I thought using a bone folder on thick leather was a bad idea

I was working on a journal cover with some 3 oz veg tan last week and my usual creaser just wasn't making a clean line. Out of frustration, I grabbed my bone folder and pressed way harder than I normally would. It actually made a super crisp crease without tearing the grain, which I was sure would happen. Now I'm wondering if I've been too gentle with my tools on heavier stock. Has anyone else had a tool surprise them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

grace8915d ago

Watched a friend wreck a nice bag trying that. Pressed a bone folder into thick leather and it looked fine at first. A week later the fold line started to crack and split. Some leathers can take it, but you're playing with fire. That crisp line might be hiding damage you can't see yet.

wendy62815d ago

I always thought it would crack too, but @grace89's warning makes me reconsider my lucky result.

lily7014d ago

Oh, the old "looks fine now" trick. Classic. Grace89's friend probably felt so smug for that whole week before the bag fell apart. That's the universe's way of saying you got too confident with a bone folder. I'd be side-eyeing my own bags right now, waiting for the betrayal.