Casing and stamping ?

[MADMAX22]

OK so when I first started casing and carving/stamping my leather I used the blue painters tape and it works great to keep the leather from spreading out when you work it. However when I pull it off it pulls all the flesh side out really furry like.

I tried just packing tape but the leather with that seemed to spread out pretty far and distort the shape.

So what do you guys use. I have heard/read about using the rubber cement to hold it to cardboard but seems to me it would spread out pretty good with that but I could be wrong. Is there another tape that works better?

Or should I jsut live with the flesh side getting really furry and just gum it or rub it back down or sand it or something.

Thanks for the input.

[Rawhide]

OK so when I first started casing and carving/stamping my leather I used the blue painters tape and it works great to keep the leather from spreading out when you work it. However when I pull it off it pulls all the flesh side out really furry like.

I tried just packing tape but the leather with that seemed to spread out pretty far and distort the shape.

So what do you guys use. I have heard/read about using the rubber cement to hold it to cardboard but seems to me it would spread out pretty good with that but I could be wrong. Is there another tape that works better?

Or should I jsut live with the flesh side getting really furry and just gum it or rub it back down or sand it or something.

Thanks for the input.

here's what I do. I use cresent illustration board #201 and I cover it with an even layer of rubber cement. I don't put any on the leather. then I stick the leather to the tacky rubber cement and smooth it down from the center. I use a rubber cement eraser to pick up the excess cement. Then I case my piece and stamp. When I'm done, I peel the illustration board off of the leather (not the leather off of the board) and the back is just as smooth as when I stuck it together.

Marlon

[TomSwede]

For bracers I like it when the packing tape makes it all furry like because it makes it sit nicer on the arm and I have never seen ant distorsion probs when pulling it off.

I seem to be quite stuck with making bracers but it so happens I sometimes do something else and then I have used just water and smoothed it down with the bonefolder a bit.

I have tried a little bit with sanding the back but that seem to just make it worse for me but maybe need to work on my tecnique there. I was thinking for a belt or strap maybe glueing some sandpaper over a rounded thing like the back of chair and perhaps with a damp leather just pull it back and forth over the sandingpaper could work?? I do this anyways to stretch and soften the leather.

Tom

[MADMAX22]

Rawhide I think Ill give that a go and see how I like it. Thanks

Tomswede thanks for the input. Dont know about the sanding, I do know at a couple of leather dealers they sand it smooth, pretty sure they use some pretty rough sandpaper though.

[calanneh]

pretty sure they use some pretty rough sandpaper though.

I made a Ren Fest belt last year using a stock 2.5" strap from Tandy. The back was kinda hairy right off the shelf. My Tandy guy told me to treat it like I would a piece of rough wood.

I started with some 60 grit sandpaper on my little power handsander and worked my way up to some really high grit sandpaper. It took about 45 mins altogether, but it worked fine and looks great on the inside and out.

William

[DavidII]

Hi, A former Tandy Manager shared using the cheapest adhesive shelf/contact paper (comes in rolls or buy by the foot everywhere!) and peel & stick to the back. I used to use the rubber cement method but found his method was fast, easy, no cement/cardboard stick to the leather, and no noticable distortion of the leather upon tooling. David

[Randy Cornelius]

If I have a project that I am going to line. I will use rubber cement and plexiglass. Apply rubber cement to both, let dry, and glue down. This is a perfict way to keep everything from stretching as you tool. The plexiglass keeps it flat and straight. If I am not going to line the piece I will apply shelf paper to the back of the leather and then rubber cement to the plexiglass and the back of the shelf paper as before. For a belt I will use 3-M packing tape and that seems to keep it from moving. But I have cememted a belt to plexiglass before if I am doing a full floral to a belt to keep it flat while I tool. Plexiglass can be bought at just about any hardware and home supply store. Just bought 3 big pieces 20 X 30 or so for 10.00. But ask 10 of us and you will get 10 different answers. Use what works best for you.

Randy

Edited December 8, 2008 by Randy Cornelius