A Work of Art On Leather: Making Our Laser Engraved Hat Patches

[@WeThePeople819]

Utica Comets fan here....nice work on the lids.

[@funhobbies99]

I would love to see a video on how you got the coloring (darker on the edges) on the NUCOR hat leather. Very nice.

[@classythc908]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing your process!

[@OzarkArtsandCrafts]

Awesome hats and work. I just found you and subscribed now. My wife has the hat and shirt thingy similar to yours and I have a lazer. Might try this process. Thanks for posting.

[@MegaLabLimited]

Screen Print shop from NE Ohio. Subscribed! We sell a lot of leather patches for hats. Quality video, man!

[@glowmarkdesigns]

Much appreciated! The leather patches are definitely the in thing right now. I love them.

[@NITEGOD]

Nice video

[@glowmarkdesigns]

Thank you! we've been heavily slacking on uploading more content.

[@savagekoaladesigns]

Good job man! Best of luck with the channel. Sub'd

[@glowmarkdesigns]

greatly appreciate it. we need to get back on top of things and produce some more content soon 👍

[@elohimembroidery]

Tried Lonestar and its good stuff but I want to do real leather patches and not leatherettes. You turned me to 2 new suppliers with your honest review!

[@DIOTV1]

Great video my friend. How thick are your patches and any recommendations of where to buy leather? Thanks for your content bro keep up the good work. GOD bless you🙏

[@glowmarkdesigns]

sorry for the late reply. I use 4-5 oz and usually go through Rocky Mountain Leather Supply or Weaver

[@ZX10R203]

Great video. You should do a video on the process of the NUCOR hat you did, looks amazing!! Where did you get the adhesive sheet?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

I have a feeling I'll be doing a video on quite a few of them. They've inquired about doing a batch so fingers crossed they're as much of a hit at the charity event as I'm hoping. The sheet is from Hydbond. They're definitely gaining quite a bit of traction within the laser community. I've made a handful of patches using it and I'll definitely say its incredibly tough stuff. My only struggle is the cheap hat press I'm using in this video.

[@FrankieG411]

I support you man great job!! What is the tape you are using?Tthanks Hats look great!!!

[@dachip50]

I have a diode laser and do some hats on the side, I primarily do wood and tumblers. I have been using Fiebings leather cement for leather and for leatherette. Do you have issues with the vevor hat press and Richardson 112 hats? One of the reviews said it ruins hats but I was guessing it was user error.

[@darryllindsey6669]

Great video how thick of leather do you use thanks for the videos

[@LarryDMitchell]

What weight was your leather? I purchased five sheets of leatherette from Hydbond that already has the adhesive on the back and tried that with my 10W Diode laser. Came out very nice and now I just need to put them on a hat with an iron. I don't have a heat press but if my endeavors prove successful and I can justify the purchase that might be the way to go. Good video and I'm a new subscriber!

[@glowmarkdesigns]

I usually go with 3.5oz or so. Does depend on the look my customers looking for though

[@allengreene66]

How big are your patches? 2.5" x 4"?

[@dannykirkpatrick6960]

Where do you get your leather from and the glue sheets?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

The glue sheets come from Hydbond. They're getting pretty popular within the laser community and are on atleast a handful of the facebook groups now. The leather depends on what I'm needing. I usually go with Rocky Mountain Leather supply since they sell in a wide variety of sizes and colors but full hides I get from Tandy.

[@itsjustaboutme4]

Your hats look great! How do you attach the rivet?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

I use a pick and slowly work it through the spot I want the rivet. This usually will move the weaved fabric enough to get the rivet in without tearing or ripping any threads and then set the rivets like normal.

[@itsjustaboutme4]

@@glowmarkdesigns Thank you!

[@jimhudson1483]

What silicone sheet are you placing over patch on the press?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

Just a simple piece of silicone I got from Amazon. I could try to find the exact link for the one I bought if you are having trouble finding them.

[@ABL-gq2bk]

I have been on the hunt for that type as well. Haven't found em on Amazon yet. 😕 Have been having trouble getting my patches w hydbond to adhere. it's maddening

[@pwrofgrayskull]

Nice work!! Final product is very nice. Great video - Subscribed. Please forgive my ignorance, but why do I see so many people dyeing the leather rather than buying pre-dyed? Is this simply a much cheaper way of getting it done? Or is it because it allows you to make a more custom final product? Or allows you to buy a larger cowhide section and still be able to create different color variations with each project you do with it? Also, do you finish with any kind of sealant or finishing product/protectant?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

Funny enough, I dont know what the true answer is. I first found that people were dyeing and I just kinda went with it. The more I've looked into it and seen others on the internet doing them I see even less people dyeing and instead going with tanned leathers. If I were to guess, I'd assume many people start with veg tanned because the fumes aren't as harsh. Its definitely cheaper to go with veg tanned BUT if you start adding in your time to do the staining then its definitely more labor intensive. I guess it comes down to preference more than anything. I've done both and ease of use, buying tanned is easier but I've got the exhaust fan. Its definitely a zen moment doing the airbrushing though, I truly dont have a preference. I finish my stained patches by airbrushing Resolene. For some other colors it may be better to use a monk oil though. Resolene does tend to darken the leather a touch and gives it a glossier finish some people dont prefer.

[@pwrofgrayskull]

@@glowmarkdesigns Thank you for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate your thoughts and perspective. I can’t wait to check out your other videos and new ones that you post.

[@RandomDave403]

@@glowmarkdesigns if by not as harsh you mean not utterly toxic, then yes, veg tan is less harsh. Chrome tanned leather on a laser has the potential to be fatal through the release of cyanide gas.

[@glowmarkdesigns]

@@RandomDave403 I was speaking more of uncolored veg tanned. I don't use any chrome tanned leathers personally so I don't know anything about the process for using them. Good information to know about the chrome tanned, thanks for sharing.

[@RandomDave403]

@@glowmarkdesigns I figured, but thought I should put it out there.

[@toddwallace1267]

where is everyone getting their hats at?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

Depends on whether you have a business license or not. If not, the best bet is SS Activewear. If you do, we love to use One Stop as they are one of the closest suppliers and at this time still a small fish in the game. A lot of focus goes on bringing up smaller businesses for us.

[@orion7741]

hat patches NEED to be sewn on. its not even debatable. every hat I have ever had that did not have the patch stitched on has had the patch either peel up on the edges or the patch just completely come off. this crazy notion of hat patches not needing to be stitched on that we are seeing recently is just so wrong and needs to be stopped. people need to stop being lazy and just stitch patches on. that is the only way that they actually last.

[@mobapki.pl-lideraplikacjim5386]

How come the engravings come out so clean?

[@glowmarkdesigns]

I worked a lot on getting the air pressure dialed in at a super low amount and coupled that with actually defocusing the laser slightly.