Leather Catch-All

[BigGriff]

Trying to start with a simple project, and I figured a catch-all is as easy as it can get. However, I am having one problem. After I make the cut on the corners and get ready to rivet the flaps together, the sides are not flat. They kind of bow outward. I do not want them to be like that. Any suggestions on how to make a perfectly square catch-all with straight sides???

[HellfireJack]

I'm not sure what a catch-all is but I assume it's a box of some sort. If you're using veg tan leather you should be able to just wet-form it over something (non-steel) roughly the same size and let it dry completely. That should help it to retain a square shape. You could also try heat hardening it.

[BigGriff]

I have attached photos of some valets/catchalls. The sides on the one are nice and flat, while the other are bowed out some. I understand they are assembled differently, but I would like to be able to create flat sides.

[HellfireJack]

Yeah, you need to form those bottom creases better. Wetting the leather should help. You can also use a v-gouge on thicker leather to help get those 90° corners in there.

Here's a tutorial on wet forming a pouch. You don't have to do all of that but it shows how to case the leather and what happens to it when you wet and dry it.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19782

Hope that helps.

[Northmount]

I have attached photos of some valets/catchalls. The sides on the one are nice and flat, while the other are bowed out some. I understand they are assembled differently, but I would like to be able to create flat sides.

Turn the top edges over and stitch them to help provide more rigidity. Might even put a wire inside the folded over edge, or a thin flat piece of metal. Probably worth doing a little experiment to see how it goes, and how much is needed to keep it straight.

Tom

[mikesmith648]

There is also an Al Stohlman book on making containers like this.