Have an idea but not sure how to do it

[Windrider30]

Ok need some help from you lovely folks. I have an idea to make a leather corset, the corset part is not the issue made around 6 or so (don't remember off hand how many) THis will be a 4 to 5 oz veg tanned leather, tooled, (still playing with the idea of the tooling) but I want to add a little chainmail to this. Now the idea that is in my head is to embed the chainmail into the one or two panels of the corset. WHILE keeping the leather backing. SO the question I have is how do I go about carving a small section out of the leather so I can rest the chainmail (dragonweave I'm thinking about) into the actual leather? Basicly want to make a box shape scoop SOME of the leather out but leave a little leather for the chainmail to sit in, kind of like when you see the cheeszy movies where the hero carves out a few pages of a book to hide a gun in the book, looking for that kind of idea. Hope that is a little clearer than mud lol.

[Stetson912]

So you want to inlay leather with chain maile much the same way a woodworker would inlay a piece of wood with another?

Hmm, sounds interesting. What if you used a French skiver to hollow out the square? Perhaps even chisels could work. If its a simple shape I think the French skiver would work best

 

[Windrider30]

yep basicly inlay it and I was hoping there might be a faster way then using a French skiver...had not thought about using a chisel though might have to give that some go on some scrap I have.

[NCArcher]

Cut out an area, replace it with a thinner leather. Hold it in place with a very thin pigskin or similar on the back.

[Stetson912]

If you have a Dremel they make router bits for them. Might work a lot faster haha. Not sure if you need any attachments or what not though. 

[Windrider30]

4 hours ago, NCArcher said:

Cut out an area, replace it with a thinner leather. Hold it in place with a very thin pigskin or similar on the back.

The idea is not to have to replace the leather as I do not want a lot of stitch lines showing up, nor do I want a different look behind the chainmail. Just want to hollow out a small section of the leather.

4 hours ago, Stetson912 said:

If you have a Dremel they make router bits for them. Might work a lot faster haha. Not sure if you need any attachments or what not though. 

Unfortintally I do not own one, that and I have this damned fool idea stuck in my hand that any leather items I make are done by hand with only hand tools

[Dwight]

I would probably first try using a thicker leather, . . . maybe 8/9 oz, . . . get it good and sloppy wet, . . . and do my berserker mad man attitude to imbed the chain mail into the leather with a small mallet, . . . rolling pin, . . . tin bender, . . . or a press if you have one.  

Once you get what you wanted imbedded in that area, . . . if the leather is too thick, . . . shave some off the back side with a skiver or a round knife.

The key I have found to getting "new" projects completed, . . . is simply the old saying:  "Where there is a will, . . . there is a way".  It ain't perfect, . . . but it has worked for me for 72 years.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited March 27, 2017 by Dwight

[billybopp]

Interesting problem!  I just tried a little experiment and it worked.  I probably wouldn't try to go much more than half the thickness of the leather.

1.  Mark out your area and make a vertical cut at the edge to define that area, going to just about final depth.

2.  Use a single bevel tool ( I tried a Japanese skiver and woodworking chisels, both work ) and cut in about 1/16 to 1/8 inch from the line with bevel down and remove the little wedge of leather to help define the work area and get down to depth.

3.  Still with bevel down do help control depth of cut, work your way across the area removing material to depth.  Just work carefully and remember a wider cut will likely make it easier to get a level surface.

I managed to get a 2" square this way in about 10 minutes, with more than half that time marking and defining the edges.  As always, whatever tool you use needs to be sharp.  Like, should I even touch that sharp.   You could easily shave with it sharp.

Bill

Edited March 27, 2017 by billybopp

[Windrider30]

Thanks for the great idea all I am going to be working on a bracelet first with this idea in mind just to see if I can get it to look right will post end product when I get it done!