Need Help! How To Harden Leather Pickguard

[ericluther]

Hey all, I mad a great looking leather pickguard for my telecaster, but the leather is too pliable and I am afraid it will curl over time, I also want to make one for my other guitar that has pots and pickups mounted on the guard itself so hardening it will be a necessity

The problem is it needs to be cut before I harden it and it cannot shrink.

any ideas??

Thanks in advance!!

Eric

Edited June 29, 2011 by ericluther

[yan]

if you use no so hot water (around 40 C), the leather should not shrink. You may also try wood floor varnish, I use it on leather armor with acceptable results.

[ericluther]

if you use no so hot water (around 40 C), the leather should not shrink. You may also try wood floor varnish, I use it on leather armor with acceptable results.

I tried hot water didnt work that well, but I will try the varnish ty!! I also heard that shellac or white pva glue works, any experience with either of those??

THANK YOU!!!!!

[ryanf]

There's one company out there (can't remember which) that backs the pickguard with Forbon, a fiberboard stuff that is used for making single coil guitar pickups. You should be able to find it at StewMac.com or electronics suppliers that sell stuff for making transformers. El Dorado (www.eldoradostraps.com) says they back theirs with polycarbonate plastic. You could probably even use a thin plywood. The catch is trying to either blend whatever you are using into the edge of your pickguard or hiding it under there somehow.