First watch strap and problem

[Nert]

Hello, i do my first watch strap and i have a problem. Leather wrinkles on one site. Anyone know why it's happend, or how to fix it?

 

Regards

 

[RockyAussie]

I doubt it looks bad when its done up. If it worries you though I would say to test the leather your using by turning it back on itself before deciding to cut and use. Sometimes the leather is a bit close to the belly or a soft area and sometimes the tanning technique can make any part of a hide susceptible to this happening.BTW this is a very good effort for your first watch strap.

[Nert]

Thank you for the kind words Hole problem start when i start using this strap, before it, strap look quite nice, and yes it's from belly how did you know that?

[RockyAussie]

I've been working with leather for a while and the belly is an area that most leather workers will avoid mostly. It is handy if you are trying to cover a complex shape and need it to stretch into place. I have in the past made  seamless shoe uppers by stretching it over the whole last and cutting out the top later when set. At the moment I am using it to cover some very complex moulds that I have 3d printed for making up wedding ring boxes.Good thing is you never stop learning doing leather work and LW here is a good place to share.

[Nert]

So now i have to buy a new leather part  cause this belly site will wrinkles?

[fredk]

Take the strap off the watch; attach it to a round piece of wood, such as wooden rolling pin. Carefully pour very hot water over it. Not boiling water, just very hot. Do this in stages, a little bit of hot water, let the strap cool, then more hot water, let it cool etcetera. At some stage you'll see the wrinkles start to disappear as the leather shrinks and tightens up. You need to do this in little stages as if you try to do it in one attempt you may well shrink the leather far too much and ruin the strap

[Nert]

I try this and it doesnt not help :/, for the next strap i will use another leather part

Edited May 12, 2017 by Nert
add

[Chief Filipino]

In my somewhat limited experience, even with other leather parts I do get some wrinkles as well I think it comes from use though. Your strap looks great, it looks like it has been around for a long time! I have used belly for some bracelets that needed a little stretch. I have found that I do need to skive the flesh side A LOT to get that side nice looking. 

[RockyAussie]

I think I have to agree with the Chief. This form of construction being straight glued together I think will easily do similar results. I have only ever done mine with a middle padding I think. If it bothers you too much try a deployment clasp like I've used in this picture below.

[ATD]

I can't tell from the picture but I assume you used two layers of leather. The top leather stretches more than the bottom layer. If the two layers don't have the same stretch, wrinkling can occur. I know with fabric you have to cut each layer the same way. If you cut one layer on the bias (on the diagonal) and the other on the grain you will get wrinkling or the length of your pieces won't be the same at the end because. You could do some samples and see how much shorter you have to cut the leather you have to end up with the pieces the same length or without wrinkles. Sometimes people try to conserve material and will cut the pattern pieces any which way not realizing that stretch is different on different angles of the material.