Molded / Boiled leather : how do you make designs ?

[Theodosius the Great]

Avete,

Does anyone know how to mold leather and then boil it into a desired shape ?

Is the process something like this (below) :

Wet a leather piece on both sides and press it against what ever you're using as a mold. Use a sponge to impress the image.

Let it stay on a few hours until dried

Then dip in boiled water ?

Would that work ? How would the Romans have done it ?

[tlclark]

Hey Jaime

There are no Roman recipes or descriptions. We have no idea if they used it or not. All the evidence is circumstantial and not direct, but I think they must have.

Basically you boil leather in oil, wax or water until it is plastic and moldable and then press or stretch it over a mold. You have to secure to the mold somehow while the leather cools and cures. Depending on the temperature, medium or method it could be anyway from leather hard to rock hard.

Here's one recipe.

http://www.amtgard-eh.com/library/howtocuir.html

I've never done this mind you, but I've read a lot about it. I think that between Christmas and New year's I am going to try to do something small, maybe a tongue pteruge or shoulder harness in this method, just as a test before I tackle the larger lorica, which scares the heck out of me.

Does anyone know where there are affordable good quality supplies for vegetable tanned leather? I am a total neophyte at this.

Travis

[Theodosius the Great]

Travis, thanks so much for that

My reason for wanting to know is so I can make those lions' heads commonly seen on Roman officer footwear.

I've done a bit of research on the web and basically I think it's similar to making a mask.

I'll probably make my first attempt this week using some leftover pigskin (1-2 oz.)

I get my leather from this store : [url:3f2hjlcb]http://www.tandyleather.com/products.asp?dept=406[/url]

I've been in one of their stores and they have just about everything including tools, dyes, neatsfoot oil, glazer, buckles, etc..

Hope this is of some help to you.

Good luck

[Primvs Pavlvs]

You might want to checkout www.armourarchive.org There are several folks over there that are very knowledgeable about this subject.