Edges When You Can't Glue Them Together

[Jaymack]

I made a bunch of items for a charity clay pigeon shoot. When I make the shotshell bags, I can't glue the face and back to the gusset because I'm sewing around the radius corners one stitch at a time. My burnshed edges don't don't look bad, but would have looked better if I had used contact cement on them. Is there a better way to connect the gusset than how I've done it?

Thanks

Edited May 4, 2013 by Jaymack

[carsonauto]

There's a video in the Tandy Leathercraft Library, where it shows how make a bag with a gusset like yours. In the video, he wet formed the gusset first. (He curved it into the right shape, and bent the lips down. As he was bending it, the gusset lips "bunched" up in a couple places, but thats okay. Once it's dry, he test fits it, making sure everything is kosher. Then, one side at a time, he cements the edges. As he is pressing the cement down, he presses the "bunched up leather" down, and the glue holds it. By doing this all the way around, the edge was glued securely, and the bag was basically done, minus the stitching and edge finishing.

Edited May 4, 2013 by carsonauto

[Jaymack]

I would have never thought of that. Thanks Carson, I will give it a try on the next one.

[carsonauto]

I would have never thought of that. Thanks Carson, I will give it a try on the next one.

Let me know if it works. I've got a little pouch for a motorcycle I'm working on, and I'm going to try it. I've got the gussets wet formed, just waiting to be glued. I think it's going to work out

[Jaymack]

How did you create the mold/template to wetform around, or do you just shape it by hand?

[carsonauto]

You just shape it by hand. I guess you need to make your paper pattern, to make sure the gusset will fit to the front and back "plates". Once you know the pattern is going to work, just bend the gusset, and fold down the edges. When I did it, I ran a gouge 1/2" away from the edge of the leather, and skived the edge down to meet the depth of the gouge. This way the edges were thinner and more pliable (and they wouldnt bunch up as much). Once its wet, bend the gusset round to the position it needs to be in, and then bend the edges down until they're 90 degrees bent. You'll need to pinch the leather where it bunches up. Basically just bend the edge flat all the way around, and pinch it into a bunch every so often, until the edges are flat.

[Jaymack]

I think I've got it!

[Jimbob]

The "secret" is wet forming and then using a glue like Barge that also will glue wet leather!!

U be surprised how you can bend, stretch, shape and cheat leather when it is wet!! (veg tan only of course...)

James

[David8386]

I like to wet form gussets like that on a wood mold. Shape it and let it dry. Before I pull it off the mold I will trim it to size with a razor blade attached to a piece of wood the height I want. Easier and safer to do on the mold.

David