Replies

1. 
   BenM | May 21, 2002 02:43pm | #1

   There was a recent article in Issue 145.  You could also look at Issues 140, 104 and 76 for additional information.

2. 
   SgianDubh | May 21, 2002 05:24pm | #2

   "Is contact cement the best choice for adhesion?" No. better would be a PVA or a hide glue, although my shopmate used Roo Glue recently for the job. It worked very well from what I saw of it.

   "What would you recommend for the substrate? MDF?" MDF would be a good option with solid wood edging if you want to near enough cover the whole desk with leather. If you want to cover only a comparitively  small area in the centre of a solid timber plank top you'd need to consider other options to allow for expansion and contraction.

   "Should the edge of the leather be recessed slightly below the surface of the outer frame" Yes, about 0.5- 1 mm.

   "how to make the leather panel removable (or should I ?) " Probably unnecessary. The old leather can be ripped out and new put in as needed. The leather is trimmed to the edge in situ for a tight fit.

   I think of and price the job of installing leather surfaces as hand veneering. Follow the leads Ben supplied if you can. Certainly FW have done articles on the techniques, but I couldn't say which issues. For the embossing try leather workers in the yellow pages. For some reason the name Constantine's keeps coming to mind as a source for tooled leather, but that's just a hunch. Slainte, RJ. 

   Link to RJFurniture site.
3. 
   danwolfram | May 21, 2002 07:37pm | #3

   Look in FWW for an ad selling leather for desk tops.  The company is from Canada.  I called them and they sent me a sample of the leather about a year ago.  Real nice people, they should be able to answer your questions about adhesision and what is available.  Good luck

   Dan in CT