How To Use a Laser Cutter and Engraver for Leatherwork

[@Leodis.Leather]

In this video we are taking a look at different ways you can use a laser cutter with leather covering cutting leather, engraving leather, tooling leather, making templates and making workshop jigs or aids. I will also talk about the problems with using a laser cutter or engraver with leather such as the burnt edges.

[@Guntersuck]

Hiii, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind sharing your lightburn settings/file? I have used your leather settings and they have turned out excellent, would love to see your settings for other materials, thank you 😊

[@VeganSmasher]

This channel has helped me more than any other on KZbin. Thank you so much for your clear, well-thought-out, insightful videos. Your effort is deeply appreciated! Thank you again!

[@theartsypixie2771]

I agree that his videos are much more comprehensive than other channels. 😊

[@karlcoleman3694]

Great to see you back doing some leather work. Your video on what leather tools to buy was the first video to get me going in the craft. over 10 yrs ago :) and now I have a laser cutter too so this video is perfect timing

[@leontheferocious]

Come back dude! I really enjoy your videos. I wanna see more projects, even if it’s working on your house. I appreciate your thoroughness and level of detail. I just watched your tote bag video. I’ve made a few totes and your video had so many useful details that are really going to increase the quality of my work.

[@Phantomick]

Thank you for the video, it came just in time as I’m expecting my laser cutter to arrive in a few days! I’ve been watching your video tutorials for a while now, and I’ve learned quite a few things!

[@MonkeyMo208]

I 100% agree with all your conclusions, I came to the same after working through experimenting with my laser (a GF), which I've had a few years now. I started out thinking it would save time cutting things out, but as you have said, you then have to deal with the edges. Masking also helps to keep the leather clean, but that takes time and material as well. I went back to hand cutting, but love the laser for engraving, as you have said. I draw images on my ipad, vectorize them, and can engrave my own original artwork onto a leather piece, which I can then leave as is, or paint or stain. It's a nice combination of original artwork and technology. This was actually my impetus for getting a laser, I started out with pyrography - the laser helps me in that I now only need to draw an image one time, and can reproduce infinitely. Making my own templates has been great too, as I like to create my own patterns. Only place I'll disagree with you is that I will even make a simple rectangular template, haha - no measuring, just drop it on the leather, cut around it (careful not to nick the edges), and you've got a clean, even, squared piece every time. I even recently engraved a more traditional tooling pattern on a piece, painted the background to give depth (since a tooled piece is expected to be dimensional), and the results were great, I'll be doing that again. It's not traditional tooled leather, and it's not meant to be. It's my own take, and I think that's okay, I believe there's space for everybody. I still hand cut, assemble, burnish, and hand stitch everything. So the laser is simply another tool I believe, that can work in harmony with the more traditional leather processes, for those nay-sayers out there. Yes, hand craftsmanship in leather is a valued artform, and should be well compensated for indeed. But by incorporating the laser (appropriately) into the process, it can greatly aid with production time, which can widen your customer base, making items more affordable and available, but still with an artistic and handcrafted quality. I think as long as you artfully balance the two, it can still hold a hand-crafted value. Oh, and a p.s., I can make all my display stands and signs with my laser too, as well as cutting out cards and tags -- it can really make you a one-(wo)man-show! :D Take care, MonkeyMoDesigns

[@MACK13]

W0W - best video on the web. Saved me a fortune too. Thanks so much for taking the time to film and share.

[@sedulousdabbler5468]

I have little interest in technology as a whole, however, your video has given me food for thought and your suggested uses for the laser make it a very viable tool. Thank you very much for taking the time to share this information.

[@jameswilliamson8050]

Really liked these videos gone over them numerous times for tips & help wish you'd post more, missing the video's Ian. Hope your doing well

[@edgecustomknives]

I miss your video's. I learned so much from your video's. Hope you are doing well.

[@lydiahanke]

Very good video, lots of useful info!

[@adiazim5098]

Hi Ian I've been watching your posts for the past good few years-- Complete good--- If I can say- I hope your move goes well, hopefully you'll be back----

[@adelacour]

Very informative Ian, thank you for that. I am looking forward to doing some engraving .

[@adelacour]

Very informative Ian, thank you for sharing. This is the second time I have watched this video. I would love to know how to convert an image I have drawn by hand, perhaps a template even, into a digitised image that I can use in lightBurn. So if you are stuck for ideas one day, perhaps you would consider doing something like that. :)Regards Andy

[@adeonx]

Great video and very explanatory, helped me a lot, especially when you showed the test template. Is there a chance that you can share the test file?

[@avantgauche]

thank you this was really helpful and informative

[@JoeyMassie]

Great video. I am doing lots of leather cutting/engraving on my WeCreat Vision 20w and it's amazing. Only ONE issue... The smell of the leather, even after cleaning it, is not good. I have looked far and wide for a good solution to that.What I'm doing right now is putting my leather work into a box and using an Ozone generator to get rid of the smell. Are you aware of another, hopefully better, way of dealing with the burnt leather smell. It is particularly noticeable on leather pint glass sleeves and earrings...Thank you.

[@starrjus]

This is an interesting take on cutting. I personally use my laser all the time for cutting and engraving my wallets. It’s been a game changer for accuracy and speed since all the pieces come out perfectly. I’m curious your thoughts on this. Since you have to sand the edge for finishing, do you find it much more work to sand down the charred edge? Thanks for the in-depth video.

[@contakt23]

what laser do you run?

[@starrjus]

@@contakt23 xTool D1 Pro 10w. Basic machine but it works perfectly for what I need.

[@justaguy328]

Yeah cleaning up the edges isn't too big of a deal if you have a little power sander

[@marknichols7861]

I was watching this video and wondering if you could use the hold down, sticky “StrongGrip” 12”x12” cutting mats from Cricut. They make them in a few different stickiness levels. They are about $17 USD for a pack of 3. They’re also available in a 12”x24” size. They’re also cleanable to bring back the stickiness.

[@Leodis.Leather]

I suppose you could but I have experience with those mats and I think because leather is fibrous you would quickly just cover the gum with fibres and it would lose all of its adhesion

[@jeffmastin]

I don't get any edge burning -but my laser is low powered. It is a 5w diode and I run it at 87% and set it so that it takes at least 4 passes to cut. it works great.

[@MrBerrot]

I use small magnets to keep to leather flat. Works like a dream if you have a honeycomb :)

[@Leodis.Leather]

That’s a good idea 👍🏻

[@MonkeyMo208]

@@Leodis.Leather yep, magnets work great, and dampening your leather can help too when engraving, but isn't necessary, just can be a preference.

[@4whunt]

Thanks for the informative video!

[@thebikeracer]

How did you mount the notebook in the notebook?

[@dadofnoah]

I use my cutter to mark out rather than cut leather, unless I specifically want the barbeque look to my edges... great video btw

[@TomaszMironski]

Hi, I have an unrelated question. Do you know what happened to Hedgehog Leatherworks?

[@DocGrimm]

Thank you for the excellent video. As I watching this it hit me...If I was a self-respecting Gondorian soldier who stood at Pelennor Fields or the Black Gate, that engraving would offend me to anger, to see the symbol of my kingdom surrounded by the black speech. And then I told myself to just appreciate the insights in the video instead.

[@TomaszMironski]

Hi, I have a question totally not related to the video. What happened to Hedgehog Leatherworks?

[@dshe8637]

Very nice

[@kboleather]

Where's our mate, Ian?

[@Alchemetica]

In a KZbin video I saw some time ago about one method on how PU "leather" was made. From memory the machine used had a large flatbed section which reminded me of how sheet paper is manufactured when not a continuous cylinder process. When the material was on this "flatbed" workers cast hand fulls of fibre onto it in order to add strength. The fibre used was processed from offcuts/skirts from an industrial scaled leather tanning/chroming factory. While they did not call it Vegan Leather, I wondered if in fact it is what is marketed in some cases as vegan leather.

[@Leodis.Leather]

That would more likely be bonded leather you’re describing I think? Bonded leather is basically crappy bits glued back together it’s the leather equivalent of chipboard

[@sloth_e]

It's interesting to see how people use these lasers, but it's a shame that a handcrafting skill is being replaced by an automated machine. Leatherworking is becoming leather assembly. Laser cut, laser engraved and machine stitched. I'd hate to think that the age old craft will be lost. I'm not so pessimistic to think it will be replaced by all these impersonal machines. My own business along with many others is testament to people's interest in purely handcrafted items. Whether it be woodwork or leatherwork, I don't think we are near the end of the age old era. But it's not entirely far away.

[@Leodis.Leather]

For me personally this kind of thing is an accessory to aid with handmade stuff. There is no manual equivalent for the laser engraving for example it is its own thing and not the same as tooling, stamping, pyrography, ink etc. Some people may see them as a path to automation but not me.