I probably would not be showing this since I consider it a failed prototype, but I promised Iād show it if it came out even marginally reasonableā¦
A few days ago I caught a really weird load on the browser when I tried to access the forum, and it looked interesting enough that I thought I could clean it up and use it for an engraveā¦well, itās low browser resolution, and the grays from the image didnāt really engrave the way i wanted them to, but I gave it a shot. This is how it came out when I engraved it on the āBetter Together Clutchā from the Glowforge Catalogā¦
Best part of this design is still the side weavingā¦
Oh, you did the word cloud! Iām glad you made use of it, it really looks great on that clutch. Your burnishing looks good too. I did that clutch but I completely neglected the burnishing aspect.
I was planning to try to remake it, using a vertical orientation with the Passthrough and the snapmarks, to see if I could get a better result on the Engrave and alignment (both of which are kind of tricky to do if you start with a bad image) so I spent a couple of days trying to clean up and darken that word cloud a little better, re-saved it, started it againā¦and it looked even funkier, so I stopped the print to save the leather. I can use it for a wallet or something smaller.
I know there are probably only a handful reading this far down the thread, so Iāll pass on a few discoveries in case any of you guys are interested in trying a leather projectā¦
Buy the tools you need up front, and donāt cheap out on them. I ruined a lot of leather with a cheap fifteen dollar edger from Amazon, and the quality of the tools makes a HUGE difference. The Tandy edger was pretty good for amateur use, but needs to be sharpened, so you have to get something set up for that.
Burnishing really sux but if you want shiny, you have to burnish. Tokonole gives a nice finish without being āpatent leatherā shiny. Carnauba car wax comes in a close second. (I used a glass plate.)
When you engrave on leather and then bend the leather across the engrave, (at the edges), you kind of destroy the engrave effect because the lighter threads underneath tend to show giving everything a yucky gray bloom instead of being dark ā¦so you have to dye those areas a darker brown color. The use of micro False Eyelash Glue Applicators help for that if you have to do it.
You can erase light ānoiseā prints from leather with a hard rubber eraserā¦the kind used to clean wood load off of sandpaper. (This was the best discovery for this image!)
Light brown dyeā¦ isnāt.
This pattern was a real booger for the GFUI to try to handle due to the complexity of the broken text patterns on it, so it had to be split into three sections to process, even though it isnāt full bed. I finally figured out that I could process the sections horizontally using Snapmarks to pre-print the leather and then rotate it for the cuttingā¦but then I didnāt like how the engrave was turning out so I killed it. I need to come up with a better word cloud method. (I know there are generators, but that feels like cheating.)
Plan to mess up a lot of projects while you figure things outā¦ stitch spacing, grooving versus non-grooving, edging versus non-edging, and leather does not actually have good insulating properties and makes a lousy pinchā¦you might want to test it before burnishing the danged thing.
Some other fails along the wayā¦just for kicksā¦
You can get a start on what might work for your project looking at traditional leather tools and similar product patterns. Theyāll often tell you if itās four stitches per inch, or five or six etc, along with accompanying photos (punches are sold for common spacings, they look like stubby forks)
I wish I had thought about that up front, but I did eventually figure it outā¦you can see the progression between the left holster stitching and the holster on the right.
And itās okayā¦I use the failed prints to test other techniques (like dyeing versus painting, and setting snaps.)
I love the way this looks, Julesā¦even if itās not on your hit list of favorites. The image is a fun idea and the side weaving very cool. Doing something in leather is on my mindās back burner and has been since early on in my Glowforge ācareerā. I take inspriration from the mere fact that you ādid itāā¦which means eventually so will I. Thanks for keeping your promise!
I seriously think it looks fabulous, and Iām a leather worker from way back - if you were going to a Maker Faire or something Iād fill it with pictures of things youāve made
Iām right there with you on not being a fan of burnishing!
Havenāt decided whether to keep pursuing it or notā¦I seem to lack the knack, but with enough practice I could probably improve someā¦itās just finding the time to do the finishing work. Working leather takes real commitment, and a high level of artistry. (The missing part of the equation here.)
Looks lovely ā¦ we are always our toughest critic ā¦ it is unwarranted here!
Havenāt tried leather, and to be honest ā¦ I may not ever. My husband was interested in leather ā¦ but, he means ā¦ he is interested in me doing it. Ha!
Yep. When mine says āweā should do something, I sometimes have to ask, āis that the āweā that means āus,ā or the āweā that means āme?āā
Unfortunately it works both waysā¦whenever I hit hubs up with a āWe need toā¦ā he usually responds with āIs that the French oui, or are you pregnant?ā
Thatās great!
WOW, so that is what you have been doing learning leather! I love it. You never disappoint.
We love them anyway.