pipemakersforum.com

I just got a Big Ben ranger pipe which is leather covered. Mainly because it was small and cheap.
I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with making leather covered pipes? Like if they're sewn while on the pipe, adhesive used (if any)
It seems like it may be applied wet then dried on the pipe? I dunno though.
I'd love to try it on some of my less desirable briar, not to mention it looks pretty cool
I'm hoping to ask a fellow pipe club member who's a leather worker, just curious if any special rules would apply to the leather covered pipe idea?
Any advice is appreciated, thanks in advance.

I have done just a little bit of leather work, and known others that do also. A lot of it is done while the leather is wet. Mostly the stamping and decorating. I have sewn leather and know there is a "Blind" Stitch for closing up a seam and that sort of thing. I would start with Tandy Leather and see where the search leads you. We have a tandy store here in Reno and they give classes, If you have one near enough maybe the owner will do some custom teaching. I know the one here is very friendly and answers any questions I have. Even recommending the proper equipment and materials for whatever project I am doing.

Moulded leather work is a bit of a pain, more so for something like a pipe. First of all you need a male and female mould, the leather must be vegatable/oak tanned so it adsorbs water and can be baked. Chrome tanned leather normaly has a plastic (PU) coating to give it a finish.

You soak the leather in warm water until it becomes soft and very pliable, this is then placed in the mould and compressed, once the excess water has drained off you bake the whole thing in the oven.

The stitching on most pipes is a butt stitch (the two edges butt up against each other) which requires putting the needle through the edge of the leather at 450, I used the stitch mainly on shoes to give a flat seam. A blind stitch is the same only on the inside so none of the stitches show.

It's not really practical for the occasional pipe.

Next time you watch Gladiator you will see some of my boiled leather armour which is made the same way.

David

DMI LeatherCrafts Historical Leatherwork Specialist 1989-2006
Supplier of historically accurate leather-work to TV, Film, Theatres & Museums.

DMI wrote: Next time you watch Gladiator you will see some of my boiled leather armour which is made the same way.

David

DMI LeatherCrafts Historical Leatherwork Specialist 1989-2006
Supplier of historically accurate leather-work to TV, Film, Theatres & Museums.

Awesome!

DMI wrote: Next time you watch Gladiator you will see some of my boiled leather armour which is made the same way.

David

DMI LeatherCrafts Historical Leatherwork Specialist 1989-2006
Supplier of historically accurate leather-work to TV, Film, Theatres & Museums.

Really great work!