Flaky Backside of English Bridle: An Issue?

[Hardrada]

Well, I've an order for a score of pipe rests, and I decided to use the shoulder portion of my English bridle side, as the butt is meant to be for belts. However, some areas of this portion have this flaky surface texture:

 

I'm trying to burnish the back side of the straps that are like these with Tokonole, but I'm wondering if this is passable for a deliverable, or if I should cut another strap with a smooth flesh side instead. What would you do? Would this flake off and deteriorate quickly with use? Don't really want to deliver sub-par goods to the customer.

TIA.

[garypl]

I’m not sure how this works as a pipe rest, but personally I would at least use leather with a smoother backside or, better yet, line the piece with another piece of leather so both sides look good

Gary

[Hardrada]

This is the intended purpose:

 

There are two versions: one that is fastened with Chicago screws so that the Czech pipe tool can be inserted/removed, and one that is permanently fastened with double cap rivets and has no pipe tool.

Lining them would make them too expensive for the local tobacconist to resell them, methinks; after all, these are not really classy items, more like everyday use ones.

Edited November 7, 2019 by Hardrada

[chrisash]

Aah A little bit of history, used to smoke a pipe 30 years or more ago, have not seen anyone smoking on for at least 10 years now, miss the smell of the rum shag i used to use, but wife hated it.

[jcuk]

Do you have a pull through splitter?  If you do,  run it through it - but only take a slither off, stain or dye it,  then burnish,  treat the dyed or stain side with resolene or some other product to seal it. But i will say do a test piece first, to see if it works for you.

 

Hope this helps

JCUK

[Handstitched]

2 hours ago, chrisash said:

Aah A little bit of history, used to smoke a pipe 30 years or more ago, have not seen anyone smoking on for at least 10 years now, miss the smell of the rum shag i used to use,

Yep, me too . I smoked a pipe for a while, just trying to be different I guess .    I used a *popular brand pipe tobacco * and it was very aromatic . Loved opening the bag ( or the tin), especially a fresh one   and taking a deep breath.... OMG it was goooood. 

Errrr, ...meanwhile back at the pipe holder......... I have skived a little bit off some rough leather before to take all the flaky stuff off . The blade needs to be really sharp, ( or a new one)  not a bit dull if using a hand skiver. 

HS 

[Hardrada]

Thanks for the replies, fellow pipers—er leatherworkers. Alas, I don't have a splitter yet: it's on the list, as it seems to be a must have for belt making, specially if one's making lined belts.

I ended up cutting a strap from the butt and remaking them. Even then, once the strap gets closer to the shoulder area the flesh side starts to look less firm, not flaky yet, but a wee bit so, specially when you bend it.

Noted about the skiving. I'll try it on the (now) spare rests and see what I can do. Otherwise I guess I'll just sell them as seconds and throw away the really flaky ones.

[Scoutmom103]

If you have a Tandy Leather Store near you, they frequently have an open table for people to come in and do work in their store.  At my local Tandy that includes being able to use some of the tools and equipment, i.e. the splitter.

 

 

[Alisdair]

Honestly, for  the design that you've shown, I would have used the slightly flaky leather. Firstly, the flesh side is at least partially hidden, secondly, the compression from bending it into shape should keep the fuzz under control. I'm judging this from your photo...maybe in hand, the situation is slightly worse!