Crafts & Hobbies Information

Molding Leather Armor


In order to mould leather armor, soak it in water until it becomes pliable and soft. Then place it in the mould until it dries and hardens.

Cuir Bouilli

The application of heat will make the leather harder. If you were making a cover for a shield, for example, or other pieces of leather amour, the leather would be dipped quickly in boiling water before being moulded. This is called 'cuir bouilli', a process employed in making leather armor.

Using vegetable tanned leather with at least a weight of 8 ounces, soak the piece in cold water. This will ensure a uniform absorption when the leather armor is placed in the boiling water. Heat a pot of water to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, then immerse the wet leather for approximately thirty seconds to a minute, until it darkens and begins to curl.

Remove the leather from the water and stretch it around the mould you have prepared, tacking it in place. Allow for shrinkage if you are cutting the leather armor from a pattern. Of course you can water-harden a larger piece of leather, flatten it under a cutting board, and then cut out the individual pieces of leather armor you want, and then mould them to the desired shape. At this stage it will be very stretchy.

The boiling process makes the leather armor thicker and harder, with a degree of shrinkage dependent upon the leather itself and the amount of immersion time. The longer it remains in the water, the more pronounced the effects.

A twenty second immersion can result in a shrinkage of 7/8s, with a thickening of 25%, while a forty second immersion results in a 2/3rds shrinkage and a doubling of the thickness. As in any aspect of leather working, it is best to experiment with scrap pieces of leather first to get the effect you want.

Types of Moulds / Single Mould

Moulds can consist of one or more pieces. Folding the leather around the actual object for which a cover is being made, where the mould is the object, is an option when making a case for a gun, an arm guard in archery, a sheaf for a knife or eye-caps for binoculars. Use tacks to hold it in place while it dries.

A Two-piece Mould

A two-piece mould acts like two slices of bread, with the leather being the sandwich filling. In this way, leather armor shields were made. The leather armor is left in the mould until it dries.

A Three-piece Mould

A three-piece mould allows the creation of items like bags and eyeglass cases without using a gusset. The leather is sewn on three sides. Two pieces of the mould are inserted on either side of the interior of the wet leather, and then a wedge is driven between the middle. The forms are left until the leather is dried.

Tools to Use

* Wooden mould

* Brass or steel tacks

Summary

* Make a mould to form the leather to the desired shape

* Wet the leather

* One piece mould: fit the wet leather armor over the mould

* Two piece mould: sandwich the leather between the mould

* Three piece mould: fit the pieces inside the leather

* Leave the leather armor to dry before removing

Hey! Want To Know More About Leather Craft?
Here's How to Get Your Answers Quick and Easy
Click Here ==> Leather Craft

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Cub Scout families play together this weekend
Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - 8 hours ago
"It is certainly a good time for families to learn new outdoor hobbies that will create better family spirit and will also help reduce obesity. ...


Town Notes
Wicked Local Boxborough, MA - 9 hours ago
Prize categories include produce; arts and crafts projects; baked goods; hobbies; and conservation projects. If you are a craft person and would like to ...


"Premier breaks commitment to working families" -- Ontario ...
Net Newsledger, Canada - 13 hours ago
Tickets are $10.00 per person - available @ the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium Box Office, Coran's music store, and at Thom Thumb Hobbies and Crafts on ...


Cayman Net News

Local Notices and Information
Cayman Net News, Cayman Islands - 11 hours ago
Book drive drop-off boxes are located at: Books and Books at Camana Bay, Hobbies and Books in Grand Harbour and Piccadilly Square, George Town, ...


The 'Wright' stuff: Young artist on display at MassArt
Medford Transcript, MA - 23 hours ago
Wright has a variety of hobbies, from studying guitar and violin to BMX cycling. But of all his creative ventures, the Columbus student feels a special ...


A gift of love: Spools of yarn and spare time make a big difference
Asbury Park Press, NJ - May 15, 2008
Many in the group, now retired, said they've lived full lives and are now taking time to enjoy themselves with the activities and hobbies they love, ...


Ribchester Field Day Queen 2008
Clitheroe Today, UK - May 11, 2008
Alexandra's hobbies include ballet, ice skating, art and crafts, reading and drama – she is a keen member of Young Rats (Ribchester Amateur Theatrical ...


Redefining a Room: Laundry Room Makeover
Tuskegee News, AL - May 14, 2008
Whether your laundry is in the basement, the upper floors or off the kitchen, why not turn it into a multifunctional space - perfect for hobbies and crafts. ...


Hobby, frame shops moving in together
Emporia Gazette, KS - May 8, 2008
By Brandy Nance (Contact) Dayton’s Hobbies & Crafts and Tallgrass Art & Frame Shop are about to go Plum Bazaar. The two stores now are located at 811 and ...


Life 101: Let's fly a kite
Southtown Star, IL - Apr 21, 2008
... spend the afternoon with your kids, your date, your spouse or even just your dog," says Don Hendrick, manager of Pat's Hobbies and Crafts in Oak Lawn. ...

crafts hobbies - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.