Wet Molding Veg Tanned Leather: An Easy Tutorial

Future masters of the hide! Yes, you!

It's time to dive into the wonderful world of wet molding veg tanned leather. If you've ever wondered how to give your leather creations that perfect, custom fit, you're in for a treat.

In this exciting article, we're going to show you a step-by-step guide on wet molding veg tanned leather like a pro in multiple different scenarios so you're prepared for anything when you step into the shop. Get ready to mold, shape, and create true leather masterpieces.

Here we go!

Wet Molding Leather: What's It All About?

Trust us, there's so much more to this technique than simply crafting holsters or sheaths.

Picture a chevron pouch or any other shape you can dream up, and let's bring it to life! But before we get too carried away, let's start with the basics. We'll be working with natural veg tanned leather because, let's face it, it molds like a dream.

We tend to like the 5-to-6-ounce piece of leather for most projects because this more median weight gives you the benefits of both durability and flexibility.

So grab your perfect leather weight, strap on your creativity, and let's make some magic happen!

Crafting the Perfect Mold: Leather and Wood Unite!

Would you believe us if we told you this could be done with nothing but your trusty fingertips?

Let us prove it to you.

Grab a 4x4 inch piece of pine, your 5-to 6-ounce leather, and let's get started. Begin by submerging the leather in water for about 15 to 20 seconds until it becomes delightfully pliable, like a marshmallow on a summer's day.

1. The Soak: Where Water Meets Weight

To begin, immerse your 5-to 6-ounce piece of leather in water for approximately 15 to 20 seconds. This transforms it into a pliable masterpiece with the ideal moisture content. Once removed from the water, allow it to rest on the table for about 5 minutes, allowing the water to permeate every fiber. And here's the secret: if a thin layer of water delicately sits atop the leather, you know it's perfectly moist, ready for molding. These initial steps mirror the process of finger molding—so far, so good!

2. Meet the Mold: Wood, Holes, and Shaping Splendor

Behold, our trusty companion—the square mold! Crafted from sanded scrap wood, the "UP" side of the mold is primed for action. Nestled within lies a square-shaped hole, eager to shape your leather. Remember, if you have any edge treatment plans for your veg tanned leather, address them before commencing the molding process. It's best to tackle those details beforehand, saving you from a more arduous endeavor later.

3. Molding Marvels: Alignment, Pressure, and Hammering Fun

Now the excitement begins! Place your veg tanned leather atop the mold, ensuring the top edge aligns with the open edge of the square mold. Take your trusty 4x4 inch piece of pine wood and position it on top of the leather, covering the hole within the bottom mold. Apply gentle yet firm pressure, allowing the leather to conform snugly to the mold's contours.

4. Flip and Hammer: A Power Move

Prepare for a dramatic flip as we turn the mold upside down, introducing the mallet to the equation. Grab your mighty tool and begin hammering the mold's exterior with purposeful strikes. This further refines the shape, yielding a beautifully tight mold.

Leave the leather nestled within its cocoon, allowing it to dry for approximately 6 to 8 hours—or, for a touch of extra perfection, let it bask overnight. When you finally remove it from its mold, prepare to witness the results—a breathtakingly tight and flawless mold awaits you!

5. Finishing Flourishes: Trim, Chisel, and Sew

With your wet forming leather project flawlessly executed, it's time for the finishing touches. Employ your trusty straight edge to trim parallel to the mold, ensuring clean lines and a polished appearance. And let's not forget the chisel holes—meticulously drop them in to prepare your leather for seamless stitching. Stand back and admire your masterpiece.

A Dance of Weights: The Give-and-Take

Imagine a spectrum where lighter weights, such as 2-to-3 ounces and 3-to-4 ounces, grant you exquisite bends and tight corners. However, durability may be compromised in exchange.

On the other end of the spectrum, utilizing 7-to-8-ounce and 8-to-9-ounce veg tanned leather ensures remarkable strength and protection, ideal for holsters. Yet, wet molding leather becomes a challenge with these heavier weights.

To exemplify this delicate dance, let's consider a holster. We opted for a 5-to-6-ounce piece of leather on the exterior to achieve a superb mold. On the back, we introduced an 8-to-9-ounce piece of leather, offering strength to the wings while preserving durability and moldability. This thoughtful combination empowers both function and artistry.

For projects like cell phone cases or watch pockets, where durability takes a back seat to tight corners, a 3-to-4-ounce piece of natural veg tanned leather shines. Its lighter weight allows for easy cutting and shaping, offering the freedom to customize with a knife.

Crafted Excellence: Fusion of Strength and Flexibility

Let's take a standard sheath as our final example. The main body benefits from the pliability of a 4-to-5-ounce piece of veg tanned leather, while the tip and throat demand a touch more durability which can be achieved by introducing a 2-to-3-ounce piece of leather on both ends.

With wet forming leather, you must embrace the versatility to find the perfect combination.

Avoiding Pitfalls: Rigidity without Definition

Now, a word of caution. When crafting a holster, refrain from using two 6-to-7-ounce leather pieces back-to-back. While it may provide a snug fit for your firearm, it lacks the molding definition on the outside, leaving you with a rigid result. Remember, finding the right balance is key to achieving both functionality and aesthetics.

Newsflash: You're NOT A Woodworker!

You don't need to be a woodworking maestro to find success in wet molding leather. In fact, the material you know and love, the leather itself, can be your ultimate mold-making tool.

How, you ask? Great question!

From Scrap Leather to Successful Creation: Mold, Shape, Create!

At our workshop, we follow a simple principle: if we bought the leather, we'll find a way to use it. Every piece holds potential, and by stacking multiple leather pieces of different weights, secured with trusty contact cement, we craft molds that are as unique as our creations.

Use your imagination to incorporate extra leather that adds a touch of personal flair to your molds, elevating your projects to new heights of individuality.

The beauty of using leather molds knows no bounds. Whether you're dreaming of crafting pouches, pin cases for your briefcase, or a sleek cell phone case, your trusty stack of leather will bring those visions to life. No need to sacrifice your expensive smartphone as a mold when you have the perfect alternative at your fingertips!

As a bonus, the more projects you complete, the more your leather molds will harden. This allows your leather molds to become an essential ally for precise cuts and effortless designs. Alright, you have a ton of general information about the magic of wet forming. Now let's focus on some specific projects for you to tackle.

Part 1: Soaking in Moisture Magic

Begin by submerging your prized piece of leather into the water for a 30-second soak, ensuring it absorbs the ideal amount of moisture. Gently lifting the leather from the water, allow it to rest for approximately 10 minutes, granting the water a chance to permeate every fiber.

Part 2: Tape and Protection for a Pristine Process

Before delving deeper, let's secure your knife's integrity. Carefully and evenly place a vibrant 1-inch piece of tape at the top of the knife, creating an unmistakable indicator for later use. To safeguard your cherished blade, consider adorning it with a shield of protective packing tape.

Part 3: From Throat to Edges—A Masterful Formation

Align the throat of your leather sheath with the tape-adorned pinnacle of your knife. Using the knuckle of your index finger, press the leather into the sides of the knife, while simultaneously exerting pressure from above with the pads of your thumbs. Engaging in this tactile dance, allow the leather to stretch and conform, creating a crisp and artful form around the edges. Devote around 5 minutes to meticulously work the corners and bends, ensuring an impeccable fit.

Part 4: Patience and Perfection—A Balancing Act

With your craftsmanship taking shape, let the sheath sit and dry for 15 to 20 minutes. Return and invest an additional 5 to 10 minutes in refining the mold, allowing its tightness to grow. Another 15 minutes of rest and drying time follow, before resuming your work. Finally, let your project sit for approximately 5 to 6 hours, allowing it to dry completely.

Part 5: Guiding Lines—A Pathway to Precision

When your sheath is dry, flip it over, with the indented side facing upwards. Grasping a pen, draw a guideline approximately 3/8ths from the start of the indention, tracing its path around the sheath. This precaution ensures room for error as you continue this wet molding leather project.

Part 6: Bonding with Precision—Glue, Clips, and Consistency

With your grooves and chisels in place, let's secure the final stages of your sheath. Grab your trusty Leathercrafter's Cement and carefully apply it inside the guideline you created. Lay the backside of the sheath atop the glue, aligning it seamlessly against the throat.

Remember, these two pieces will separate slightly, ensuring a snug fit for your beloved knife. Employ the aid of two clips, fastening them on each side of the sheath's top, around the 3/8th mark, to prevent excessive movement during the drying process. Distribute additional clips every two to three inches along the perimeter. Allow the glue to set for approximately 10 minutes.

Part 7: Unveiling Perfection—Clips Off, Edge On

Once the glue has dried to perfection, gingerly remove the clips, revealing a marvelous, consistent edge encompassing the backing of your sheath. Now, position the sheath along the edge of your cutting table, utilizing the backing as your trusted guide.

Armed with a fresh and razor-sharp knife blade, make precise cuts all around the sheath, ensuring a beautifully defined edge. Should your corners require a touch-up, fear not, for you can always revisit them later, sanding and trimming to reach the pinnacle of perfection.

Part 8: The Art of Grooves and Chisels—Lines with Character

Now, head over to your punch table.

Typically, a groove line of approximately 1/8th of an inch (a hair under 3 mm) is ideal. To achieve this, mark your stitch groover at around 3.1 mm. If your groover's guide arm interferes with your molded project, you can use a wing divider instead. Begin at the throat of the sheath, diligently etching the groove and working your way around its entire circumference.

With the groove line complete, equip yourself with a double-prong, 1/8 inch flat chisel from the Lacing 1/8 inch 4-piece Chisel Set. However, you now face the challenge of combining a 4-to-5-ounce piece of leather with an 8-to-9-ounce counterpart for your sheath.

Fear not, for you are ready to overcome this obstacle.

Plunge your chisel into the groove line, summoning the mighty force of the 11-ounce Rawhide Mallet to create enticing indents all around the sheath. Maintain a vertical alignment, avoiding any inclination that might lead to your chisel slipping out of the leather. Patience is key during this process, as you delicately work your way through. For the corners, rely on a single-prong chisel, granting your holes an appealing angled charm, and ensuring consistency throughout.

Part 9: Beveling and Perfecting—Edges that Shine

Revel in the nearing completion of your masterpiece. Begin by beveling the front side of your sheath, crafted from the 4-to-5-ounce leather, using the Master Tool Edge Beveler in size #1. As you deftly navigate the contours, a sense of satisfaction envelops you. Now, with a graceful flip, traverse to the 8-to-9-ounce leather side, employing the Master Tool Edge Beveler #2 to refine and polish the edges. Witness your sheath taking its final form, a testament to your dedication and skill.

Let Your Creativity Flow: Decorative Leather Bowls For Every Season

Get ready to embark on a journey of leathercrafting delight as we guide you through creating two captivating leather bowls: the enchanting Fall Leaf Bowl and the stylish Simple Valet Bowl.

With minimal skill required and just a few essential tools that can all be found at Weaver Leather Supply, you'll soon discover that the possibilities for design and decoration are limited only by your imagination.