Preventing leather stretch while tooling

[howardb]

My 2 cents from my very limited experience...

I agree with packing tape. A saddlemaker who lives here only uses 3M Packing Tape. He says don't use anything else... It's thin, clear, and stiff, and I think that's part of the magic (no pun intended).

I have used shelf paper on two projects, and won't use it again. It left sticky residue on the leather. That may also be a brand thing, but I don't know. It controlled stretch OK, but left goo.

I tried rubber cement onto heavy plastic sheeting (quilter's templates) and never had any luck with it sticking to anything, and again I get goo on the leather. I'm probably doing it wrong.

So right now, for me, I'm using the tape. The stuff I have isn't 3M brand, but it's the same type of tape and it works great. No goo, no stretch, and it stays stuck until I peel it.

Brent

PS: The saddlemaker says he will often glue the tape down to prevent the curl. I haven't tried that yet, but it sounds like the best of both worlds...

Edited January 12, 2008 by howardb

[pete]

Bruce, I agree with you fully. One other problem that I have with rubber cementing to xray film, is that no matter how careful I am, I inadvertently get some rubber cement on the grain side. Then, I have to carfully remove it without leaving the area in question illustrated after my dye work. Guess what, I keep trying because I have a lot of xray film available. Carlb

Carlb=

I use xray/rubber cement too but I leave it about 1" from the edges just to keep from getting cement on the grain. You don't HAVE to completely cover the grain or film. Only the majority of the center is what stretches the most.

pete