Hand Tooling A Leather Book

Welcome to my little bindery! Today we'll be doing some hand tooling on leather. This book needed something more to compliment raised bands and really make the black calfskin pop, so I decided to do a classic blind-tooled center panel design on both the front and back covers. Its called 'blind tooling' because I haven’t used any type of gold or colored foil to highlight the design. In this video I use my own handmade brass finishing tools, heated on an electric hot plate, to impress the design into the dampened leather. I use my prepared design and a set of dividers to carefully lay out the pattern on the leather, then carefully tool in the lines and embellishments. Achieving the proper heat in the tools is important - too cool and the impressions won't take very well, while too much heat could scorch the leather. I first cool the tip of the hot tool on a damp rag before touching it to the leather, then try to make quick impressions until I know I've got things right.
I have some more books planned in this style, so if you would to see more then please like this video and drop a word in the comments! I do read them all and try to respond to your questions as best as I can.
To see more of how I develop a tooling design, check out this video:
Blind Tooling Leather with Handmade Tools: • Blind Tooling Leather ...
To see how I make my finishing tools, look no further than:
Making A Brass Finishing Tool - Part 1: • Making A Brass Finishi...
Making A Brass Finishing Tool - Part 2: • Making A Brass Finishi...
And of course please consider subscribing and activating your notifications! My videos aren’t on a regular schedule, so a notification is the best way to find new content. Thanks for watching!
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Music Credits:
A Song Without A Name by Poor Inked Endings - Listen to and support Poor Inked Endings here: noisetrade.com/poorinkedendin...
#bookbinding #fourkeysbookarts #handmadebooks

[@kellywicker3903]

Beautiful work you do!

[@carlpeberdy9086]

Very nice, and great to see such good results achieved with tools that you've made yourself - and yes I'd love to see more of this kind of thing!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

More to come!

[@metalmocha5118]

Making this process look so easy speaks volumes of your skills! As much as I like technology... a tangible book of this quality will never be beaten by an ebook.

[@FourKeysBookArts]

I couldn't agree more!

[@borkwoof696]

This also is technology. Just because it isn’t electronic doesn’t mean it isn’t technology.

[@Barbara-ty8dj]

Love the background sounds, train, fan and birds.

[@brandonmack111]

I really love this design. Simple but elegant!

[@sarysalas819]

Bellísimo trabajo.Me alegro mucho de haber encontrado tan interesante canal.
Saludos desde Costa Rica.

[@TheKeystoneChannel]

What a gorgeous notebook!

[@spreadplays]

Wow this is quality craftsmanship fr thank you inspired me to do this as well have a good day

[@plush_dolphin746]

Really enjoyed the video, can't wait for the next!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RafaelToscano]

Beautiful!

[@victormanuelmejia1848]

Awesome artwork...

[@fppppp7901]

lovely!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thanks!

[@ernestobarrera2927]

Great job!

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thanks!

[@cashsales2417]

how inspiring!

[@CL-we8tn]

My name is Colleen Louw, you will need my name for your last will and testament to bequeath your hand made books to me. Thanking you in advance. 😂 Just kidding, it is a privilege to watch you work sir.

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Thanks for the chuckle Colleen! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@djoyce777]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing... can you or anyone provide additional resources to learn more about blind tooling for case bound leather books? Very interested in the specifics, re type of leather, thickness required, how to pare for tooling, preparation, design layout... thanks again for sharing, I'm sure many of us have the same questions 😀 😄 😊

[@rubypanterra.]

🖤

[@hfhggxhb4354]

Please make a video about the tools and it's name and everything about tools Thanks for the The hard work sir 👍

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Noted!

[@myjahconant3168]

hi dennis! been a follower for a while now and love your books and videos. as someone who wants to start tooling leather covers, i wanted to ask - is it possible to do so without professional tools? does it have to be hot tooling or can it be stamping like with veg tan? thanks for putting out some wonderful content!

[@nich6220]

Wonderful, thank you! Do you sell your tools?

[@hunortekse2745]

Hi, I just found this awesome channel, and I have a few questions.
1. Where did you learn these techniques?
2. Where did you buy your tools?

[@FourKeysBookArts]

Welcome! I'm entirely self-taught, having picked up techniques from both online resources and books. And if you are referring to my brass finishing tools, I made them myself.😊

[@hunortekse2745]

@@FourKeysBookArts Wow you're so talented! Thank you for your answer!

[@Turgon92]

@@FourKeysBookArts impressive mate. how long do you practice bookbinding?

[@raysmith315]

What is the knife/tool you’re using to make the straight lines?

[@BenBaros]

Is the leather vegetable tanned or chrome tanned?

[@irmaloeza8210]

Hi, is this liquid only water?

[@kennybacon8795]

Can someone telle what's the tool the person using to make straight lines?

[@FourKeysBookArts]

I'm using a scrap of book board as a guide for my brass pallet.

[@Chris_M_Romero]

No commentary? No tips or instructions?