My 3rd try at a leather hinge joint actually worked

Been working on a small journal cover with a leather hinge for the spine. First two tries the leather was too thick and the joint wouldn't fold right. Third time I used 2 ounce veg tan instead of 4 ounce and trimmed the hinge down to 1/4 inch wide. The fold is clean and the cover closes flat now. I guess thinner leather really does matter for small books. Anyone else struggle with getting the leather weight right for hinges?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaret_chen21h ago

Doesn't everything work better when you stop fighting it and go with what flows?

theawest8h ago

My buddy down at the shop tried making a belt pouch last month and used 8 ounce leather for the fold-over flap. Wouldn't budge at all. He ended up soaking it in warm water and leaving it clamped for two days just to get a crease in there. Thinner leather would have saved him that whole fight. I think he regrets not testing a scrap piece first like you did.

the_sean21h ago

Has anyone tested how the moisture content in different leather thicknesses affects the hinge over time? Thinner leather like the 2 ounce stuff dries out faster and might crack if it's not conditioned properly. Your fold is clean now but keeping it supple could matter just as much as the initial thickness choice.