BFaehn Report post Posted January 20, 2022 Hi, I'm very new to leather and tooling. I'm working on my first tooled purse strap. I have it tooled but the sides are wanting to curl upwards. What do I do to flatten it. I do not know very much about leather care yet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SaintJoy18 Report post Posted January 20, 2022 You could try to line it with a lighter weight backing. Contact cement and stitched together. Did you tape the back prior to tooling? The spread from tooling may be what caused the curl. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BFaehn Report post Posted January 20, 2022 Ok. Should I be taking it down when I tool? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayEhl Report post Posted January 20, 2022 It was explained to me that when you tool your leather it moves the leather around such that it spreads out making the overall look 'stretched'. I've used blue painters tape mostly and others use clear plastic packing tape. Some are very persnickity about which brands to buy so it may take some experimentation. I've also (rubber cement) glued on a backing made from cardboard, about the thickness of the back of a cereal box or thick sturdy construction paper. I've even used both (tape first then glued to cardboard) for really thin leathers that I wanted to stamp so it would burnish more. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
