Homemade Tools #3: Attaching the leather

Nice information. Thanks for sharing Lee.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

I agree totally. It worked for me too. My wife unit dedicated an old pair of shoes for the leather to my mallet. This allows her to replace them without guilt.

I also suggest to chamfer the edges of the mallet before the leather. This will also ‘soften the blow’.

Thanks again,
Steve

-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Hi Guys;

I tend to round the faces slightly, as they are much less likely to mar your work.

Actually, using the scalpel, I trim the leather on a bevel also. Just looks better.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Has anyone tried hide glue on leather? Contact cement gets crusty while hide glue remains pliable. Not sure how it would behave for leather. Just asking the question.

-- Sir Robert

That’s a great tip, Lee, Thanks!!!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Hi Sir Robert.

Great question. I have no idea how hide glue would work.

If you try it let me know. My curiosity is piqued now.

Lee.

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

I believe hide glue would do the job in terms of adhesion, and would probably last quite a while. One note of caution: we use it in violin seams because it tends to be brittle. When maple wants to go one direction and spruce another, the glue line is supposed to give, which it often does with a fair report! That could be a downside, but the upside is that all you have to do is slather a little warm glue on the old and Bob’s your uncle. Another thought there, however, is that hide glue is water based. That will have implications in terms of the leather finding it’s equilibrium in your environment. I think I’m voting for the contact cement.

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

Thanks Lee. All that makes a lot of sense.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thanks Tex.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Hi Grumpy,

Thank you, it’s somewhat rare for me to make any sense

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

The mallet Lee sent me is quite stunning. I’ve posted a photo and article on Toologics about it (and yep, threw in the now famous Ezee-Feed System link ;0)
http://www.toologics.com/News/Cool_Tools/Dead_Blow_Mallets_20080801875.html

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

and yup, I keep it within reach of my computer, on a shelf above my desk.

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

Hi Jude;

Thank you for this. I should send you some more stuff!!

Remember to start out softly. I’m at the point I can use a sledge hammer, as long as it has a leather pad. lol

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com