why does my tooling go away?

[cruxx]

I am trying to teach myself leather work from books and Utube. I am making progress but my leather tooling patterns seem to shrink up or go away when I dye them. So far, using Eco Flo or Fiebing's water-based. I get nice deep, articulated designs that dry well but the minute I apply color they seem to dehydrate and flatten out. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

[fredk]

1. are you casing your leather properly?

1a. leather that is too dry will not take a good impression

1b. leather that is too wet will not take a good impression

1a and 1b, when both dry out the impression will soften greatly even though they may look ok. Re-wetting by dyeing will soften the impressions yet more

2. Are you hitting that tool or stamp really hard?

[Rhale]

Are you just stamping or are you carving also?  A picture off the work after dying would be helpful!

[Aven]

What thickness of veg tan are you using?

[cruxx]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments. 

fredk, hard to know if I'm casing correctly without having experienced eyes on but it seems right and takes a good impression. Once I knew it was too wet. I am hitting the stamps pretty hard.

Rhale, my first one had stamping but I am mostly carving right now

Aven, Using 6-7 oz

Here are pictures of my first 5 pieces in the order of completion. Please keep in mind that I am teaching myself and had to design the sheaths. My sewing is getting a bit better and I manage to correct a few mistakes with each piece. Hubby is making knife handles and needs sheaths. First one is from a Hobby Lobby kit, the second one was too wet.

[cruxx]

Sorry, not good at resizing photos

[Rhale]

From what I see you are doing good, carving should be about 1/3 to 1/2 the depth of the leather.  Just keep practicing the swivel knife and beveling is the most important thing to get down pat so just keep practicing . When you get tired of practicing then practice some more.  I really like the fish!  Enjoy your new found hobby, it can be a lifetime hobby as I have been doing it about 60 years!

[cruxx]

I never get tired of practicing but I doubt I have 60 years. A good 10-15. I will watch my depth and try to smooth my cuts. Thank you

[Northmount]

Take a piece of veg tanned leather, dip it in some water for a moment, then lay it out to dry.  Every 10 minutes, stamp it with a good sized stamp that has some detail in it.  Mark the time.  Watch to see the difference as it starts to dry.  When it is close to returning to its normal colour, switch to 5 minute intervals.  Continue until the leather is dry.  This will show you what too wet and too dry does to how the impressions look after the leather has completely dried.  If you use the same thickness of leather, and treat is the same way, you can literally time at what point to start tooling, and the point at which you need to add a small amount of moisture to keep the leather at the condition you want while tooling.

Tom

 

[fredk]

1. @cruxx. It would be a good idea if you would add into your profile your general location. This is a very international forum group and if we knew whereabouts you are we can better help you

2. I find there is always a bit of soften of embossed details after dyeing and finishing. How much depends on how 'sharp' the embossing or the stamp was in the first place

3. Northmount's (Tom's) advice is excellent. I still do something similar, using an off-cut of the main piece to check when its ready for stamping/embossing/tooling