How to Case Your Leather

This is a video on my thoughts on casing leather for tooling. Everyone has their own process and I am showing you what I do and some of my thoughts.
dgsaddlery.com

[@charlesbolin7249]

Funny thing with the mold issue, I mixed up spackle with tap water and left it in the garage for a few days and it got mold in it. To avoid mold, I used distilled water instead of tap water. During the pandemic layoff, I started learning this leather trade, I believe I saw an older video from Don where he showed how he uses a spray bottle to case belts and such, I do it that way and use distilled water to keep it super clean because our tap water is super hard, lots of impurities. Have yet to go wrong with Don's advice.

[@travisleddy6887]

I have been doing this for a little while now. Thank you for giving an easy to understand explanation of this process. You nailed down some easily overlooked points that are common frustrations to many.

[@johnillig3482]

Yes I agree with Charles distilled water or rain water that I collect for my live stock is very soft and consistent thanks don casing is so important

[@seandepoppe6716]

This is the most comprehensive explanation for casing that I have heard. Thank you! DePoppeLeatherworks

[@markb3129]

Great tips on casing leather!!! ✌

[@anthonyh3224]

subscribed within the first minute. I have been casing wrong for years.

[@mjenn9able]

thanks Don, yep, i was tooling too wet, thanks so much for going in to more detail about what is too wet and why.

[@rondumontier1187]

Good job. I can never explain how to case properly cuz i just go by my own feeling and look. Great video

[@grimtt]

I saw Don’s casing method in the rifle sling video and it made a lot of sense and I have employed it myself since then. The one time where I use the “soak till it has drowned” method is when I emboss patches to sew onto hats. I use an arbor press to stamp the figure, and having the leather good and wet helps to give a deep impression. (Plus I am not real strong so not worried about bottoming out).

[@Lillian.M.]

Can you make a video or talk about why using tape of the back of the leather is a good idea, what should you use or not use, when and when not to put tape. Maybe you can talk about it in one of your Monday morning saddle shop briefing, since I do understand that it's time consuming to make these videos. Thank you for making them and sharing your knowledge.

[@custerranch]

The tape is to keep the leather from spreading or warping out of shape when you're stamping/tooling. I prefer wide clear packing tape. Paper masking tape isn't as strong. You don't have to reinforce the back if you're just making decorative swivel knife cuts. Mostly just if you're going to be pounding it.

[@Lillian.M.]

@@custerranch Thank you for the explanation, means sense.

[@walterwaller9784]

Great stuff DG! Thanks for sharing your method. A little over a year ago I was watching one of your videos and you covered some of this. I have been using your method a lot since then and I really like it. I also like to do a sponge and then bottle as I go. Like you I get interrupted some and this makes it go smoother for me. So again, thank you. Keep up the great work and content sir!

[@jasonhughes3568]

Thank you, Don!

[@astrofran2000]

Thank you Don

[@mikeboone4425]

Great video, so many questioned answered in such a short time thanks. Happy trails

[@tinoyb9294]

Good stuff! I wonder if the tanning methods back in the day necessitated the super soak method.

[@travisleddy6887]

I want to know the answer to this question. Good one!

[@soodypop2014]

So helpful. You are a blessing.

[@curley6531]

thank you so much don great info!👍👍👍😎

[@kingsolomon8946]

Don thank you for this information!! Question why do guys tape the back ? Thank you 🙏🏽

[@ceder001tree3]

Thanks for your tips, as always they are spot on!

[@michaelklekar9844]

I no point as always 🤗 I have casing formula that I use. It contains baby shampoo, listerine and water. It works for me🙃

[@jbaumun]

The instruction of tooling is fascinating - how about caseing for molding the leather to fit ?

[@scowan9805]

Thanks…question, have you ever taken Shaves of glycerin soap, put in water mix well, get creamy like…then use on leather to case…I saw this on another site…just would like your thoughts….your info is always spot on.

[@scottstephenson9597]

Very good advice!

[@aixpert291]

I almost never get burnishing. I hope this fixes that for me!

[@kp4808]

what type of leather are you using?

[@art1muz13]

Greetings from Torrance in sunny SO_cal. I just found your channel and I have a question. I was ''gifted'' a very nice biker jacket. It's very thick and the zippers and buttons are very heavy duty. The problem is it has no lining. I wanted to acquire leather belts and leather glue them to all the seams so as not to wear out the seems because I can't afford to have it ''re-lined''. Also, no one will even touch it because it has no lining. Please, can you help me or give me some good 'ole leather DIY advice?

[@spbeckman]

I've seen videos in which saddle soap is use in casing. Have you experimented with this and does it seem to make a difference?

[@CarlosLopez-vs1be]

Saludos desde labaja sur mexico!! Meiterezan herramientas como puedo comprar?? Podria ayudarme?? 👍🇲🇽🇲🇽👍👍👍🇲🇽🇲🇽👍👍🇲🇽🇲🇽👍