Comments on: Getting Into Leather Works – and Please Share Your Leatherworking Tips

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 21:52:39 +0000

Thank you both! I will keep searching and will check out that link, Lynda.

I will look for that Neatsfoot oil. Sounds like a good place to start. Maybe I’ll try emailing some of the leather supply companies too (hadn’t thought of that until just now). I will post back here if they reply.

Thanks!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:25:44 +0000

In reply to Lynda Carson. Thanks for this info, Lynda! :)

By: Lynda Carson

Lynda Carson — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 17:08:24 +0000

Great questions! I have no advice to offer since I’m experimenting myself. I would think searching for ‘cleaning leather’ might be worthwhile. I have seen info about degreasing, removing waxes with isopropyl alcohol first before applying paint..
justpaint.org/painting-on-leather-with-acrylics/
They also suggested roughing up the surface with sandpaper before applying acrylic paint to leather for better adherence.
I also purchased on Mr. Ray’s advice, Neatsfoot oil to condition, darken, and soften leather. Works great! Used it on an old leather belt I cut apart as well as new tooling leather.

Keep up the conversation!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:04:43 +0000

In reply to Annie. Annie, thanks for sharing your experience with embossing the leather using a BigShot. I too would be interested to see what preparations should be done on shoe leather to be reused. I did some research, but everything I could find was focused on ideas of what to make with old shoe leather, not how to prep the leather for those projects.

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 14:21:51 +0000

I came to search Rena’s site for advice on prepping recycled leather and found your post. I don’t have a lot of advice since I’m still in the experimental phases myself but to piggyback on what Valerie said, I found that if I dampened my piece of leather, I could even put it into an embossing folder and run it through my BigShot and get an impression in the leather that has lasted now for several months. I tried it with both my Vitaj embossing folders and some plastic ones I found at Michaels on clearance (I think they might have been for a Circuit (sp?) and both worked.

I have a question for you (and anyone else who might know): have you come across any good references for how to prep leather you have recycled from shoes or boots? The person you mentioned (the shop owner) – has he given you an advice in that regard? I’ve gotten into deconstructing old leather shoes and boots (and purses) that I don’t wear anymore and need to get rid of but hate to waste the material. I’m only bothering with real leather (not bonded). I’ve got a small drawer full of pieces I’ve cut away from the soles and other non leather parts but I’m not sure if I should be prepping them in any way to use them in jewelry. I’ve tried Googling and YouTube and am not really coming up with anything substantial having to do with prepping (it’s mostly ideas for designs).

By: Lynda Carson

Lynda Carson — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:00:25 +0000

Appreciate these great tips, Rena and Valerie! More ideas to play with!!
Valerie…are you running the dampened leather through a paper roller for embossing card stock? I haven’t tried that, only the steel rolling mill at my metals class and we cannot have any water on the rollers as it rusts like crazy.

By: Valarie Lewis

Valarie Lewis — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 10:52:54 +0000

For a great texture with embossing folders use Veg tanned leather, and use a wet sponge to soften it before you run it through. You can dye it as soon as it’s dry. To bring out the details. You can put one coat of brown dye on, then when it’s dry, put a light coat of black, but wipe it off immediately with a paper towel. The black will only cling to the recesses and highlight your details

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:10:20 +0000

Lynda, these are great pieces – and I like how you vary color and designs in your pieces while still keeping them in “Lynda” style. I have a few leather tips (if you didn’t already know these):

For inexpensive leather sources, you can look in thrift shops for leather belts, purses, vests, jackets, etc. that you can cut up.

Textured or tooled leather is neat in jewelry.

Leather is lightweight enough that you can actually make some larger jewelry pieces without being too heavy.

You can stitch pieces of leather together with waxed cord (linen, polyester, cotton, etc.) – or even with dental floss (unused of course). 🙂