Leather Weight For Covers

[Paulr]

What leather weight do you guys use for book covers? Also do you skiv it down where it folds around the corners to make it lay nicer or is that not needed? Thanks

[JLSleather]

You'll get a lot of different answers for this one. My best .. depends on the size of the book cover.

For a small, say 5 x 8", 4/5 oz leather is heavy enough. For a covering on a hard cover book (the book itself is a 'stiffener", then teh 6/7 is fine. For a 8 x 11", no hard cover inside it, I like a TOTAL weight of about 8 or 9 oz, but since i like them lined i generally would use a 6/7 with a 2 oz lining.

No skiving, but on the heavier ones I do gouge the fold lines.

[Paulr]

Thank you. Sounds like something in the 5-7 area should give me something to play around with. might need to pick up a gouger too.

[artycpt]

Totally agree with JLS. Although I don't fold my edges over around the flaps, I use a seperate piece for the inside flaps. I will use 4/5oz on almost any cover that is going over a hard cover book. If I am adding a lot of detail to the front I may go up to 6/7oz. For a binder or cover that will not cover a hard covered book I will use heavier or will add a stiffiner between the outer leather and lining. I do use a gouge for the folds at the binding or spine.