1St Wet Formed Belt Pouch

[DoubleC]

Hey Cheryl;

No foam, just a hole in a block of wood, drop the wet leather in the hole, drop another small block over the leather and in the same hole, place another piece of wood over that and place it between the jaws of a vice and tighten it up.

Right on!

Ok, now you're using all those guy words and I'm totally confused. You have a hole, LOL. You put the wet leather in the wood hole, then you drop wood on it. . So at that point do you put the vice grips, oh no wait, then ANOTHER small piece of wood on top of that. Then you put the vice grips on the the OUTSIDE of the first piece of wood that has a hole so as not to mar the leather, and the top of the second piece of wood to press everything in place until it dries? I get all of it except why the second piece of wood? Do you have the ends of the wet leather between the first and second piece of wood, using the vice grips and second piece of wood to push it down evenly. If not, LOL, just give up on trying to explain to me Kevin, because my head's gonna explode. But thanks, Cheryl

[Suicide]

This is my 1st wet formed project and I'm happy with the results.

Great job, Kevin! And nice color.

On the photo flap appears like made from wood , I really like that.

How did you get such texture?

[Tree Reaper]

Just use a piece of rough sawn lumber, lumber that hasn't been planed, dampen the leather like you normally would for casing then clamp the leather and the wood together in a vise but be sure to use wax paper or something else on the back of the leather that is touching the steel jaw on the vise or it will turn the leather black where the metal makes contact with the wet leather.

I use a wood working vise with large flat jaws, for smaller jaws you would need to use something else on one jaw to create a larger surface area.

Great job, Kevin! And nice color.

On the photo flap appears like made from wood , I really like that.

How did you get such texture?

Edited January 22, 2012 by Tree Reaper

[Suicide]

Ok, now you're using all those guy words and I'm totally confused. You have a hole, LOL. You put the wet leather in the wood hole, then you drop wood on it. . So at that point do you put the vice grips, oh no wait, then ANOTHER small piece of wood on top of that. Then you put the vice grips on the the OUTSIDE of the first piece of wood that has a hole so as not to mar the leather, and the top of the second piece of wood to press everything in place until it dries? I get all of it except why the second piece of wood? Do you have the ends of the wet leather between the first and second piece of wood, using the vice grips and second piece of wood to push it down evenly. If not, LOL, just give up on trying to explain to me Kevin, because my head's gonna explode. But thanks, Cheryl

Cheryl,

Keep your head safe and try to google for "molding" or "making a mold".

Molding leather has nothing different from the other materials molding processes (different sorts of plastic, metal (mostly ref as "stamping" there), fiberglass+epoxy fabrication (and other composite materials) in boat and military industry etc etc).

Just use a piece of rough sawn lumber, lumber that hasn't been planed. dampen the leather like you normally would for casing then clamp the leather and the wood together in a vise but be sure to use wax paper or something else on the back of the leather that is touching the steel jaw on the vise or it will turn the leather black where the metal makes contact with the wet leather.

Thanks! I definitely have to give it a try.

[DoubleC]

Cheryl,

Keep your head safe and try to google for "molding" or "making a mold".

Molding leather has nothing different from the other materials molding processes (different sorts of plastic, metal (mostly ref as "stamping" there), fiberglass+epoxy fabrication (and other composite materials) in boat and military industry etc etc).

Thanks! I definitely have to give it a try.

Thanks Suicide, I put my head in vice grips, thus avoiding the explosion. Going to totally reread this again, plus look at the other thread again Kevin did on this until i get it. Cheryl

[Tree Reaper]

This is what metal does to wet leather, turns it black.

This was a piece of metal hanger on a scrap piece of leather.

It can be used to enhance a project or destroy it.

Edited January 22, 2012 by Tree Reaper

[DoubleC]

This is what metal does to wet leather, turns it black.

This was a piece of metal hanger on a scrap piece of leather.

It can be used to enhance a project or destroy it.

Now that's interesting. I'm looking all around my room for something metal I like. Actually I have a really old, uh, something, looks like a bud vase but I don't think that was the purpose when it was made, in brass from India. Do you think it would turn it dark, or just absorb the outside impressions?

Also I have a silver plate tray, Paul Revere repro by Rogers, that has a wonderful etched design in it. I've been looking at the wet formed trays people make and this would really be pretty, only unfortunately the design would be on the bottom. Oh well DUH, If I wet formed around the brass the design would be inside. Actually I could case the leather, make the designs, then on the tray wet form in around the bottom which would be easier anyway. Oh man, too many things to try, too little time.

[Tree Reaper]

It should work, give it a go on some scrap.

Put it on the leather and apply pressure for several minutes or longer.

Edited January 22, 2012 by Tree Reaper