I need a good source for whole skins, pared thin for labels.
After doing this myself for a restoration of a 25 volume set of Dickens, 50
labels in total, my arm and hand have cried uncle. Unfortunately, I don't
have an apprentice I can pawn, I mean hand, this over to.
Since I have about four other sets currently waiting restoration of the
about the same volume total, I am looking for another way to achieve what I
need than spending an entire day paring an entire skin wafer thin.
I have been looking at the Scarf-fix machine, but while I am sure I would
have to cut the skin in sections to pare it, will this machine really pare
the leather thin enough for labels? When I make labels, I like to almost be
able to see through the skin. Anything thicker and I think the label looks
clunky, no matter how nicely tooled.
I have also read in the archives about the company who has a splitting service (beings with an H). Can they split whole skins that thin?
I have also looked at electrice skivers (Fortuna, etc) and the cost is just
too much for me right now, plus, I have no idea if they would work to my
specifications.
I am using goatskin and calf for labels. I don't like sheepskin skiver, I have tried it, and it always looks cheap to me. And while skiver is thin, it's not thin enough, and does require paring, just not as much.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Elizabeth Stegenga
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