out until I get home, but I thought that maybe rubbing a damp sponge over the area would show marks that my eye can't see.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

[Ferg]

I cut out a pattern from what looked like a good section of leather but when I dyed it, it was covered in long scratches. I don't want to find out after I have done lots of work that a piece has bad cosmetic defects, but don't know how to detect this when it looks like a good piece, but isn't. I can't try anything out until I get home, but I thought that maybe rubbing a damp sponge over the area would show marks that my eye can't see.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

IMHO Natural defects, as long as they aren't garish, tend to add charm and reality to a piece. I can get "0" defects with a piece of plastic.

A bright light shown across the leather is most likely to show the imperfections when the leather is dry.

ferg

Edited September 7, 2010 by 50 years leather

[Shorts]

Scratches make it to the leather in all steps of handling. From sliding around at the warehouse to sliding around on your table at home. Sometimes when you run the piece through your stitching machine it gets scratches from the edge of the sewing platform (if it is attached). Scratches happen but to keep it to a minimum you gotta not slide the leather around on stuff that will scratch it

To see scratches on the top grain you hold it to the light so you can view the reflection off the leather. Any scratches will be visible through the smooth reflection/shine.