Vegetable Tanned Leather Wavyness?

[Chief31794]

I cut most of my goods more or less Paral

I hope you won't mind one more newbie question. I am making something similar to the notebook cover in the second photo. I need to cut two pieces from the bend area that will be stitched back to back and have to fold over. May I ask, which direction in the hide is it better to cut the pieces if they are going to fold? Perpendicular to where the spine of the cow would be, or parallel?

I normally cut my goods more or less parallel.

Chief

[rpfkov]

Hmmm... two different answers . Thank you both for your suggestions, I think I'll go with the natural curve of the animal.

Edited March 29, 2014 by rpfkov

[Tree Reaper]

Chief is a very experienced craftsman.

I'd be curious to know the reason behind your option Chief.

[rpfkov]

Yes please Chief, would you please share your reasoning? This side was a big financial outlay for me and I don't want to make a mistake.

Thanks!

[oltoot]

Your drawing is probably way off scale. The real goal would be to learn by look and feel where you can put your piece to achieve your goal. Hide character transitions in both directions. A small piece is more likely to find its 'home' parallel. It might be helpful to picture the animal that the hide once covered and see how the live requirements were different in different areas. Your requirement for smooth folding would normally be met by staying parallel but dropping down into the upper belly. I myself don't want the bellies cut off most leather I use because my choice of suitable for different uses is limited. Watching the videos of the tanning process available on line (Hermann Oak, Chahin, etc) might be helpful in understanding the 'behavior' that first brought you to this forum. Large, wet, hides, irregularly shaped in all directions, are forced flat through rollers and blades. In drying they are just trying to regain some of their original shape. And you see why necks often still show some signs of wrinkles as well as armpits, etc. Anyway, I work with plywood, too and it is perfectly uniform and DEAD. I prefer living materials.

[rpfkov]

Hello oltoot,

Thank you for your helpful comments. Yes, indeed my artwork was not to scale. Below is my actual side with one of my pattern pieces in scale. I need to cut two of such pieces and place them back to back as well as two small pockets on the inside. It needs to fold in half along the long edge, giving me a journal cover that is 9.5" tall by 8" across when closed.

The pattern piece in the photo is just placed for scale. I have the entire side so any suggestions for optimal placement would be very much appreciated.

[JoeSnuffie]

When I cut, I try to cut parallel with the back. But the reason i do it may differ from someone else's reason. I have found that the texture, flexibility, strength and sometimes the thickness changes as you move from the back to the belly. This is especially noticeable when cutting belts and bracelet blanks. I guess as the split or skive the hide, the stretchier belly ends up not as nice. On many hides I also notice that the closer you get to the belly, the more worn or discolored it gets, probably due to the cow laying on it more and scraping it more.

[Chief31794]

Chief is a very experienced craftsman.

I'd be curious to know the reason behind your option Chief.

Yes please Chief, would you please share your reasoning? This side was a big financial outlay for me and I don't want to make a mistake.

Thanks!

Both,

I'm actually not sure why, which is unusual, I normally do things for a reason. It just always seemed "natural" to me that the long side of the project should be laid out parallel. Sorry for this answer, but I just don't know why, just always have. If you think about it, a rectangle cut from a side is going to have two sides parallel and two sides perpendicular. It always seemed to me that items folded better along the parallel side, when I cut holsters (wrap arounds or western), I cut them so that it folds on parallel direction of the side. Shoulders the same way except that the shoulder is bent over the body so I lay out parallel with the long side. Belts are always cut along the parallel becuase you have to get the length. I don't think it makes a lot of difference, leather is a wonderfully adaptable medium to work in and once it's folded, glued and sewn it won't make too much difference.

Chief

[rpfkov]

I have a couple of other questions if that's OK. Can anyone recommend how to prepare the pieces before I attempt to dye them? I have read that it is good to roll the pieces in damp towels and leave them over night for example. Should the pieces be damp before dyeing? Should I apply oil after dyeing or is a conditioner enough?

If I leave the leather un-dyed and apply conditioner, will the leather still pick up the oils from my hands and age naturally?

Thanks!

[Tree Reaper]

Will you be carving or stamping this leather?