Storing And Organizing Scrap Material

[horseplay]

My current scrap bins are overflowing and taking over. I was thinking getting a shelving unit with several boxes to keep things a little more organized. So curious as to what others do keep their scrap material under control.

[Glendon]

I personally use two bins. One for larger cuts I could get wallet backs, a few coasters, or the like out of. The other is for key fobs, bracelets, hardware tabs, ect. Anything so small I can't look at and see something being cut out of gets tossed. It takes some discipline for sure.

[Dwight]

My discipline apparently doesn't exist. I finally get my scrap drawer so full that I have to take an hour out and sort and pitch.

So that is kinda my program, . . . fill up, . . . sort, . . . pitch, . . . repeat as necessary.

May God bless,

Dwight

[Cyberthrasher]

I theory: Separate bins for chrome tan, veg tan, exotic, liners

In practice, since I have neither the shelf space or bins needed for the above: One big bin with Veg bellies rolled up and the weight/grade written on the flesh side, several rolled up straps with tape holding them closed that has the weight and grade written on them, larger pieces of various weights along the side, several bags with the lightweight liners in them, a couple more bags with heavier weight cut-offs that might be good for something the size of a wallet back or cuff or even a sheath. I also have another box sitting there with exotics in it, even though I do have a new bin sitting there for them that just needs to be cleaned out. Then, I have another box for chrome-tan scraps. All of the tiny stuff that's usable for swivel practice or dye testing is in a small box at my feet. The microscopic trimmings and edging stuff is in a separate box. Why do I keep it? because it's good to grind up later and make leather putty with to fill the back of embossing jobs.

For me it saves a lot of time to not have to dig around for the piece I need. Some sort of organization at least cuts down on my searching time. I also learned that it's a good idea to keep chrome-tanned and veg-tanned separate, as well as oil-tanned. I figure I don't have that much of those, so it doesn't hurt to set them aside.

[needles]

I theory: Separate bins for chrome tan, veg tan, exotic, liners

microscopic trimmings and edging stuff is in a separate box. Why do I keep it? because it's good to grind up later and make leather putty with to fill the back of embossing jobs.

please can I ask what, and why for? I'm intrigued, never thought about this before....

[Cyberthrasher]

please can I ask what, and why for? I'm intrigued, never thought about this before....

Why the putty, or why do I keep it all separate?

[needles]

sorry the putty, and use, never thought of anything like that before

[Cyberthrasher]

Whenever you're embossing leather (pushing up the work from the flesh side to make it the design stand off the leather, not using an embossing wheel) you should fill the cavity you created. You mix ground up leather bits with rubber cement to the consistency of peanut butter and fill it in like bondo so that your work will hold its shape.

Here's something Kings X has written up about it. You'll need to browse around the pages (newer and older) to get the full story.

http://kingsxcustomleatherworks.blogspot.com/2012/10/embossing-rings.html

Edited December 28, 2013 by Cyberthrasher

[Fowlingpiece]

Bingo! Embossing is an old and effective technique. I use the leather grindings and hide glue for historical work.

[Tex Shooter]

Here is one of the things that i use my soft scrap leather for. Deer, Elk and Kangaroo make nice mystery lanyards. I could not find my Elk so this one is made of soft chrome tanned Cowhide. -- Tex -- Sorry I stuck this post in the wrong place. Would one of the moderators move it for me?

Edited December 28, 2013 by Tex Shooter