Leather is an important part in trunk creation or antique trunk restoration.

More often than not, you will need the following tools:

(They are examples only; of course the list is non-exhaustive)

• Marking pen for the patterns
• Skiving knife (to skive leather thickness where you need)
• Edge beveller (to remove the corners from your leather edges)
• Awl
• Punch

Etc.

-

Mechanical strap cutter by Blanchard (gift from trunk-maker G. Tamsier)

Manual skiving machine (to skive leather thickness) by Blanchard (gift from trunk-maker G. Tamsier)

Wax spatula and leather creasing irons + block of bees wax to rub along the leather edges

Details in :  le guide de la restauration des malles de voyages

Creation of new leather handles

1 PATTERN

The shape you want to reproduce of course

You will use a special pen to write on leather.

2 CUTTING

In the raw skin

3 DYE AND DECORATIVE LINE

To be done slowly with small steps

4 GLUE

Stick together the leather pieces in order to put up the handles (from 1 to 3 layers, with or without a core)

5 CUTTING

6 CREASING IRON

7 COMPASS

8 PRICKING WHEEL

9 STITCHING

1. With a saddle stitch
2. Stitching clam, awl, waxed thread

10 TAPPING (the stitches)

You tap the thread down

11 HEATED WAX WITH SPATULA

The wax spatula is screwed to an electric handle.

It enables to melt the wax and to apply it on the leather edges and only there.

12 CREASING IRON

See examples on the photos. The iron is screwed to an electric heating handle and enables to make decorative lines at edges of leather.

 13 SANDING

Sand the edges, not the grain nor the flesh.

14 EDGES DYING

The product is purple but takes its final color on drying.

.

15 COLD WAX 1

16 POLISHNG

A tedious long task, but an important one

17 SANDING

A light sanding as for wood

18 WAX

19 BRUSH