question for leather workers

[Jakeemt]

I picked up a 7oz veg tanned stomach strip with the idea of making a few armguards. I notice that the back side of it is very rough. Is burnishing the best way to smooth out this side of the leather after you dye it? Or is their some other/better method? Thanks guys.

[Wandering Archer]

Well, best advise is to check the flesh side before you buy...

You could line it with a thin leather, deerskin, cloth, etc. This is probably your best option, IMO.

Otherwise, if you want to make an unlined armguard, the only way I know to help is to split it, or skive it off.(i.e. shave it off) Then burnish it in one direction.

Good luck

[juneaulongbow]

I'd line it. You don't burnish the flesh side.

You could try skiving it down then a little sanding.

[fujimo]

bellies are usually a little light- and have lots of stretch in them- great for handle wraps, for arm guards i prefer either butts or backs- and then line them with a very light chrome tan leather. but with what you have got, i might use the belly bothn for the outside and the liner- that will stiffen it up nicely, and get rid of the belly flesh side.
best to use a caul of some sort, i have used a wine bottle before,
cut out your armguard outer , the size you want, then wrap the remainder of the leather over the wine bottle, hair side towards the glass, place the pre cut piece on top of that, and trace the profile- when layed flat you will see they are two different sizes- good!!!
 do not cut the backing piece out yet!!!
apply glue and glue the two together using the caul again to do this!!!
 when its nice and dry, take it off the caul, and it will have a nice curved shape to it.then trim the liner piece overlap off- using a sharp exacto knife  etc- that will ensure you get a nice neat finish.
with experiance, this will give you a perfect finish, but as you learn, you can then trim free hand. even sand the edges to get them uniform, then edge it and burnish the edges- especially with  belly leather- then finish the product as you want.
if you are glueing the pieces together, you should run a stitch line around the perimeter, but one can also do something nice with a small hole punch and some leather lacing( which they usually sell by the foot
heres a link to do a very simple, yet effective edge braid
 https://www.google.ca/search?q=images+leather+edge+braiding&rlz=1C1CHMZ_enCA406&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&imgil=u8NIhk7JV1br2M%253A%253BHfAH9baxqn4HyM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F %25252Fwww.rv-boondocking-the-good-life.com%25252F200911.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=u8NIhk7JV1br2M%253A%252CHfAH9baxqn4HyM%252C_&usg=__Ohm-2XxGc70bXSwdX6gH69u1Euc%3D&ved=0CCYQyjc&ei=3 1KSVJbZGtjioATs4IHoDQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=yDUV07iZ5ieCWM%253A%3Bx_NLZZfDhdOfhM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.kingsmerecrafts.com%252Fpage100%252Fmex4.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.kin gsmerecrafts.com%252Fpage100.html%3B300%3B218
good luck
remember the pics when yer done
cheers
wayne