Sandblasting On Leather

[Greg528it]

HELLO!,

I am new to this art of leather crafting. I found your site over the weekend and have been reading reading reading. One thing that has surprised me, there has been no mention of sandblasting patterns into leather.

My other craft is sandblasting patterns into glass, rock, pretty much anything I think will take a pattern. I was making a protfolio for my wife's Surface 2 computer. and it needed some detail on the front. See the attached pictures.

I need to figure out the image sharing.

[Greg528it]

Here are some examples of some glass.

[electrathon]

What are you using for sand?

[Greg528it]

I use silicon carbide, in a Harbor Freight cabinet. Before I started I didn't think it would work at all, but had to try. It cuts pretty deep if you want it to. I was also worried it would embed in the leather fibers. It does not seem to. I only use silicon carbide since it is LESS staticy than AL oxide. I would think any material would work. As a sandblaster I steer clear of beach sand as it can contain free silica (bad for your lungs, and different from silicon)

[leatheroo]

I love the idea of sandblasting. Great lateral thinking. looks great. What system are you using?

Edited March 10, 2014 by leatheroo

[LTC]

How do you protect the "blasted" areas from becoming soiled? Seems like they would become dirty more easily than the smooth parts unless they are sealed somehow.

I have the harbor freight blast cabinet also, but I wear a respirator when I blast anyway, just to be safe...(I use their media too...not regular beach sand...I'm just excessively safe...)

[Greg528it]

I've been using adhesive vinyl for the patterns.. See Silhouette cutters for this. The rest I cover with plastic bagging or vinyl tape. My media is VERY dry.. and I use compressed air to clean the dust off the leather after. My other fine detail masking material (besides) the Silouhettevinyl does leave some residue, see picture of the black case. but it cleaned off easily.
But yes you may have to deal with a little dust. It's NOT perfect, but is something

[Greg528it]

The blasted areas would need to be sealed. I used Eco Flo clear gloss and it seems to work. Still experimenting.

[Tree Reaper]

How do you maintain an even depth?

[Red Cent]

I used to do the etching thing with our CAD. If you use the adhesive CAD paper, the paper will protect from residue or blasting anything outside of the design. Once the pattern is applied, wrap in a rag or something. A few blasts of clean air should get rid of the leftovers.