Bah %&#$^#* Warpage!!!!

[CitizenKate]

Another very effective backing to use is clear "long-term storage" packing tape. It's very easy to put on and take off with no residue on the leather, and it's cheap and easy to find in a lot of places. To make a stiffer backing, just use more layers.

Kate

[GampasShop]

For those of you that use the X-Ray film, where the heck do you get it??? I know in the medical field, they keep it in the persons file for ever. I then had the bright idea this morning to call the local vet to see what they do with theirs. They also keep it forever in the owners file.

So break out with the secret info on how you get it, please.

I have always just used masking tape myself, but am wanting to try the X-Ray film, if I can find any. Wife is a nurse so she was going to visit the X-Ray dept at the hospital where she works to see if they had some goofs or something.

[GampasShop]

Ok, wife talked to a guy in E-Ray this morning. He was going to get some different films for me to try. He also told her that they are no longer using the film, that everything is done on computer now.

[carr52]

What you should do is rubber cement it to the xray film. I use cresent Illustration board, but I'm sure xray film is just as good if not better. How I do it is apply a coat of rubber cement to the illustration board only and spread it using a hotel credit card. Then when it's tacky I place my leather, center first on it, and smooth it out from the center to ensure good adhesion. I sometimes take a rubber roller and roll over the leather to be sure. Then I use a piece of crepe rubber to remove the excess rubber cement from around the piece (this way, my hands don't get sticky and put rubber cement on the project - it will prevent dye from absorbing.) then I case my leather.

When I'm done, the illustration board peels away from the leather easily and leaves no residue on the leather since I only placed the cement on the board.

Marlon

I've been using cereal boxs. I eat alot of Rasin Brand so I just cut the front and back of the box and it works great. The boxes have a wax coating on them so they dont soak of water either if you rubber cement your leather on the face side of the box.

Tom

[pavilionpony]

I just go to the dollar store and pick up shipping and packaging tape. I tape the back and it keeps it from spreading out. I use that on the back of belts too.

[pabloz]

I've always used plain old contact paper that already has the sticky back on it. Cut it over size, peel off the protective paper, stick it on from the middle and smooth out to edges, then trim off excess. If you have to take a break during tooling, spritz it w/ water and cover it w/ 1/4 plate glass. Comes right off after tooling. If you get a residue give it light dusting of talc powder then contact cement, etc. as usual.

[BradB]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I redid the piece that warped and used the blue painters tape, I had some difficulty getting it off, NO warpage!!! Next time I think I will try the poster board and rubber cement.