Leather Mold from wood?

[IvoryCreek]

Hi there again,

I'm trying to figure out what kind of wood (or other materials) is best to be shaped/turned into a leather mold that will allow me to create more structured leather bags and so on. I found this Youtube video quite informative "Making High Quality Leather Bag Moulds" but I don't really know which kind of wood will allow repeated use without the water and pressure changing the wood. 

 

Also, since I don't have a wood shop, are there places I can look at to have people make those molds for me? I'm in the US

 

Thanks!

[Northmount]

I've used pine, fir plywood, etc.  Moisture is not going to change the shape/size all that much.  Plywood might de-laminate over repeated usage.  You don't need a lot of pressure, so that shouldn't be a problem.  Leather does not normally need to be saturated with water. 

Wood with rough grain will emboss the leather surface, which you may or may not like.  Clamping against a smooth laminate will keep the leather surface smooth.  You can varnish or wax wood to reduce the amount of moisture it will absorb.

You can also use high or low density polyethylene, like kitchen cutting boards.  Or UHMW Polyethylene.  You will still need some hand or power tools to cut and shape the material.

Wood is easier to cut, carve and sand to the desired shape for molds.  Handy hand tools would include a coping saw, hand saw, rasp, mallet and chisel, sandpaper, ...

Tom

[Bigfoote]

I use spruce or pine. If the mold is going to be used a lot, varnish it or it will start staining your leather. Any carpenter or cabinet shop would be able to make molds for you.

[IvoryCreek]

Thanks guys, I'll look into your suggestions

[fredk]

I use MDF and varnish it.

A lot of varnish to waterproof it.

MDF is very easily cut with minor hand or power tools. Even a medium duty knife will shape it easily. MDF has no grain so it doesn't leave any grain imprint in the leather

[IvoryCreek]

thanks fredk! :D

[IvoryCreek]

sorry, some following questions: are there rules to which kind of varnish solutions I should use for different types of wood? and how many coats will suffice for a mold?

 

Thanks!

 

[fredk]

Basically, no rules on varnish.

I use a quick dry acrylic gloss varnish. A very thinned [with water] first coat, a second slightly thinned coat then around three or four top coats, lightly sanding in between each.

I'm not looking a decorative gloss finish just a good water barrier. MDF soaks up the thinned varnish like a thirsty camel. It takes plenty of coats of varnish to get the surface really sealed

[IvoryCreek]

got it thanks!

[IvoryCreek]

Help~I tried spar varnish on a plywood mold that I got, but even after 48hr sitting outside on my porch the surface is still sticky. i sanded the surface before I applied the varnish with natural bristle brush , what's going on?

also this varnish smells really bad...