Kiev Leather job how to??

fidget

fidget

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I fancy a go at re-covering my Kiev4. The original plastic covering will not stay on any longer. I could use the old covering as a template but wonder if anyone has a good meathod for this. The kiev covering will have lots of straight cuts and no curved parts, so will be easier for it. But how to cut holes for the odd button, lever etc. Any sloppy knife work will make it look amateurish.
Any pointers, instructions, do not dos, how to etc....
Oh.....and any sources of suitable leather in the UK?

Dave
 
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I make templates for each of the internal holes using card stock. For example you can do a hole in two halves on card stock and tape them together.

When all of the holes and corners are patterned, I tape them all together like a puzzle and then make a final cutting template.

I bought a bunch of Morocco style pigskin in burgundy and black at a Tandy Leather shop for about $7 a foot. It is very thin. You might try and buy thin leather at a book bindery.

-Paul
 
pshinkaw said:
For example you can do a hole in two halves on card stock and tape them together.

When all of the holes and corners are patterned, I tape them all together like a puzzle and then make a final cutting template.
-Paul
Click to expand...
It's the cutting of the holes in supple leather which I can see will end up with scrap leather by the yard. Even cutting holes freehand in paper results in not-so-round holes for me. I was thinking of a punch, like a hole punch for paper, which I could use to nibble away until the right size was reached.
 
The camera leather folks are extremely easy to work with. I just had a Voigtlander/Rollei skinned by them and they did an excellent job. I'd check out their site. Good luck.
 
fidget said:
Wow! snake wine red for me, these are very tempting!
Thanks for the links.
Click to expand...

I was debating between that and the brown snake skin for the 3A I just ordered. Decisions, decisions.... :D
 
To cut the round holes, get yourself a set of cork borers (google them) (£11 for a set of 8 or try the Bay) put the leather on a piece of wood, centre the appropriate borer and tap with a mallet/hammer. One nice round hole. Or you could try filing an edge on a piece of narrow bore copper tube, the stuff used for narrow bore central heating.
 
I used the old covering as a template. You can do a reasonable hole in supple leather with a small-bladed X-acti knife just doing a series of tiny cuts, pressing straight down so the leather doesn't stretch.
 
{Originally Posted by fidget
Wow! snake wine red for me, these are very tempting!
Thanks for the links.}


I bought this one from a fellow RFF member just like you see here. I LOVE it. Matching finder included.


Charles
 

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For re-skinning my Kiev's and especially for cutting the round portions by the various bits I use regular copper water pipe for the self-timer and brass tube from the hobby shop for other pins and buttons. Just use a file to sharpen the edges and you have a die to punch out the shapes needed.

Cheers,

Russ Pinchbeck
 
Great thread. Thanks everyone for all the information. I just received (today) a Kiev 4am. Everything seems to work like it should. Once I verify that the kit performs the way I expected then I'm going to have to recover it. The seller of my "perfect kit" was right and wrong in certain ways. The shutter speeds seem right on. The lens is perfect (although it wobbles a bit in the mount). The body has obviously been stripped. The viewfinder is perfectly clean and is great even in bright sunlight! The only downside is the leather is barely hanging on. I was going to ask about recovering it and found this thread. Thanks!:D
 
Thanks for the ideas, I like the idea of making hole punches from bits of tube...neat. But, I've been "flashed" by the snake wine red and this could lead me away from the DIY.
Can we get nice leather in the UK for a DIY try?

Dave
 
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