tool or shape first?

[pete]

I want to make a cover for a piece and want to mold a 4-5oz veg dye. I also want to tool part of it and can't figure out how to do both. Do you tool first and lose the definition when you soak it, or mold it first and do your best to tool a real lumpy surface!

Never tried it and would love you expertise!

pete

[abn]

Great question, Pete. I'd be curious about this, as well.

[Dale]

Make a plug, but don't glue the molding/tooling leather to it.

[pete]

whaaaaaaa??

[Regis]

whaaaaaaa??

Me tooooo

[BruceGibson]

I'm no expert, so all disclaimers apply. If an expert happens to show up, please feel free to discard any erroneous or useless info that I may have provided.

In spite of all that, here's what I do...

On something like a knife sheath or gun holster, I tool/stamp first, then mould (carefully) in order to minimize damage to the design. Also, I don't soak the leather for more than a few (maybe 10) seconds. Lately, I don't even do that. I'll just run it under hot tap water and let it rest a few minutes. The re-dampening itself has little effect on the tooling. It's also a good idea to layout your stamping/tooling so that it's outside the areas you'll be boning/moulding if possible. Otherwise, it's gonna get squished.

[pete]

Thank you Bruce, I really appreciate your response. I'll give it a try.

pete

[Dale]

whaaaaaaa??

Build a plug as though you were embossing it. Then mold the leather over the plug (instead of the traditional carve/tool some, stretch it, place it over the plug). After the leather dries a bit, you'll be able to tool it. Just don't glue the tooling leather on the plug. When the whole thing dries you can just lift it off the plug.

Dale