So, recently, Im testing some different ways to get effects on leather.
Here I made a 1x1cm leather cord, splittet it down to half size, and made a test. Its waaay to pronounced, but it was just a test.
I saw this belt on the web, and loved the raised effect was rounded. I don't know for sure, but it has to have a core right? Its not just skived edges like normal raised belt? And if so, how is the core made. Im thinking of making a U shape grove in a wood block, and hammering down a wet leather strip to round it, but dont know if that the best way
Also thought about trying the way, Phillips shapes the handle in "The Making Of A Post Handle Pt 1/2" maybe a combination
So guys, please come with your valuable input 😁
I am by no means able to comment on this as I'm still learning to thread a needle. However, putting my engineering mind at work, would skiving or sculpting the underside of the top layer help with the forming of the double dip?
Less thickness on the underside along the stitching line, but not to the edge, should then cause the leather to complete the dip and come back to full thickness at the edge thus giving a look that the belt has that you show above. Hope this makes sense...
I also hope I am not confusing things or commenting where I shouldn't :)
@Leathercraft Masterclass Philip, shine your wisdom upon us!, I need your guidance :D
Yet another test. Thicker leather, same core. So we are getting there. But comparing to the target picture, I have no idea what to do next. the raised effect is pretty, and okay subtle, but I want to create the beautiful rounded middle, that the target has.
SO maybe making a rounder core, slightly thinner top leather, and maybe a little wider core
So I did another test, this time, thinner core. But I have made two mistakes. The top leather was split to thin, so wrapped around the core to good, loosing the subtle feel I was going for.
Also made the stitches to close to the middle, but that would not made to much of a difference anyway, since I need thicker leather on top.
I love your test piece! I tried splitting a cord too, but couldn't get consistent results. How on earth did you make the cord and split it so accurately?
Another possibility is to cut a rectangular strip, and curve the edges with an edge beveler and sandpaper.
It's also possible that the core of the belt is not leather at all, but something else.