Managing Leather Distortion When Casing...

[thekid77]

Hey friends,

I am making a simple holster for a small flashlight. I cased the leather for the top piece and pu a couple of decorative creases along the edges.

My question is, when I went to mold the leather to the flashlight (basically a cylinder, the leather became distorted as shown in the picture (which I have exaggerated a bit so you can see the effect)...

Any suggestions?

This is what I did:

-case leather

-crease

-wet form using the bone folder

Thank you all in advance!!!

Edited March 21, 2013 by thekid77

[TwinOaks]

You're stretching the leather in at least two dimensions, usually in 3....you should expect distortion. simply do your shaping first, and then do the decorative lines.

[thekid77]

I will try my best, just think it will be difficult to do the decorative lines (ie, using a creaser or groover) once there are curves molded into the leather..

[TwinOaks]

It's just part of the skill set, grasshopper, part of the skill set.

Remember...very few set rules to leather working, so go experiment!

[Tree Reaper]

If you want perfection, like anything else it's more work!

I make a form and use a press to help form the leather.

I started doing it like you are and wasn't happy with the results.

[mikesmith648]

nice item Tree Reaper.........tutorial time??

[Tree Reaper]

Hi Mike;

Nothing too fancy, just a little extra work to make it work.

I use a simple wood block about 1 1/2 inches thick and then I glue a piece of plywood to the bottom to strengthen it.

You can buy router bits in any size you need, rout the block of wood, I rout about a 10 inch grove in the block and this makes two ends where I can get two separate cases from each mold.

I glue a piece of formica to that and rout that out, this really helps to protect the top of the mold.

I make a matching piece to go inside the groove minus the thickness of leather, the last one was made with clay that can be hardened in the oven.

Use a piece of plywood on top to press on.

Cut a square piece of leather, soak it for twenty seconds, work it into the groove and then put it in the press for a couple of hours then take the mold with the leather and put it in the oven to harden it.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Tree Reaper

[thekid77]

Thanks for the suggestions everybody

I don't mind more work to achieve better results, I was just confused as to the way I should go about making this project work, and your input greatly clears things up!!!

Thanks again!!!