Laser Engrave tooling patterns on Leather. Thinnest lines possible.

[@sunnyd1715]

I honestly can't tell you how much this has helped me!!!

[@baronleathercraft]

That is great news! Actually I might understand because that is why I set out to figure out how to do it. I wanted to be able to not have to trace every pattern on to the leather and then have to swivel cut it and then tool it. I figured, there must be a way to save time and the laser traces much better then I would ever be able to. I knew this was information I had to share knowing many people would feel the same way I do. By the way, InkScape is a free program that also has this tracing ability. It is not as good as Illustrator but does the job and it is free. So glad it helped you. I am working right now on more videos that deal with lasers and pattern creating.

[@sunnyd1715]

Have you played with the idea of cutting the patterns deep enough to replicate and eliminate swivel knife?

[@baronleathercraft]

@@sunnyd1715 yes, it can be done but I was not happy with the outcome as much as using the swivel knife. I also did not spend to much time adjusting it to give it a real good test. If you do experiment with this, please let me know your experience and opinions and technique. :)

[@carlosduron5089]

Awesome just what I was thinking of doing! You saved me a lot of time and hassle!! Waiting to watch par w!,

[@baronleathercraft]

Yes, That is what inspired me to figure out how to do this. Why trace it when you can have a laser do it with a much steadier hand then mine. :) You can also do this in inkscape which is a free program. Not as much control but can be done.

[@robertfischer5893]

The ashy residue and smell kept me from using the laser directly on leather. But this quick light powered guide line for the detailed hand work looks like the perfect approach. I never got into tooling but I used to engrave debossing stamps with .125" acrylic/delrin sheets and press the (damp) leather with a cheap bearing press I had in the garage. I got incredible detail and results, and even started to press entire templated designs in one piece. Sh*t was crazy.

[@baronleathercraft]

Thank you for the comment! Yes, I agree. I found that this will be very useful and very much of a time saver. Thank you once again!

[@flamingomtn]

Have you ever engraved a grey-scale image onto the laser and then tooled it a bit? I wonder if having some shading already done would be a benefit to the end product. I'll look at your other videos and see how far you've gone with this concept. Thanks for the video!

[@baronleathercraft]

Thank you for the comment. I have not done it but I did run into a leather crafters work that did. I just have not gotten around to it yet. It looked very cool actually. What he did was engrave a combination of the complete artwork along with sections he planned on cutting and then beveled certain areas and then painted and dyed other parts. It came out great. I wish I can find the images for you. I plan on giving it a shot but just have not yet.

[@EaselCat]

I do the same thing only for metal. Its so nice having sharp lines to work from.

[@baronleathercraft]

Metal work is awesome! Great skill. I can never trace the image onto the leather as well as the laser is able to and it does it in very little time. Definitely an assist. Thank you for the comment. :)