So I am doing something wrong just trying some trial runs on a couple of leather scraps I had. 1 piece 1.4mm thick and the other 1.1 mm thick, the results are the same in that they both `crimp` as can be seen in the image. I am using what materials to hand ie wood and some bolts. Any ideas ?
A few suggestions: The leather is collapsing because there is no inside support or male former. 2 m/m leather may be more suitable for pump cups. Cold or room temp water soak the blank 20 minutes. Lightly oil the blank, and the sides of the wooden former. Neatsfoot oil is best. Perhaps a light chamfer the edge of the former, to allow the leather to flow in easily. Press in slowly with a suitable socket from your toolbox, using the bench vice or G clamp etc. If the pressing is too tight, stop and find a smaller socket or tube. Trim edges with a sharp blade before removing. Allow 24 hrs or so before trimming & removing from the die set. Take notes for next time. You can search here and elsewhere for making pump cups. Suggestions only, hope something helps. Cheers.
You need a mandrel on the inside to support the cup. This is what I started with. I used an old Tilley pump tube as a former. Dip the leather in near boiling water and shove into the former and let it dry. ::Neil::
Thanks for the advice and the link. It would appear my main problem is the lack of support on the `side walls`when pushed into the mold. One other question: If the inside diameter of the pump tube is say 14mm what diameter should the inside of the mold hole be? 14mm or greater.
Tilley pump tubes are 16mm dia and to make Tilley leathers I used short lengths of 16mm to form the cups. Just cut up old Tilley tubes. The leather is mostly 2mm thick and once shoved in the tube you can unscrew the mandrel and repeat leaving several cups to dry and shape. You can make one off odd size cups with a wooden mandrel and form the cups in the appliance pump tube. They take longer to dry but you will get a precise shape and size and I have made quite a few FL6 leathers that way. I rarely bother these days as it’s easier to buy leathers from the fettlebox but I still have this two graduated sets of mandrels with 6mm and 8mm centre holes to make just about any size of leather I might need. ::Neil::
I am getting a better result now so grasping the basic principle., I just need to start and fine tune it by fabricating some `tools`
My tool for making leather cup. I use 1.5mm leather This afternoon i used a 16mm leather cup on a stove, and he work perfectly. Just coat the leather well with oil, i use 5W40 mechanic oil.
