Ostrich skin question

[Dunluce]

I recently bought some ostrich skin that I was going to try and make some watch straps from. I have never used it before and when I looked at it the large middle 'scales' seem to separate when the skin is curved over as seen in the photo below. It looks like this middle section cannot be used for a watch strap (or anything that bends) as these will not lay flat. Has anybody used ostrich for a watch strap? Is there a way around this or do I have to avoid using this section which takes up quite a portion of the skin

 

[Mattsbagger]

Those are called plates. I've never made anything the bends with them. Bit they do make nice inlay or accent panels. Try the exotic section might find some info there. I know a lot of people make wallet backs with Ostrich leg.

[Bolt Vanderhuge]

While the plates are the desired part of the leg, I can't imagine wearing a watch with a band wide enough for the plates. I personally would utilize the wrinkly sections at the start of the plates for a small item like this. As for weither the plates would stay down or lift I can't say. They stay down on the holsters I have used them on. I have ran the perpendicular to the gun on flat backed holsters where they go up over and down and they stay flat. But these do not get flexed and bent like a watch band does. 

 

[thorn697]

I make watch straps out of these all the time. Cut it out in the desired way and use some glue to fix the plates into place.

[Dunluce]

11 hours ago, thorn697 said:

I make watch straps out of these all the time. Cut it out in the desired way and use some glue to fix the plates into place.

I think I will try a little glue on them. How do you cut yours? I read elsewhere that they cut them at a 45 degree angle to get a mixture of plate sizes. Is that similar to what you do?

[thorn697]

On 10/14/2017 at 2:27 AM, Dunluce said:

I think I will try a little glue on them. How do you cut yours? I read elsewhere that they cut them at a 45 degree angle to get a mixture of plate sizes. Is that similar to what you do?

It's personal preference and depends on the look you want to get out. I like cutting at an angle because you get a mixture of the plate and other parts of the leg.