Leather Workers - I need your help/opinion

[Riley/MN]

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....

[shootrj2003]

Thanks probably not worth the hassle but nice to klnow about clothing and shoes because I didn't!

[2 Locks]

Thanks for saving me from a bug mistake everyone!
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

[BEAVERMAN]

Now your on the path to success!

[cb]

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.

[snake eyes]

Bison Horn,
               "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

[rickevans]

I use that for forge welding flux. You can get it at Kroger or Publix (if you live in the south).

[Bison Horn]

I get 20 Mule Team at the local supermarket, I thought it was still a common product.
 
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.

[greyhunter]

Hey BH, that's a scrench! Fer yer chainsaw! They work ok fer a hammer too!

[Bison Horn]

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.

[2 Locks]

Raising the hide up on the nails looks like good idea, BH.  Thanks for the tip.

[FlintSteel]

I've never stretched leather before I've used it. I have wet it but only to form it to a specific shape.

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?