Laser Leather Hat Patches, and the Cricut Hat Press

I have been wanting to make laser engraved leather hat patches for a while. This is my full overview video, where I dye the leather, create the logos, apply the adhesive, laser engrave them, and apply them to hats.
This video has some tips and tricks I have not seen elsewhere. How to laser and clean your leather in detail. Hands down the easiest method for spraying leather I have seen to date. And how to use the Cricut hat press for these types of patches. Just to name a few.
If you found anything her helpful, please please hit that like button and subscribe to the channel!
As always, links for almost everything mentioned or used follow:
ETSY
If you would like to visit my Etsy shop it is here:
www.etsy.com/shop/ThisIsHowIM...
Richardson 112 Trucker Caps
amzn.to/3yyPlmM
Cricut Hat Press
amzn.to/3YLsPl4
Handheld Nano Spray Gun
amzn.to/3ZZp8cv
An amazon version of HydBond (No idea if this would work but it is less expensive)
amzn.to/3Le6zNK
Fiebings Pro Saddle Tan Dye
amzn.to/3J9yjAA
Fiebings Pro Yellow Dye
amzn.to/3Lm3zPk
HydBond
www.hydbond.com
HotTronix
www.stahls.com/heat-presses-v...
Music by BenSound

[@wsoeltkakd]

Been a leather worker for years; with light browns you are half right..... the other half is you HAVE to let them dry first. Otherwise you'll do exactly as you did and put way more layers. They always look darker when wet, it's just what it does.

[@phoenixburns3943]

Also I use leather soap and a soft toothbrush to clean. Water alone often can and does promote mold inside out. After toothbrush scrub, I wipe clean with a damp cloth. Leather soap has stabilizer in it to prevent mold and shrinkage. I lay it flat, put a book on it. 4 hours later it's flat, mo mold, no shrinking, ultra clear image. Won't remove stain

[@earthdimensionc-1378]

You can dilute this dye with water or dye reducer for lighter color. Also buff out streaks before it fully dries. A sponge with smaller holes works better. Pre oil leather with olive oil will stop shrinking and drying Also will make it more even dying

[@reytrinidad809]

The resoline and the cross hatch are definitely a game changer.

[@roymoon3691]

That’s a great video, thanks soo much boss! I bought a cricut hat press the other day with no knowledge of this video and I’m totally stoked and now I have this to learn from!! Thanks again!!👍🏻👊🏻🌙

[@davidmccandless3580]

I saw another video, from a leather worker, he used a dedicated large kiwi buffer brush to dye a large sheet of leather. It was super quick and looked great! So that would be another option!

[@SUDSCLINE]

Love the spray gun!!!!!

[@sharonbontreger1968]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@pfiltz]

Great video. Going to jump into doing hats. I'm waiting on my Hydbond order to arrive next week, and have the VEVOR hat press for starters. I have some pre-cut patches that have adhesive on the backside of them, but haven't had the time to laser anything. I do play on dyeing some of my patches since I've seen some great looking dyeing from the outer edges inward using a small spray gun. I didn't know though that hobby lobby sold leather to be honest. I'll have to look into that. I've got a small order of hats coming in from Alibaba in around 3 weeks, so I'll have time to experiment before hand.

[@reytrinidad809]

Great video, thanks so much for share this information

[@GIJoe4540]

Wow amazing. I really appreciate this video brother.

[@jensalagan1566]

Thank you so much for this video.

[@LizzieWestBathandBody]

Instead of buying your leather at Hobby Lobby I highly recommend Sav More out of Los Angeles I have been a customer of theirs for more than 35 years. Their vegetable tan shoulders are great weights. They also carry findings as well as five beans they also carry findings as well as Fiebings. They are two brothers I mostly deal with Nathan. ♥️ Even though I am no longer in California I moved to Michigan after the fires (93) they are my go-to for all leather.

[@EpicEtchwork]

Nice video as always

[@brianbean19]

Awesome awesome awesome video man

[@HeavenReservation]

excellent video!

[@tracyhubbard4637]

Awesome video! Thanks so much! Quick question..... what type of leather balm do you use?

[@dyerconcepts2632]

This is great information, thank you for sharing.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@r8ch3lolson77]

Great tutorial!

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Thank you!

[@Woollidragon]

Do you wet the leather before applying the dye? I saw a demo where they wet the leather and it gave more even coverage

[@nickylancaster9746]

I recommend applying oil to the leather before dying and afterwards. It might prevent the potato chip affect. Thanks for the video.

[@ABL-gq2bk]

Why on earth did I assume that you couldn't or shouldn't dye leather before lasering?! wow. Nice vid.

[@mauricegourmet]

Would love to know what brand of tape was your high heat tape?

[@casacolibri92]

So helpful!!!

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Glad you think so!

[@brandondoherty7457]

Do you reccomend your laser engraver ? And if so what is it exactly I didn't see a link for it . Thank you for the video patches look awsome.

[@PSDAust]

awesome make thanks for sharing regards from downunder mate

[@RAC7012]

GREAT video!!! Do you have a link for the camo hat?

[@Bellfamilyof3]

What type of laser? Great info!

[@dian3145]

I really enjoy your videos! Well thought out and presented. I have heard other makers say that you should only use veg tanned leather due to the smell of traditional tanned when lasering. I haven't unpacked my Hobby Lobby bags because of it. Did you find it particularly obnoxious?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

The tooling leather from hobby lobby is veg tanned. I think you are referring to the debate on chrome tanned leather. They use to use hexavalent chromium in chrome tan. Some recent studies have show that modern chromium tanned leather is fine to laser. It does smell tho…

[@phoenixburns3943]

I recommend not using a sponge. But a cotton rag (white tee shirt scrap). Dip it lightly, first rub is on scrap wood to get initial dark excess off. Just like staining wood

[@danw3113]

A dedicated Kiwi shoe brush for removing the soot works great as well. Gets into those crevices that a rag can't

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Good idea!

[@christopherwaldrop8325]

I use a toothbrush

[@crystald8849]

Where you buy your hats?

[@earthdimensionc-1378]

For better color variations with dye use blue masking tape then remove. Dye won’t penetrate as well in those areas. Also use a lighter dye then a darker dye. Also I would look into sanding and burnishing edges. To give a more finished look.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

I do burnish mine when I make them for people. I actually find burnishing laser cut edges is very easy.

[@earthdimensionc-1378]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt I was curious how it would burnish. Doing leatherwork for 10 years but just ordered a laser so time to learn a bee thing. Thanks for the info

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

I can get a good burnish with just water after the burn. But it happens really quick. Then tokenole.

[@arttrevino1045]

Excellent video. What are your go to colors or color combinations on yout hats? I'm just starting out and have no clue what most people like.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Not sure myself. I think gray and black would be the most common with a brown patch

[@papagsshop9802]

What ounces are your leather patches

[@Sorrynotsorry47]

Why couldn't it have been Sherry G? 😂 Are you selling any purses or hats? Id love to have one to learn from and use! Great tutorial, thank you!❤

[@deenawillis1597]

Do you think Ultra heat and bond heavy would as well as the hybond? I have an entire bolt of the heat and bond.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

No experience there. All in its fairly cheap to try…

[@deenawillis1597]

Do you apply the leather balm to the backside of your leather panel?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

No, just dye it. Would be hard to apply on the back.

[@jrmarquez9982]

Do you happen to have a link of where you got the leather at?

[@levigarrettwilsford9021]

Hobby Lobby

[@miguelsosa2145]

Could I use a regular iron for leather patches if I don’t have a cricket press?

[@Goldie1201]

There’s many of these types of applications where an iron simply does not get hot enough so a press is a necessity.

[@katyquakenbush4873]

Thanks for sharing! This was helpful. How has the spray gun held up?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

So far so good! Do you know an ed Quackenbush?

[@katyquakenbush4873]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt I don’t! How do you clean it when you are done?

[@Straight2thebag]

Any idea on how to get rid of the burnt leather smell?

[@TimoFeick]

Have you found a solution? Still at the same point but no success with the heavy burning smell of real leather.

[@prostreethustler239]

Dang that was a lot of work for a patch very cool .Cape Coral Dad that's funny are you in the Cape . I'm in Ft. Myers Funny and I sew patches on hats for a living Thousands of hats

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Teach me the sewing part! Happy to help with the stuff I’m good at :)

[@prostreethustler239]

I'm in Ft Myers on Fowler down town come see me@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt

[@bigfranksworld]

Did you have any problems with tape glue residue after cutting with the tape on? Thanks.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

No, nothing with that tape. I was surprised

[@bigfranksworld]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt Nice. I have seen a couple of people say that the painters blue tape leave residue after engraving leather. I have also seen a couple of videos that say to use decal transfer tape, which I have and will try that when I get my laser.

[@roymoon3691]

Do you custom make these patches?

[@roymoon3691]

I mean like if I asked you to do my brand logo?

[@mathhewmoonshine5469]

i have the logo for it

[@abeltabares3163]

I’m having a problem where when I wipe it down all the dark parts wear off if that makes sense, I have used shoe polish to make it darker, and it does but it also stains the rest of the leather.

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Defocus your laser by 1mm. Lower the bed by 1mm extra

[@abeltabares3163]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeItim running a xtool s1 it auto focus it for me but I will try to do it manually thx

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

If it works like the p2, do the auto scan. If it says 2.1mm after, manually set it to 3.1

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

This will cause the leather to burn more, rather than obliterate (just a little). You could also just run the engrave twice….

[@casual312]

May I ask why my laser is burning only the edges of the design?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

Might not have a fill engraved on??

[@casual312]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt Fill is on, I wouldn't know how to explain it if I can send you a photo through somewhere to give you an idea of what I'm talking about would be awesome!

[@TimoFeick]

I engraved one small patch on real leather. The smell was heavy and disgusting. Do you have the same problem?

[@Jwalk195960]

I am in Cape Coral are you?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

I am!

[@Jwalk195960]

Yes I am. In the NE. How about you?

[@ThisIsHowIMadeIt]

@Jwalk195960 I’m in SW!

[@Jwalk195960]

@@ThisIsHowIMadeIt I have monport 60 watt.

[@ClintonCaraway-CNC]

Cross hatch on a co2 laser 🤦‍♂️

[@mathhewmoonshine5469]

could you make me a hat

[@gift-mangiftandsouvenirsho1216]

funny, ruining the hats and being honest about it.