Handmade leather pipe pouch, the early years

[Cardinal]

Now you've done made me place an order for 3-5 oz leather lol. One of the first things a pro leatherworker will when examing your is to check the edges.

Are you having a problem grooving or punching? If it's punching are you placing fingers on eqch side of where the awl goes through? If it's grooving you can use double sided tape or contact cement and glue the leather to some plexiglass or even your cutting board.

I'm kind of having trouble with both on the buffalo. First, the leather is so springy that the groover won't cut it, and the marks from the overstitch wheel spring back pretty quickly. However, I can get a good enough line to see and good enough pricks to find with the awl. The worst is trying to punch it - I finally figured out where to put both fingers right over where the awl comes through, but I'm having an absolute devil of a time getting the holes to stay in a straight line on the back side due to the way the leather gives and bends.

[Will46r]

I'm kind of having trouble with both on the buffalo. First, the leather is so springy that the groover won't cut it, and the marks from the overstitch wheel spring back pretty quickly. However, I can get a good enough line to see and good enough pricks to find with the awl. The worst is trying to punch it - I finally figured out where to put both fingers right over where the awl comes through, but I'm having an absolute devil of a time getting the holes to stay in a straight line on the back side due to the way the leather gives and bends.

Try using a fine pen to mark the leather in the points from the over stitch wheel. Have you tried wetting the leather before grooving? Try backing the leather with another piece of leather or thin wood with a small hole drilled in it.

[Will46r]

I'm kind of having trouble with both on the buffalo. First, the leather is so springy that the groover won't cut it, and the marks from the overstitch wheel spring back pretty quickly. However, I can get a good enough line to see and good enough pricks to find with the awl. The worst is trying to punch it - I finally figured out where to put both fingers right over where the awl comes through, but I'm having an absolute devil of a time getting the holes to stay in a straight line on the back side due to the way the leather gives and bends.

Try using a fine pen to mark the leather in the points from the over stitch wheel. Have you tried wetting the leather before grooving? May try backing the leather with a thicker piece or use a piece of wood with a small hole drilled in it.

[Cardinal]

Try using a fine pen to mark the leather in the points from the over stitch wheel. Have you tried wetting the leather before grooving? May try backing the leather with a thicker piece or use a piece of wood with a small hole drilled in it.

That's a good idea on the pen! I've been wetting it and that works great for the veg tanned, but the buffalo is too springy. A little pen-mark is probably the ticket.

I also just gave a try on the backing idea too, first with a stiffer piece of leather and then with my beeswax and both made a huge difference. Thanks for all the advice, it's helping me a lot!

[Will46r]

That's a good idea on the pen! I've been wetting it and that works great for the veg tanned, but the buffalo is too springy. A little pen-mark is probably the ticket.

I also just gave a try on the backing idea too, first with a stiffer piece of leather and then with my beeswax and both made a huge difference. Thanks for all the advice, it's helping me a lot!

No problem. I'd be making crappy leather if it wasn't for a lot of free information from master leatherworkers.