using peice of glass before carving?

[bruce johnson]

I slick mine too. I really like the feel it gives to the untooled areas. It also gives me a consistant feel in tooling the whole piece. Holly, I find it makes dyeing and oiling more consistant than not slicking. It likewise makes the whole surface act the same. Not having one area more porous than another makes it easier for me. It also makes edging more consistant.

I used a slicker I made from a piece of LDPE cutting board for a few years. It still has the punch tube marks all over it. Cut a slab with a jig saw and rounded over the edges with a router. That plastic cuts absolutely smooth with the router in one pass. If I ding it on a nail, like forming a swell cover, a quick pass with the router and I have a fresh edge. Doesn't look the greatest, but works. This fall during an upgrade orders, I got one of Barry's. Looks a lot better and works well. There are some plans for making them, but by the time a guy buys the materials and spends the time working it, usually money ahead to let a tool maker make the tools.

Bree, Yes you can drag something and make a mark. Something to just watch for.

[MADMAX22]

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.

Wonderful looking case you have there and thanks for the explanation as how you do the glassing.

Thanks everyone for the input.

[hidepounder]

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.

Wow Troy! Just beautiful! You are amazing!

I slick with glass before I start tooling also....wouldn't consider NOT slicking, now! I also use Barry's glass slicker...one of the best buys I ever made. I cross slick in all directions. Not only does slicking smooth out some of the inconsistencies in the surface of the grain...the process slightly compresses the leather resulting in cleaner, crisper tooling. An I agree...it helps make dying and coloring more consistant. I say YES to slicking....my final answer!

Bob

[Rawhide]

I slick as well... and yes with Barry's slicker. It does help with the inconsistencies in the leather, such as the fat roll areas and such. I do as hidepounder does and slick back and forth in all directions.

Works for me.

[JHayek]

I'm a big fan of slicking the leather, makes a much firmer crisper impresion with the tooling and greatly extends the life of the finished product. A tip though use plenty of water and glycerin soap.

my 2 cents worth

[sodapop]

this might be a dumb question...would a marble rolling pin be of any value for this...cuz i got one of those??

darryl

[ArtS]

I slick mine too. I really like the feel it gives to the untooled areas. It also gives me a consistant feel in tooling the whole piece. Holly, I find it makes dyeing and oiling more consistant than not slicking. It likewise makes the whole surface act the same. Not having one area more porous than another makes it easier for me. It also makes edging more consistant.

I used a slicker I made from a piece of LDPE cutting board for a few years. It still has the punch tube marks all over it. Cut a slab with a jig saw and rounded over the edges with a router. That plastic cuts absolutely smooth with the router in one pass. If I ding it on a nail, like forming a swell cover, a quick pass with the router and I have a fresh edge. Doesn't look the greatest, but works. This fall during an upgrade orders, I got one of Barry's. Looks a lot better and works well. There are some plans for making them, but by the time a guy buys the materials and spends the time working it, usually money ahead to let a tool maker make the tools.

Bree, Yes you can drag something and make a mark. Something to just watch for.

My question is how much pressure do you use? I don't want to get one and press too hard or not enough so it's not really helping anything.

Thanks,

Art

[celticleather]

This is a process I've never come across! Does it give the leather a 'shiny' appearance - what we in the UK call a 'plated' finish? It does sound rather similar to the process I use after dyeing leather, when I tighten down the grain using an antler burnisher.

A picture of the tool would be really helpful (a picture of it in use would be invaluable!).

[Rawhide]

This is a process I've never come across! Does it give the leather a 'shiny' appearance - what we in the UK call a 'plated' finish? It does sound rather similar to the process I use after dyeing leather, when I tighten down the grain using an antler burnisher.

A picture of the tool would be really helpful (a picture of it in use would be invaluable!).

This process doesn't change the surface apperarance very much, other than to "flatten" out some of the inconsistencies of the leather. With this process, you wouldn't burnish to a point of sealing the leather off like you do on the edges. I'm not in my shop right now, but if no one else posts a picture before I can get around to it, I'll post one.

[ArtS]

There is a picture of one in this message thread.

Art

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=1926