using peice of glass before carving?

[MADMAX22]

OK so I read I think it is one of the books that I have or maybe here also that some people recommend that after casing your piece to take a piece of glass and pull toward you over the leather to smooth it out. I guess this is suppose to even out the grains on top or something.

Anyways would this smooth out the top so that the portions that arent carved get a smoother look?

How many of you guys use this technique and if so how did it compare to not doing it?

I dont have any glass that is readily available to try but would get some if this tends to be a good method.

Thanks

[HarryB]

Glassing your leather makes all the difference in the world. Be sure to get 3/8" glass or 1/4" plexiglass and get a good radius from one side to the other. Both work well but must be perfectly smooth or it will transfer any defects to the surface of the leather. Don't use too much pressure or you will slip the grain (separate the grain from the flesh layer). Be aware, if you are using a less expensive leather, you will possibly slip some or all of the grain even with lighter pressure. Try it. You will never not glass your leather afterwards.

[jbird]

would some one give me a better idea of what is happening with the glass are you laying it on top or rubbing it across or what is the prosses

[Dags3777]

Glassing your leather makes all the difference in the world. Be sure to get 3/8" glass or 1/4" plexiglass and get a good radius from one side to the other. Both work well but must be perfectly smooth or it will transfer any defects to the surface of the leather. Don't use too much pressure or you will slip the grain (separate the grain from the flesh layer). Be aware, if you are using a less expensive leather, you will possibly slip some or all of the grain even with lighter pressure. Try it. You will never not glass your leather afterwards.

Love to get a bit more detail, thanks Darryl

[MADMAX22]

would some one give me a better idea of what is happening with the glass are you laying it on top or rubbing it across or what is the prosses

If I can find a picture to post Ill do that. Not sure if there are allready some posted somewhere on the site.

Basically from what I know you have a flat piece of glass pointed away from you and drag it toward you over the leather, kind of like dragging a big floor squiggy toward you. This is done after you have cased or wetted your leather and it is suppose to really smooth out the grain side or something.

HarryB, thanks for the input. Now Im gonna have to try it, Im not sure about seperating the grain/flesh but Im sure Ill realize pretty quick what exactly you mean LOL.

[MADMAX22]

Oh and just to add I could be really off on my description of what I think it is since Im going off only one pic that I saw a while back.

[Crystal]

I'd be interested in more information on this. When should you use a glass slicker? I understand that it helps to seal the top grain - how does this affect tooling?

Crystal

[TroyWest]

I always use a glass slicker before I tool. I dont typically pull it toward me, but rather push it away from me. I do it all over the surface to work out some stretch and smooth the surface of what I will tool, whether its a saddle or anything else.

I made several of these over the years out of plexiglass but finally bought one from Barry King and I really like it. Its heavy glass with wood on the holding side. You hold the wooden part and push the rounded glass edge against the surface of the leather. I use mine daily.

Here's some brief cases I made and tooled with a lot of smooth leather showing. Glassing smooths the surface and just gives it a handsome effect for a professional appearance.

[wildrose]

Wouldn't glassing affect how the leather accepts dyes/stains? I'd be afraid it'd seal the pores more.

[Bree]

I always use a glass slicker before I tool. I dont typically pull it toward me, but rather push it away from me. I do it all over the surface to work out some stretch and smooth the surface of what I will tool, whether its a saddle or anything else.

I made several of these over the years out of plexiglass but finally bought one from Barry King and I really like it. Its heavy glass with wood on the holding side. You hold the wooden part and push the rounded glass edge against the surface of the leather. I use mine daily.

Here's some brief cases I made and tooled with a lot of smooth leather showing. Glassing smooths the surface and just gives it a handsome effect for a professional appearance.

I saw the tool at Barry's display in Columbus. It is a nice tool. I kind of wanted to buy one but I was afraid because I thought that any small particle on the leather might get either smooshed into the leather or worse dragged across it causing microscratches that might show when the finish is put on. Is that possible? I don't really know because I never used one of these glass smoothers.

I ended up getting a nice new maul and swivel knife from him.