Hey Jeremy… Something you can do to help your leather lay flat AND cut down on the smoke is wet your leather before you start your cut. If you have Light Burn you can take a picture of your paper template(s) and import them in. Run a trace on the image, and from there you can easily make any adjustments you need to.
I got the xtool 40w after watching your blade engraving video. I really like it and have used for engraving leather as well as engraving steel. Took a minute to figure out a way to get a good visible engraving on an acid washed blade but it does a great job on that too. Plus you made a good point, I now want to engrave everything. Great videos. Thanks
Awesome... I bet you could have it setup to do more than just cut... need to engrave a design in it. Maybe see if you can get it cut the stitch holes good luck
Yeah I’ve done a few with it etching first and then cutting it out since filming this and I think the stitching holes will be next. That would end up saving a lot of time! Thanks for sharing ideas👍
I would recommend taking a photo of your paper template and use it as a canvas in your software and just trace along the lines on the paper. Easiest way to do it.
Have you tried etching handle materials? I used a 20 watt laser to etch a logo onto a peice of black canvas micarta. It had a good contrast but that was only becuase i did not take the shiny coat off of it first. Still... It could be an intersting rabbit hole.
You're welcome and thanks for watching! Yeah actually I remember (I think I remember correctly) @RedBeardOps actually cut out stitch holes with his XTool. I just need to get a little better at the design side and then I think I will start doing that as well. Cheers👍
@@Simplelittlelifehi, i cut out all the stitching holes with the xtool for my sheaths. There’s a leather worker on UA-cam called make supply. He has a awesome vid on how to do stitching holes! It really is a game changer! Great vid, thanks!
Probably others have said this, but with a laser, ONLY ever do veg tan leather. Many others (I've never tried it) have said non-veg tan chemicals used are bad, bad, very bad.
Have you checked out the Shaper Trace? Kickstarter should be shipping in a month or two but might be just what you need, put the knife in the frame take the picture and off set it to make the sheath
Very interesting video, I thought it would be much more problematic and more charred. You caught my interest with the etch on metal and cutting leather but also, you can do some really neat projects with just cutting funny things in paper, your test there was just too smooth and easy. Really good editing and explanation, all in all a really good and interesting videeo.
@@RedBeardOps I have a 10W and it does stainless engraving fine (not cutting anything yet) but dont want to buy the air pump and find that 10W struggles with leather. I am hoping it will be fine as is, the more powerful lasers are a bit too much to justify for the hobby just now.
My 10W Ortur will cut 1/4” plywood. I make perhaps 12 medium speed passes to avoid charring it to death, but it’ll do it. A 20W is roughly three times faster at that task. But if a 10W will do ply that thick, it’ll surely cut leather for sheaths. Use Lightburn as your software so you can experiment with travel speed, laser power output, and number of passes in order to obtain a cleaner cut.
@@WildAcresFarms Good to know thanks, I never trust the manufacturers claims. I have an Ortur (LM3) as well, havent cut anything but paper so far (need to organise air and smoke extraction)
Hey Jeremy… Something you can do to help your leather lay flat AND cut down on the smoke is wet your leather before you start your cut.
If you have Light Burn you can take a picture of your paper template(s) and import them in. Run a trace on the image, and from there you can easily make any adjustments you need to.
Heck yeah! This is the main thing I use my laser for... or at least the most valuable things I do with it! 😅
Right on buddy! It is so nice over cutting them out by hand👍
I had been delivering my knives in recycled Amazon boxes. Now I use the laser to cut sliding boxes out of 3mm plywood, with my logo etched in the top…
Cool stuff. I cut my leather wet ,but then it gets smaller as it dry. But it is very flat. And you can also cut the holes for sewing with the laser.
Its nice to see a traveling man, doing what he enjoys, looks good Brother
I also cut the holes for stitching. Do them in the one side, copy an flip for the other side. Works really well
I do that too :) game changer! Perfect stitching every time
Ok so xtool 40w works cleanly on stitching holes as well?! That’s what I wanted to see as well.
I got the xtool 40w after watching your blade engraving video. I really like it and have used for engraving leather as well as engraving steel. Took a minute to figure out a way to get a good visible engraving on an acid washed blade but it does a great job on that too. Plus you made a good point, I now want to engrave everything. Great videos. Thanks
Awesome... I bet you could have it setup to do more than just cut... need to engrave a design in it. Maybe see if you can get it cut the stitch holes good luck
Yeah I’ve done a few with it etching first and then cutting it out since filming this and I think the stitching holes will be next. That would end up saving a lot of time! Thanks for sharing ideas👍
I would recommend taking a photo of your paper template and use it as a canvas in your software and just trace along the lines on the paper. Easiest way to do it.
Never going to beat a press and knife, so much more efficient and no smoke.
Except when you don’t have one. Will the press and knife also etch your logo?
Have you tried etching handle materials? I used a 20 watt laser to etch a logo onto a peice of black canvas micarta. It had a good contrast but that was only becuase i did not take the shiny coat off of it first. Still... It could be an intersting rabbit hole.
Thanks for another great video! Perhaps the laser could make you the stitching holes?
You're welcome and thanks for watching! Yeah actually I remember (I think I remember correctly) @RedBeardOps actually cut out stitch holes with his XTool. I just need to get a little better at the design side and then I think I will start doing that as well. Cheers👍
@@Simplelittlelifehi, i cut out all the stitching holes with the xtool for my sheaths. There’s a leather worker on UA-cam called make supply. He has a awesome vid on how to do stitching holes! It really is a game changer! Great vid, thanks!
Probably others have said this, but with a laser, ONLY ever do veg tan leather. Many others (I've never tried it) have said non-veg tan chemicals used are bad, bad, very bad.
Have you checked out the Shaper Trace? Kickstarter should be shipping in a month or two but might be just what you need, put the knife in the frame take the picture and off set it to make the sheath
Very interesting video, I thought it would be much more problematic and more charred. You caught my interest with the etch on metal and cutting leather but also, you can do some really neat projects with just cutting funny things in paper, your test there was just too smooth and easy. Really good editing and explanation, all in all a really good and interesting videeo.
Make leather circles for a leather buffing wheel lol
So, you selling your old personalizer?
Smells like branding time at Simple Little Life Ranch. 😁
Hahahaha! 😆👍
Great video, thanks
Thanks! And thank you for watching!
Will it smoke less if the leather is wet?
I don’t think so. Wet or dry you’re burning leather. Probably worse due to the steam helping carry the stink.
Couldn't smell a thing. Maybe your recording setup?
Hahahaha! Must be😆👍
Will the 10W laser get through the leather as well?
I can vouch for a 20W doing it
@@RedBeardOps I have a 10W and it does stainless engraving fine (not cutting anything yet) but dont want to buy the air pump and find that 10W struggles with leather. I am hoping it will be fine as is, the more powerful lasers are a bit too much to justify for the hobby just now.
My 10W Ortur will cut 1/4” plywood. I make perhaps 12 medium speed passes to avoid charring it to death, but it’ll do it.
A 20W is roughly three times faster at that task.
But if a 10W will do ply that thick, it’ll surely cut leather for sheaths. Use Lightburn as your software so you can experiment with travel speed, laser power output, and number of passes in order to obtain a cleaner cut.
@@WildAcresFarms Good to know thanks, I never trust the manufacturers claims. I have an Ortur (LM3) as well, havent cut anything but paper so far (need to organise air and smoke extraction)
No fake Damast. But you can do grafiks like banksy ❤