Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Leather Craft/Answer Key"
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== Tools == | == Tools == | ||
Leather carving is accomplished using three main tools: | Leather carving is accomplished using three main tools: | ||
| − | * Swivel Knife | + | * Swivel Knife - used to make the bold cuts that define the pattern or image being carved |
| − | * Rawhide Mallet | + | * Rawhide Mallet - used to drive the stamps used to mat down the background and create shading and patterns |
| − | * Stamp Set | + | * Stamp Set - A set of stamping tools used to shape and color the leather to create the final image. Usually contains at minimum a beveler, pear shader, seeder, and background tool. |
| − | |||
== Preparation == | == Preparation == | ||
Revision as of 06:53, 13 July 2007
This article describes leather carving in detail. For information about leather craft in detail, please see Leather crafting
Leather carving is the process of giving a three-dimensional appearance to leather by a process of cutting and stamping the surface.
Raw Materials
The only type of leather suitable for carving is vegetable tanned, top grain leather. This is because the vegetable tanning process allows the leather to absorb water, which is used to soften the leather before the carving process, and the grain of the leather is necessary to allow the leather to hold the shape after the carving process is complete. Other leathers lack these two essential qualities.
Tools
Leather carving is accomplished using three main tools:
- Swivel Knife - used to make the bold cuts that define the pattern or image being carved
- Rawhide Mallet - used to drive the stamps used to mat down the background and create shading and patterns
- Stamp Set - A set of stamping tools used to shape and color the leather to create the final image. Usually contains at minimum a beveler, pear shader, seeder, and background tool.
Preparation
Before carving can commence, the leather must be prepared to accept the tooling by 'casing' it. This is done by applying water to the grain side of the leather with a sponge. After a short time, the surface of the leather will darken and feel cool to the touch. At this point, the leather is ready for carving. For some large projects, it may be necessary to re-case the leather as it dries during the carving session.
Swivel Knife Cuts
When the leather has been properly cased, the swivel knife is used to make the bold cuts that form the backbone of the carved image. These cuts are made to a depth of up to approximately half the thickness of the leather being used, depending on the effect desired by the leather worker. Care must be taken during this step to keep the swivel knife vertical at all times, as any tilt is detrimental to the ability of the leather to be properly stamped later in the carving process.
