Northmount Posted December 10, 2015 Report Posted December 10, 2015 Make sure you are using Vegetable Tanned leather. Other types of tannage will not behave for you, and will not in most cases retain the stamp impressions. Proper casing is necessary to both swivel knife cuts and for stamping. A couple other threads that may be of help to you are http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=64096&hl=+casing%20+carving&page=1 and http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=66536&hl Takes practice, looking at others work and examples, and more practice. Keep at it, it will get better. Tom Quote
Members Tugadude Posted December 10, 2015 Members Report Posted December 10, 2015 The way you described casing the leather was not going to give you good results. There are numerous threads describing methods of casing which will help. Also, I've been in Michaels and never bought any leather there but didn't notice any junk either. It might help to tell us exactly what you bought. Could be the type doesn't lend itself to tooling, not all leather does, of course. Do you have a product description or item code? Quote
Contributing Member Ferg Posted December 10, 2015 Contributing Member Report Posted December 10, 2015 TO: DAVIDL Do not bad mouth Tandy to every one who is trying to get started in this Art. Sure, they have a lot of junk these days but they have some good stuff too, you have to know what you are getting before you pay for it. That isn't only when you buy at Tandy. If not for Tandy I would never have begun this fabulous medium 60 years ago. The store in Miami Florida told me I paid their rent for two years. I have some of the best leather I have bought anywhere that came from Tandy and I have some of the worst. Unfortunately a lot of things are not as they used to be, get over it. ferg Quote
Mike516 Posted December 10, 2015 Report Posted December 10, 2015 You're not going to become a master leather worker in a couple of days. You also don't need to buy the best tools right away. Tandy is good for a beginner as long as you watch that they don't take advantage of you and do your research before you buy a lot of stuff there, then you can upgrade your tools as you get better and learn what you really need. Casing is probably the most important thing you'll learn and it takes practice. It took me a long time before I really got consistently happy with my casing. It's something worth investing your time in because once you get it where you like it, you'll never forget how to do it. See the threads offered above and don't get discouraged. Quote
electrathon Posted December 10, 2015 Report Posted December 10, 2015 Look up Ed LaBarre, he lives down there and you will not find a more talented person or a better teacher. Quote
Members Sporty1 Posted December 10, 2015 Members Report Posted December 10, 2015 Practice. Practice,Practice and practice some more. I have bought some leather squares at Hobby Lobby. I believe they were 8.5 X 11 sold individually wrapped and are actually from Tandy. Package should say veg. tanned and also indicate good for tooling. They work well for practice carving and stamping. I agree though if you have a Tandy Leather close by, you can get more for your money. Don't give up if it's something you enjoy, it will become addicting!! Quote
Moderator Art Posted December 10, 2015 Moderator Report Posted December 10, 2015 Don't know if you are in the Miami area, but Daddy's Leather Supply is a great place to get Leathercraft goods and tools and most important, all the information you need. Art Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members BullRiderJoe Posted December 10, 2015 Author Members Report Posted December 10, 2015 Thanks for all the information. This is what I purchased, I quickly dipped it in and out of a Tupperware with water. It was probably submerged for 1-2 seconds, then sat out in the open for the night, the next day I started messing with it. Quote
electrathon Posted December 10, 2015 Report Posted December 10, 2015 WAY to dry. Submerge till saturated, then let sit out for a few hours. Or, use a spray bottle, saturate the top, wait 10 minutes, carve. Quote
Members BondoBobCustomSaddles Posted December 11, 2015 Members Report Posted December 11, 2015 TO: DAVIDL Do not bad mouth Tandy to every one who is trying to get started in this Art. Sure, they have a lot of junk these days but they have some good stuff too, you have to know what you are getting before you pay for it. That isn't only when you buy at Tandy. If not for Tandy I would never have begun this fabulous medium 60 years ago. The store in Miami Florida told me I paid their rent for two years. I have some of the best leather I have bought anywhere that came from Tandy and I have some of the worst. Unfortunately a lot of things are not as they used to be, get over it. ferg Once again Ferg, you and I agree. I too have gotten good and bad stuff from Tandy. You just have to pay attention to what you are getting. Bob Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.