Don Taylor Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Any suggestions for a black faux leather paper to use to cut my own bellows papers? TIA. Don. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Search amongst bookbinding materials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hare Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Any suggestions for a black faux leather paper to use to cut my own bellows papers? TIA. Don. An obvious warning, but I'll state it anyway... You want paper/card which is black 'all the way through', not white paper printed black on the surface. Otherwise the white will show when you cut the papers. Obvious really, but I got caught out by this in another context, a while ago! Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Middleton-Metcalfe Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 Did anyone actually ever locate a source of this stuff? I have also been searching for some time to find some, looking at bookbinding suppliers, stationary suppliers, amazon and ebay but simply cannot find this stuff anywhere. Did you ever find any Don? Best wishes, Jake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana Johnson Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 My concertina case is wrapped in that sort of stuff. I have seen a lot of instrument cases with the same thing on them. Might be on a fabric type substrate though. Many years ago Rich morse was looking for something for bellows and found a number of coated fabric things, but they were either difficult to glue or had poor wear qualities. Eventually they just went to leather, but they do Wheatstone style bellows where papers are cosmetic, not used to cover the edges of the bottom hinge, gussets and top run, like on a Jeffries style bellows. But why go with faux leather when you could use the real thing if you are not looking for a printed pattern? Dana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Middleton-Metcalfe Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 My concertina case is wrapped in that sort of stuff. I have seen a lot of instrument cases with the same thing on them. Might be on a fabric type substrate though. Many years ago Rich morse was looking for something for bellows and found a number of coated fabric things, but they were either difficult to glue or had poor wear qualities. Eventually they just went to leather, but they do Wheatstone style bellows where papers are cosmetic, not used to cover the edges of the bottom hinge, gussets and top run, like on a Jeffries style bellows. But why go with faux leather when you could use the real thing if you are not looking for a printed pattern? Dana good question. My reasoning was that for the cosmetic bellows paper (as you say not part of any of the hinges) a water-fast leather effect paper would be a cheaper and quicker alternative for bellows decorating as you would not have to bother with skiving the edges of lots of leather patches (unless you brought it very thin). I have a frank edgley concertina which has this stuff on it where it seems a pretty appropriate solution. I could always ask him what he used I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hare Posted August 28, 2016 Share Posted August 28, 2016 (edited) Did anyone actually ever locate a source of this stuff? Yes. But, as I am in Manchester, and they were in Hong Kong (it may have been Singapore), I didn't take the matter any further at the time. I tried a couple of small, specialist 'print shops' but they were utterly hopeless (and also clearly thought I was a lunatic, which may or may not be the case...). I wonder if coloured 'craft' paper available from places like 'The Works' might be the (only practical) answer? I have a pad of a dozen sheets of various colours in front of me as I type. I think I got this from Lidl for something else, but can't really remember. The stuff I have is 120 g.m-2 and has quite a 'soft' surface (ie: not 'glazed' with china clay or whatever is used). It's also possible to get heavier duty card from places like 'The Works'. I think the stuff I have is ~200 g.m-2, and is very slightly 'glazed'. Whether any of this stuff would be suitable for bellows papers I don't know. It's certainly not 'faux leather' which is what Don originally asked for. Roger Edited August 28, 2016 by lachenal74693 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Taylor Posted August 28, 2016 Author Share Posted August 28, 2016 No, I didn't find anything but I did come across a number of crafting sites on the web that describe how to make faux leather paper. Basically, you moisten the paper, roll it up into a tight ball ensuring as many creases as possible, then carefully open it out flat again and iron it. The resulting pictures on the web look pretty good. I have not done this yet, but I bought some black paper (from JoAnn's in the US) to try. I think that Dana is right - if you have some suitable leather then that would be best. I don't, and the local leather supplier has nothing nearly thin enough. Then the edges would need scarfing too, I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDF Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 My concertina case is wrapped in that sort of stuff. I have seen a lot of instrument cases with the same thing on them. Might be on a fabric type substrate though. Many years ago Rich morse was looking for something for bellows and found a number of coated fabric things, but they were either difficult to glue or had poor wear qualities. Eventually they just went to leather, but they do Wheatstone style bellows where papers are cosmetic, not used to cover the edges of the bottom hinge, gussets and top run, like on a Jeffries style bellows. But why go with faux leather when you could use the real thing if you are not looking for a printed pattern? Dana good question. My reasoning was that for the cosmetic bellows paper (as you say not part of any of the hinges) a water-fast leather effect paper would be a cheaper and quicker alternative for bellows decorating as you would not have to bother with skiving the edges of lots of leather patches (unless you brought it very thin). I have a frank edgley concertina which has this stuff on it where it seems a pretty appropriate solution. I could always ask him what he used I guess A few years ago Andrew Norman made me a new set of bellows for a linota which has this type of textured leather paper so I guess he must know a supplier. I found him always to be very helpful so it would be worth approaching him to see if he might give you a lead.David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Ghent Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I have a large roll of black faux leather which has a fabric substrate yet is not at all thick. It punch's and cuts OK and most importantly the substrate fabric is also black so no need to dye the edges. It was not super expensive. I got it at a place which sold book binding materials amongst other things. Car upholstery fabrics are similar, not for seats more for dashboard coverings and door panel coverings. It would be perfect for case covering as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Middleton-Metcalfe Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Chris that sounds good, is there a brand name? Or did the supplier have a website? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 In the Uk one of the best suppliers of such materials is Ratchfords.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Middleton-Metcalfe Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 cheers mate. I just ordered a selection of samples from them and will report back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrik Müller Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 I've been having the same headache. I found this: http://www.buchbinderei-obermeier.de/einbandmaterial.html (No English) - scroll down to "Lederimitate" and "Scaphandre" - looks pretty good, I'd say. The only thing is that it seems to be a page where you go and decide the looks of the notebook you are about to order, not where you select papers to buy. And do they sell to "civilians"? Germans - any help here? /Henrik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 (edited) I used to get my black leathergrain paper (which was grey on the other side) from the Paperchase shop on Tottenham Court Road in London, but they no longer did it when I was last there a few years ago. However, I have since found something that appears to be very similar from Zazzle (http://www.zazzle.com/ in the U.S., or http://www.zazzle.co.uk/ in the U.K.) - they have Black Leather Wrapping Paper , or Black Alligator Exotic Leather Pimp Wrapping Paper , or Black Shiny Faux Leather Wrapping Paper , or Black Snake Skin Look-Like Leather Wrapping Paper , or The Look of Black Realistic Alligator Skin Wrapping Paper . They have other colours and finishes too, but I haven't tried any of these myself yet. Edited September 7, 2016 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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