Post by: 2 Locks on April 17, 2011, 01:37:34 PM
I don't remember the specifics, but please take a look at the picture below & tell me if I'm getting myself into trouble or if you think I'm OK. The "heel end" of 6 of the mocs are lined up along the spine, the other two (near the rump) are lined up a little differently.
[attachment=0:2g6p7b5p][/attachment]4 Pair Moccasin Layout.JPG[/attachment:2g6p7b5p]
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 17, 2011, 05:25:12 PM
Post by: Kermit on April 17, 2011, 06:27:35 PM
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 17, 2011, 09:04:20 PM
Quote from: "Kermit"
First thing is what Beav said. I soak 'em in a bucket of water, then squeeeeeze hard, and then I stretch--really stretch in all directions--and staple the hide to the wall as I go. Leave it until its dry. Stretching is essential for any garment you are going to make.
I usually throw mine in the washer with cold water and NO SOAP!!!!!, let it go through a complete cycle, this will rid the hide of the left over dye that bleeds out as you sweat and will lighten the color a bit, then staple to the wall or a sheet of OSB or whatever, the trick is to stretch the crap out of it!
Post by: 2 Locks on April 17, 2011, 09:32:59 PM
The moccasins I made before (from a Crazy Crow kit) might have stretched a little, but not enough that I had to worry about.Quote from: "BEAVERMAN"
...the trick is to stretch the crap out of it!Maybe I'm giving myself more credit than I'm due, but I would think I can stretch hard enough to pull out staples. Does stretching the crap out of it mean my full weight pulling down, or just as hard as I pull while its flat on the floor?
I used charcoal to mark the patterns. I would think most of that will come out in a wash cycle, but would a little baking soda help that along or will I be changing the chemistry too much?
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 18, 2011, 02:25:08 AM
Post by: Bison Horn on April 18, 2011, 06:30:17 AM
Post by: pathfinder on April 18, 2011, 08:27:31 AM
Post by: 2 Locks on April 18, 2011, 07:21:01 PM
If I'm lucky I will be able to get four pairs oriented lengthwise after stretching.
Post by: Mitch on April 19, 2011, 06:31:05 PM
Post by: Riley/MN on April 19, 2011, 06:32:25 PM
Quote from: "Mitch"
as long as ALL the parts are laid out in the same direction, you'll be OK...the way you have it laid out now will work fine
....once you have it stretched.
Post by: 2 Locks on April 19, 2011, 07:03:34 PM
The washing process left just enough of the charcoal marks, that laying it all out the second time will be a lot easier. Since those marks will all be cut away, or wind up inside the mocs I'm not worried about them.
It's been about 22 hours now & it's about 1/2 dry. I'm going to leave it at least another day, but I don't want to leave it too long - I'm a little worried about growing mold between the board & the skin. What do you think?
Post by: shootrj2003 on April 19, 2011, 08:02:25 PM
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 19, 2011, 10:06:10 PM
Quote from: "2 Locks"
Ran it through the wash last night & stapled it to an OSB board. The stretching process confirmed my suspicion that a flat board is not moose shaped. The are a couple of "curls" that are stretched in one direction but not the other. Luckily I was able to limit those to non-critical areas near the belly.
The washing process left just enough of the charcoal marks, that laying it all out the second time will be a lot easier. Since those marks will all be cut away, or wind up inside the mocs I'm not worried about them.
It's been about 22 hours now & it's about 1/2 dry. I'm going to leave it at least another day, but I don't want to leave it too long - I'm a little worried about growing mold between the board & the skin. What do you think?
I have left them on the board as long as a week and no mold problems, you want to make sure that it is completely dry
Post by: 2 Locks on April 20, 2011, 05:26:28 PM
Post by: Riley/MN on April 21, 2011, 10:11:09 AM
Quote from: "shootrj2003"
should I stretch buckskin for bags?will this give me more leather to work with?
Probably not necessary for bags, but may yield you a little more leather if you do....
Post by: shootrj2003 on April 21, 2011, 09:55:27 PM
Post by: 2 Locks on April 22, 2011, 01:34:16 PM
You can still see the the layout lines I drew before stretching, compared to the pattern I drew them from.
[attachment=0:693pmlyg][/attachment]After Stretching Moosehide.jpg[/attachment:693pmlyg]
Wow
Post by: BEAVERMAN on April 22, 2011, 02:21:00 PM
Post by: cb on April 23, 2011, 12:11:21 AM
Quote from: "Riley/MN"
Quote from: "shootrj2003"should I stretch buckskin for bags?will this give me more leather to work with?
Probably not necessary for bags, but may yield you a little more leather if you do....
FWIW - it can make more than a little more. When I stretch commercial chrome tanned hides such as elk or deer I can gain as much as 1/3 or a bit more surface area. On braintain and German tan I get about a 1/4 more area. The minimal amount of work is well worth it.
IMO if it is a soft tanned hide stretch it - not only will you gain area you will prevent stretching problems - yes even for bags that are unlined.
Post by: snake eyes on April 23, 2011, 05:34:21 AM
"20 Mule Train Borax",I have not heard of that since maybe
the mid 50s and B&W TV. My mother swore by it and Fells Napta soap.
If I said anything off color she would wash
my teeth with the latter! :stop
Where do you get your borax???
John
Post by: rickevans on April 25, 2011, 04:30:58 PM
Post by: Bison Horn on April 25, 2011, 06:08:22 PM
I soaked some bufflar hide for moc soles and stretched, here's some pics how I do it. Just like I do green beaver hides to sale only I used smaller nails on the buff hide.
I start in the middle of each side and stretch the other side and tack, driving the nails in angled outward. Get all four middle edges stretched and tack about 1" all around the edges.
I use a screw driver to pry the hide up the nails to raise off the board and let air circulate underneath. Sometimes I use a fan to speed things up.
Post by: greyhunter on April 25, 2011, 08:21:55 PM
Post by: Bison Horn on April 25, 2011, 09:46:30 PM
Quote from: "greyhunter"
Hey BH, that's a scrench! Fer yer chainsaw! They work ok fer a hammer too!Oh ya, thought it was a T-handle screw driver.
It sure twists and prys a lot easier than the standard type.
Post by: 2 Locks on April 25, 2011, 10:15:22 PM
Post by: FlintSteel on September 08, 2011, 10:16:39 AM
I have a couple of questions about stretchnig leather. I have a nice piece of leather that I've been saving to make a new bag. If I stretch this will it stiffen the leather? And if it does do I need to work it to soften it again? And will this make it shrink back to the original size again?