Cutting Leather

[pete]

Been tooling for a number of years now and just asked myself a basic (i think) question.

When cutting out pieces, patterns, etc, does it matter if you cut the grain side or the flesh side?

I know that I am more comfortable drawing out the pattern darkly with a pen or sharpie on the flesh side rather than lightly on the grain side, but does it matter?

[Troy I]

I do the same as you...mark on flesh side using a fine tipped sharpie.

[Dwight]

I use a ball point pen on the hair side.

I fooled around for a long time, . . . trying not to "make cutting mistakes" by just lightly marking on one or the other side, . . . made more mistakes that way than I am now.

Besides, . . . marking the flesh side makes you slide it around on the hair side, . . . too much chance of creating a burr, scratch, etc.

I figure if I commit to doing it, . . . well, doggone it, . . . do it, . . . do it so you can see it, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight