How to Correctly Case Leather for Carving

Proper casing helps enures the success of your leather-working project.

Casing leather before working with it is a simple process, but it can make an amateur leather worker nervous. Most of the time, you hear the terrors of getting leather wet. In the process of casing, though, it’s clear that you need to use water to treat the leather. Casing leather correctly is all about moderating the amount of water you use. A small amount keeps the leather flexible while you engrave your shapes onto it.

Things You'll Need

• Leather
• Lint roller
• Sponge
• Bowl
• Water

Instructions

1. Lay your leather on a flat surface. Run over the leather with a lint roller to remove debris.

2. Dip a sponge into a bowl of room-temperature water. Squeeze the sponge until it is lightly damp.

3. Wipe the leather with the damp sponge until the leather is slightly discolored. Coat the entire piece in a light layer of water.

4. Wait until the leather returns to its natural shade before you continue working with it. This keeps the leather supple and ready for action.

References

• One Stop Candle; Basic Leather Carving Instructions Part I Leather and Pattern Preparation; Bob Sherman; February 2006