More leather testing - part 3: boiled leather

[TasamiOkami]

Haha, Holy fuck.

You are awesome.

[triFeral]

@TasamiOkami Agreed.

[gazeebo88]

So this was boiled in just water and it got this hard? So if I were to make a mask I should boil it in just water, put it into shape and let it dry? ( perhaps use heat gun ).

[SkallagrimNilsson]

As far as I know basically yes. The problem is that the leather shrinks and shrivels when boiling it so it might ruin the shape.

[gazeebo88]

Well... trial and error I guess =P

I've got a square meter of leather incoming so plenty of leather to work with heh. Also, I can just pour hot water over it as well, it wont become as strong as when you boil it but it will still harden to hold its shape.

[davidazus]

Dropping leather in boiling water will harden it for a mask will work, but the difference between hard but still in the original size and a shriveled mass can be a few seconds. You can soak the leather in water, then tie to a form and bake in an oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Fahrenheit, then check it every 5 minutes until dry and hard. Too long it'll shrink and wrinkle, but you have lots of leeway. While it's cooking, it'll become plasticy before hardening, you can stretch into more shapes.

[TheOriginalEntz]

Therion FTW :D

[dukesofhazzard123]

where is that axe from

[SkallagrimNilsson]

It was custom made by a Czech blacksmith. I don't know who exactly it was though.

[MastyrChief]

Where can you buy leather? Is there a shop online or something?

[roopr]

Boiling it in beeswax or olive oil would have a much more desired effect. Just use an old pot and fill it with either oil or wax then boil it down. When the wax is melted or the oil is at the boil stage, add your leather. Leave it in there for only a minute or two, then remove using tongs. All you need to do at this point is buff it to remove excess material and shazaam its hard like a rock. Harder than what he is demenstrating in this video.

[roopr]

Also it is important to remember that while the water boiled leather is harder than it was originally in this video, once you re-expose it to water it will soften again. So oil or wax is preferable.

[garouHH]

When I'll take the leather out of the oil, how much molding can be done until it hardens? Can it be stretched and if, how much? After how much time is it hard? And once it is hardened, how can it be further worked with? Jigsaw and drill, I suppose?

[baronedifastocazzo]

wax has the bad attitude to get the leather heavyer, but it makes sure that it won't absorb water and get soft again. the water makes the leather easy to model, the wax saves him from the effect of water, but it's the HEAT wich makes it hard. too much eat, and it gets brittle, whatever you use if water or wax. I never tried with oil...

[deviatblood]

where did you get this leather to boil i can never find big quantaties

[deviatblood]

The reason it cut through the other half is partly that it is a small peice im sure a smaller peice would cut easier then a larger one.

[jeeezuz]

how exactly do u boil leather? i tried to make some vambraces w/ boiled leather, but it became hard like wood and fragile to tearing like cardboard. i immersed it for only 10 seconds in boiling water.

[redstar170]

The arabs made armor by boiling leather in water.You won't learn anything about leather armor from this stuff, but when it come to hitting your target he may be able to give us some pointers.

[eisenhaendler]

The exact technique used in the Middle Ages is not certain. It might not even involve boiling, or boiling in water. If you boil leather, it shrinks and becomes brittle. If you soak it, it stretches. Anyway, it would soak up moisture and become soft, unless treated with varnish, oil or wax. I've soaked leather in warm water, stretched over a mold and allowed it to dry, then treated it with melted wax - gave a nice plastic-like, but greasy structure.

[spektr666]

\m/

[SkallagrimNilsson]

No idea what this is supposed to mean...

[jeeezuz]

i think it's the metal horns-shaped-hand.

[Antiks72]

@SkallagrimNilsson It's the devil's horns heavy metal hand gesture. You look like a rocker, so that's prolly why he's signaling.

[SkallagrimNilsson]

@Antiks72

Ah yes, should have figured that out myself... Guess I'm just not good at recognizing at typed symbols. =)

[Antiks72]

@SkallagrimNilsson Being a Viking is hard work. no worries dude.

[zydeko623]

Man, you got to be more careful. That last stab on a rickety table ... you must know that a severed inner thigh artery can kill you in close to no time.

[SkallagrimNilsson]

Yes, I know. The slipping looks worse than it was though and there was not that much force in the stab. However, you're right, one can never be too careful. By the way, thanks for your concern.