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Difficulties with shaping leather

PostPosted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 2:38 am
by imuladd
Hello!
I have been trying to shape leather to make a leather armor with the use of this tutorial for example http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/Perfect_Armor_Improved.htm , but I just don't seem to get the hang of it. My leather (vegetable tanned, 3mm thick) won't shape much at all, and remains stiff, instead of turning "rubbery" like the linked tutorial describes. Any tips, help, or easier tutorials?

Thank you!

Re: Difficulties with shaping leather

PostPosted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 8:31 am
by Sir Thurat
http://geddon.org/Oven_Hardening_Leather_Armor

This method is similar, but slightly different. Might help you out.

Re: Difficulties with shaping leather

PostPosted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 9:12 pm
by Caleidah
The link that Thurat posted is the method that I use for water forming. You are probably not letting your leather soak long enough. You have to let the water soak all the way into the fibers of the leather for that flexibility to appear.

Re: Difficulties with shaping leather

PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 6:37 am
by Kyrian
Caleidah wrote:The link that Thurat posted is the method that I use for water forming. You are probably not letting your leather soak long enough. You have to let the water soak all the way into the fibers of the leather for that flexibility to appear.


Just as a follow-up to what Caleidah said, a visual indicator that the water has completely saturated the leather is when the submerged piece no longer releases air bubbles.