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

[needles]

thanks cyberthrasher, thats another one i want to try....... I love this site.......

[benlilly1]

My question is: How does anyone have enough leather dust to mix with the rubber cement? Or are you making the dust and how?

[Cyberthrasher]

All those little trimmings you cut off (cutting to size as well as edge beveling) and holes you punch out and other garbage that's too small - grind it up in a blender.

[chiefjason]

I'm about to the point of needing to pitch some. Finally forcing myself to throw more of the small stuff out. I've got a buddy that makes a lot of belts. He's taken to giving the bellies and strap ends to a local Boy Scout troop when they build up too much.

[horseplay]

Well think I've got it organized for now. I got a new 3 shelf rack and baskets. Sorted all the scrap while throwing out the true crap. Taking this bit of time to organize has already made a huge difference in making better use of my scrap. I also have a couple items that I make regularly so if I have leather that fits a certain pattern piece I will cut it and store it for future use.

[cgleathercraft]

Last weekend I went through two large totes of scrap and threw away enough small non-usable pieces to nearly fill up one of them. It's the first time I've went through my scrap box since I started a couple of years ago. I try to be as efficient as possible!

I have a limited space otherwise I would have kept it to try out the putty idea!

[biglew]

when I get too much....I sort the big and desirable pieces into 1 bin and donate the other to a school / group .. I recently donated about 10-15 lbs to a group for holiday decorations. Or you can always ebay them

[Gregory]

How long do you keep old (well organized or not ) pieces of leather? I assume it gets too old to use but I found my Dad's scrap bag and I'm wondering if I'm working too hard using old leather compared to new. There's no leather shops in my area to compare.. I also don't want to be wasteful if it's not causing problems.

Thanks- Greg

[Bev478]

After a slight hiatus (at least 25 years) I dug out my tools & the 1/2 side of 2.5mm Tandy leather I still had. A tad green in places & a little..ahem...firm, but it was still useable after a little TLC.

I have only used it for projects that are "backed" - clocks, keyracks etc. & although a little problematic to cut it worked ok.

So absolutely no need to throw away any leather any time soon

Example of the old leather!

[AfroCrafter]

I had a piece of black kudu hide from when I was at school in Zimbabwe and at the tender age of 35 I made a tooled tablet cover and it is wonderfully soft. so don't throw anything out. just keep it nicely and it will work out.

cheers Alex

[Eccho]

I find I get the most efficiency out of my time by having two or three projects on the go at all times. I precut useable scraps into bag ends, gussets, boot chain straps, of various sizes and then instead of wasting time while one project dries, I simply put it aside and go on to something else, dying, stitching, finishing, burnishing, there are always other things to do. Also, In my area we have a veterans hospital with a leather room, and they make key fobs, coasters, and trivets for the various legion branches with their individual branch insignias tooled in. They are always extremely appreciative of leather ends being donated to them, as the hospital has limited funds for supplies. Many retirement homes also have craft rooms with leather workers looking for material......Good Lord.... I am a blabber mouth ! :>)