Selecting Leather For Molding / Wet Forming

[MikeG]

I did a bit of searching, and although there is a lot of information on HOW to mold leather, I didn't really find which leather is best for molding.

I got into leatherwork by purchasing an estate that included a lot of leather that I've pretty much used up. I'm pretty happy with my molded cases and some free-form vases I've made, but I notice some leather forms much better than others.

I need to purchase some material for a couple of projects. One project will be covering a horseshoe, another will be a free-form vase. I suspect it will be an on-line purchase, so what will I want to get?

Certainly veg-tan, but what about weight? And what cuts mold best?

Thanks for any recommendations, and I hope to be able to post something in the show-off section sometime!

-- Mike

[Dwight]

Well, Mike, . . . it would assist us if we knew more about what you were going to do: pictures, drawings, detailed descriptions.

But, . . . in the interim, . . . yes, vegetable tan is the type you want, . . . the thickness will be strictly up to "what are you wanting to do with it?

IF, . . . for example, . . . you were covering a round cylinder, . . . 15 inches tall and 6 inches in diameter, . . . no serious designs (perhaps a few stamped letters or something of that nature), . . . you could get away with 3 or 4 oz. If you wanted to do some serious 3D detail carving and stamping, . . . you might want to move up to 7 or 8 oz, . . .

Remember: in leather terminology, . . . 1 oz = 1/64th of an inch in thickness, . . . 8 oz = 1/8th of an inch, . . . 16 oz = 1/4 of an inch, . . . etc.

If you are going to form, . . . then contact cement or glue, . . . and there are some irregularities to the shape, . . . you might want to use leather from a side, . . . shoulder leather is a bit tougher than the side, . . . belly leather is loose and floppy.

A kind of rule of thumb is that the thinner it is, . . . the easier it is to work with in forming, . . . but the less rigid it will ultimately be when done, . . . OTOH, . . . the thicker it is, . . . the harder it is to work with, . . . but it can become really firm when it is done.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Jimbob]

I use 3-4 oz high quality veg tan for bike seat shapes....lots of curves there....on holsters I use 8-9 oz...shaping involved but sturdyness needed....as said, veg tan, thinner is better to form and thicker holds shape better....thats it.

[MikeG]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I didn't communicate my question well - What I am really asking is - is a belly better than a side, or a shoulder? My limited experience with a couple of different leathers of similar weight is that one molds beautifully, retains its shape nicely, etc. while another either refuses to make tight curves (won't bunch or stretch) or it won't retain its shape.

Dwight - as an example I mentioned covering a horseshoe. I have also made a few cases (folding knives, leatherman tools, handheld radios, etc.). I have no talent for tooling, and my goal is more toward getting nice tight shapes without wrinkles or puckers in the finished product.

Jimbob - 3-4 oz is what I have been pretty much using. I would not have even thought of trying to mold a piece of 9 oz!

Thanks for the responses. I think I'll also contact some of the suppliers and get their take. If they have anything to add, I'll post it.

-- Mike

[mlapaglia]

Well a side has the belly section on it and the neck section can be floppy like the belly. A shoulder, Bend are the way Id go. However if you can afford the side then get it and just dont use the belly section for molding and forming. This is a personal opinion. There may be people out there that have great luck forming the belly. I do not.

Michael

[Logans Leather]

For covering a horseshoe, just about any cut of veg tan cow will do. avoid the nice stiff center back areas, as these will be the worst for forming, and a bit of a waste for forming. Use them for belts and straps. Belly is good to use when extreme forming is needed, as is the case for traditional Italian Comedia del Arte masks. Veg tan sheep also has wonderful abilities to conform to molding, and has a very fine grain.

Hope this helps

[MikeG]

Thanks, LL! that does help. I had not considered sheep. Appreciate the advice. This weekend is going to be too cold for anything else, but good to get started on some leather projects.

-- Mike