Members rastanley Posted May 6, 2014 Members Report Posted May 6, 2014 Hi, I'm very new to leathercraft and I am making a belt, but I have tried to wet the belt before tooling but it is only minimally soaking in and most sits on top. I got the leather strip from a saddle which is supposed to be a great tooling leather but having trouble with the water soaking in part. Any suggestions? Quote
Members shtoink Posted May 6, 2014 Members Report Posted May 6, 2014 Was this a strap that has already seen use on a horse? If that is the case, then it will likely have had a coat of some kind of finish applied and even oils and such from the horse.That would explain why you weren't able to get any water to soak in, and any tooling would need to have been done prior to all of that stuff. Maybe taking some time to strip any finishes and oils will make it somewhat accepting of water, but I have not heard of anyone having good results from anything like that. You'd still need to replace any of the oils removed and refinish. It's easier to just start with a belt blank than to add tooling to one after it's been in service. Quote
Members WyomingSlick Posted May 6, 2014 Members Report Posted May 6, 2014 From a saddle huh?? Unless it was part of the main body of the saddle which is usually vegtable-tanned leather suitable for tooling........then the odds are good that the strap is made out of latigo leather which is leather that has oil and wax impregnated into the leather to water proof them to an extent. Does that sound familiar? Even if your leather was originally veg-tan......it is almost a certainty that it has been oiled many times and is also going to be very water resistant. My suggestion is to just go get some virgin tooling leather and forget about recycling saddle leather. It would work for just a plain belt, perhaps with a stitching, or lacing pattern. perhaps with some conchos.........but tooling it is not in the possibilities. Quote (John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (KJV) And the truth is that religion is nothing more than the lame attempt by largely ignorant people to bring sense and order to a world that was beyond their comprehension. Once you see religion for the delusional and superstitious artifact it is............... you will be free !
Members rastanley Posted May 6, 2014 Author Members Report Posted May 6, 2014 Sorry, I had spell check error.. I meant saddler not saddle. It's just a strip of blank leather that I bought from a saddlery leather shop and they said its a belt blank that I can tool but the water just sits on top and soaks in maybe after 10 mins but still isn't wet enough. Doesn't soak through ... And I tested a little antique finish on an end and it does the same and then leaves speckle marks Quote
Members treybecca Posted May 6, 2014 Members Report Posted May 6, 2014 Definitely has some kind of finish on it. You can try a deglazer to see if it removes whatever it is and opens the leather back up. Quote
Members St8LineGunsmith Posted May 7, 2014 Members Report Posted May 7, 2014 I would say you have a piece of harness leather although it is veg tanned it has beef tallows to make it more impervious to water it will take a stamp without casing it is just not the best tooling leather. Quote No Matter Where Ya Go There Ya Are. Chattown Leatherheads American Plainsmen Society Society Of Remington Revolver Shooters(SCORRS) THE SUBLYME & HOLY ORDER OF THE SOOT, (SHOTS) The St8 Line Leathersmith I was Southern Born, I am Southern Bred And when I Die I will Be Southern Dead! I fly this Southern Flag Because my Ancestors Flew it in A war to ensure our God given rights against a Tyrannical Government. Heritage Not Hate!
Members Tex Shooter Posted May 7, 2014 Members Report Posted May 7, 2014 I make formed items and sometimes I get leather that does not want to take on water. When this happens I use a drop of liquid soap as a wetting agent in hot water and this usually works. I rinse the leather with clear hot water before proceeding. -- Tex Quote Tex-Shooter - Winner of the 2003and 2004 Summer Nationals Slingshot Tournament. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Too soon old/too late smart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “It is better to remain silent and thought a fool, than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt” Abraham Lincoln -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My YouTube Channel ----- slingshotbill's channel - YouTube
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