In a message dated 8/3/2011 3:40:21 AM Central Daylight Time,
JGILLIS@tcd.ie writes:
> Thought I might feed into this one. I have been working with leather for
> 25
> years, albeit in the conservation of medieval manuscripts.
That sounds appropriate since we drive medieval cars. ;-)
>
> But I am aware of the technical nature of the product. Firstly I would
> suggest you carefully examine the leather on offer. I found it really
> difficult to get "real
> leather" much of what is out there is either re-constituted scraps or so
> heavily machine grained and surface coated as to be hardly recognizable as
> leather at all. You can buy proper vegetable tanned skins with minimum
> surface
> coating from The British Hide Company, they took over the Connolly Hide
> business, including stock of leathers.
> As regards working with leather, I would definitely NOT recommend soaking
> in
> water, this will have long term effect on the fibre structure which will
> embrittle and fail. The trick is pare the flesh side of the skin, which
> can be
> reduced quite radically where it has to be folded around complex shapes
> and
> where it is turned over edges. You can buy purpose made leather paring
> knives
> form bookbinders supply shops, I make my own from high speed steel machine
> hack saw blades. You need a very flat surface and a VERY keen edge. A
> piece of
> marble works well as a base. Once you have practiced on scraps and got a
> feel
> for how to work the knife, then all the trimming becomes less daunting.
> Contact adhesive is what you need for this kind of work, and you can get
> one
> that gives you some "positioning time", it is the usual rule; start from
> the
> centre and work towards the edges. I am always amazed why paring has not
> been
> part of the upholsterers techniques. I trimmed all my interior in leather,
> not
> correct I now realize but will have
Sounds like it is more of an art than a science.
And, hey, it's your car. If you want all leather, great. That's what the
factory would have done if they had the budget.
Dave
triumphs@autox.team.net
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