ChrisP
Grain Lover
Last week I started a thread about recovering my F3 with MD-4 and DE-2.
This week I got an email back from Morgan Sparks saying they have pre-cut pieces for the F3 but not the MD-4 or DE-2. So I figured I'd order a few sheets of leather and see if I could do this myself.
So does anyone have tips for this? I figure it'll probably be easiest to take the old leather off and use that as a template. I can trace that on to the new leather and cut it using some decent scissors. Will this work, or is the leather too thick for this?
Next, the MD-4 leather has some holes for various things (flash sync and stuff I believe). Any ideas on how to deal with these? Special tools or anything I'll need? If so, where's the best place to pick this kind of stuff up?
P.s. I know sound clueless. This is definitely going to be an adventure!
This week I got an email back from Morgan Sparks saying they have pre-cut pieces for the F3 but not the MD-4 or DE-2. So I figured I'd order a few sheets of leather and see if I could do this myself.
So does anyone have tips for this? I figure it'll probably be easiest to take the old leather off and use that as a template. I can trace that on to the new leather and cut it using some decent scissors. Will this work, or is the leather too thick for this?
Next, the MD-4 leather has some holes for various things (flash sync and stuff I believe). Any ideas on how to deal with these? Special tools or anything I'll need? If so, where's the best place to pick this kind of stuff up?
P.s. I know sound clueless. This is definitely going to be an adventure!
oftheherd
Veteran
Sometimes places like Marshals has bags of left over leathers. Sometimes there are peices of leather large enough to cover a camera. Using the old leather is a great idea. Be careful how you get it off. A wood tool used very carefully may do the job. For cutting, an X-acto knife with the proper blade, like the triangular shaped one and a lot of care should do it for you.
Good luck.
Good luck.
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
You need a very thin leather.
Old covering as a template works - I've done it.
Cutting with fine craft knife and scissors works well - take your time, and remember you can always cut off a bit but you can't put it back.
If the cut edges are not the leather colour use a marker pen to carefully colour them - experiment with a bit of scrap first.
Thin leather easily stretches when gluing on - so again take your time.
jesse
Old covering as a template works - I've done it.
Cutting with fine craft knife and scissors works well - take your time, and remember you can always cut off a bit but you can't put it back.
If the cut edges are not the leather colour use a marker pen to carefully colour them - experiment with a bit of scrap first.
Thin leather easily stretches when gluing on - so again take your time.
jesse
ChrisP
Grain Lover
Just to clarify I ordered the leather from cameraleather so its just cutting it that I'm worried about. Especially the holes, doing a little research that might be easiest with a dedicated leather punch (maybe a collection of these would allow me to cut all my own leather from now on!)
Contarama
Well-known
If you live in or near a fairly large city I would suggest checking out the local upholstery supply shop. You can find all kinds of leather and leather like vinyls, etc. at such a place. They also usually carry brush on or spray on Landau top glue which is fantastic stuff...one brand is Weldwood HHR Landau Top glue.
I am a car upholstery guy I have often thought about tinkering with some of these coverings and building some straps and bags and whatnot but just never have really made the time to do it.
I am a car upholstery guy I have often thought about tinkering with some of these coverings and building some straps and bags and whatnot but just never have really made the time to do it.