New softer leather skin for Monochrom

[wlaidlaw]

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Wilson,

 

I would be careful about over zealous application od saddle-soap or neatsfoot oil - at some point it is going to go right through the thin leather and start degrading the bond with the adhesive layer.

 

However, if you are the sort of person who likes to resin their camera fairly often, I guess that may not be an issue

 

John,

 

I have used Connolly saddle soap on the Japanese textured leather skin on my M4 for around 15 years and it still seems OK but I believe it is no longer available. The saddle soap my daughter has currently seems much coarser and smells more caustic. I understand the replacement Connolly leather food is not suitable for many modern leathers. I only use a tiny bit about once every two years and then wipe off with a damp cloth. I have enough Connolly saddle soap to last me for years at the rate I use it. I use the neats foot oil more for my leather straps, which keeps them nice and supple.

 

Wilson

[jdlaing]

I don’t know. I never skinned a Crocodile.

 

Fairly easy:

 

3.4 Skinning

 

Skinning (flaying) should be done out of the sun in reasonable comfort for it is tedious work and Must be done carefully. If the meat is to be used for human consumption the skinning and possibly slaughter will have to be done in compliance with local health regulations.

 

The dead crocodile should not be dragged along the ground with a risk of scratching the belly skin. Nor should it be left lying in the hot sun - in any position. A skin can be ruined in a short time by overheating on the dead animal. If the crocodile has been killed with a knife it is advisable to allow it to bleed near a drain and to hose it clean. It should in any case be left until all muscle spasms have ceased before any skinning cuts are made.

 

3.4.1 Opening Cuts (belly skin)

 

It is assumed that, as a rule, the requirement will be for belly skins. The opening cuts are best described with reference to Fig. 5. With the crocodile on its belly a convenient sequence of cutting is as follows:

 

- cut across the back of the head platform to the lower jawbone on each side.

- from the head cut down the midline of the neck, through the nuchal shield and stop.

- move out one row of scutes from the midline on each side and continue the back cuts down to the base of the tail. (This will leave a strip two scutes wide down the middle of the back).

- pass the blade through the tail, under the skin, and slice the top (dorsal) skin off all the way to the tail tip.

- cut along the back of each hindlimb from the foot to meet the tail cut on each side. Make encircling cuts around the 'ankle'.

- cut along the front of each forelimb from the foot to meet the neck cut on each side. Make encircling cuts at the 'wrist'.

- roll the crocodile on to its back and continue the cuts from the lower jaw along each lower jawbone to meet at the chin. (This final stage can be left until the crocodile is rolled over to remove the belly skin).

 

3.4.2 Skin Removal

 

With the crocodile on its belly the skin must be cut away from the underlying tissue with a skinning (flaying) knife. No quicker way has been demonstrated. Special care is needed in the groins and armpits where the skin is thin and wrinkled.

 

Eventually the skin will be free from the back, sides and limbs except for the narrow strip left on the back. This strip is excluded from the skin in order to reduce weight and freight cost. It might possibly be used locally to make scute - studded belts. The crocodile is now rolled over for removal of the belly skin.

 

To separate the belly skin first cut it free from throat and neck with the knife then pull it backwards as far as the cloaca. It should tear cleanly away from the belly without any need for cutting.

 

Use the knife very carefully around the cloaca where the skin is thin and easily snicked. Once the skin is free from the cloaca continue tugging the skin free to the end of the tail.

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[wlaidlaw]

Fairly easy:

 

3.4 Skinning

 

Skinning (flaying) should be done out of the sun in reasonable comfort for it is tedious work and Must be done carefully. If the meat is to be used for human consumption the skinning and possibly slaughter will have to be done in compliance with local health regulations.

 

The dead crocodile should not be dragged along the ground with a risk of scratching the belly skin. Nor should it be left lying in the hot sun - in any position. A skin can be ruined in a short time by overheating on the dead animal. If the crocodile has been killed with a knife it is advisable to allow it to bleed near a drain and to hose it clean. It should in any case be left until all muscle spasms have ceased before any skinning cuts are made.

 

3.4.1 Opening Cuts (belly skin)

 

It is assumed that, as a rule, the requirement will be for belly skins. The opening cuts are best described with reference to Fig. 5. With the crocodile on its belly a convenient sequence of cutting is as follows:

 

- cut across the back of the head platform to the lower jawbone on each side.

- from the head cut down the midline of the neck, through the nuchal shield and stop.

- move out one row of scutes from the midline on each side and continue the back cuts down to the base of the tail. (This will leave a strip two scutes wide down the middle of the back).

- pass the blade through the tail, under the skin, and slice the top (dorsal) skin off all the way to the tail tip.

- cut along the back of each hindlimb from the foot to meet the tail cut on each side. Make encircling cuts around the 'ankle'.

- cut along the front of each forelimb from the foot to meet the neck cut on each side. Make encircling cuts at the 'wrist'.

- roll the crocodile on to its back and continue the cuts from the lower jaw along each lower jawbone to meet at the chin. (This final stage can be left until the crocodile is rolled over to remove the belly skin).

 

3.4.2 Skin Removal

 

With the crocodile on its belly the skin must be cut away from the underlying tissue with a skinning (flaying) knife. No quicker way has been demonstrated. Special care is needed in the groins and armpits where the skin is thin and wrinkled.

 

Eventually the skin will be free from the back, sides and limbs except for the narrow strip left on the back. This strip is excluded from the skin in order to reduce weight and freight cost. It might possibly be used locally to make scute - studded belts. The crocodile is now rolled over for removal of the belly skin.

 

To separate the belly skin first cut it free from throat and neck with the knife then pull it backwards as far as the cloaca. It should tear cleanly away from the belly without any need for cutting.

 

Use the knife very carefully around the cloaca where the skin is thin and easily snicked. Once the skin is free from the cloaca continue tugging the skin free to the end of the tail.

 

.....and I have been doing it wrong all these years

 

Wilson

[jdlaing]

.....and I have been doing it wrong all these years

 

Wilson

 

I live in Gator country and they are pretty much the same process. Skins are sold by the inch. The belly skins are the most sought after.

 

On a side note:

 

A few years back the conservationists got on a kick to "Save the endangered Alligator".

Now we are overrun with them.

[wlaidlaw]

I live in Gator country and they are pretty much the same process. Skins are sold by the inch. The belly skins are the most sought after.

 

On a side note:

 

A few years back the conservationists got on a kick to "Save the endangered Alligator".

Now we are overrun with them.

 

I have a 1920’s Asprey’s Crocodile skin case that belonged to my great aunt. It weighs a ton so unusable for modern airline travel. It even has a button over canvas cover to protect the leather. I keep meaning to put it in a specialist luggage auction, as I believe Asprey’s and Louis Vuitton cases are quite sought after by collectors.

 

Wilson

[Erik Gunst Lund]

My new Griptac cover for my M9 has arrived from Camera leather, perfect fit, gives a really nice non slipping grip.

[djp58]

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Glad to see some of you on this forum have had success. I ordered 2 kits from Morgan on 21 Feb 14. The Griptac kit for my Leica iii arrived within a week with a note that the Kid Skin kit for my Leica iiia would take few weeks longer. At the 8-week mark, I began sending emails asking for an update - have sent 5 total to date. I was also interested in ordering a couple of more kits (Leica M3 & Rolleiflex MX-EVS) and sent a note asking for clarification on thickness of Kid Skin vice Rollei Black. Have heard nothing at all. My last note simply stated if I did not hear something by today, I would be forced to dispute the charges on my credit card (90-day limit on disputes). Guess I will be calling my credit card company. This is not a good way to run a business, even if you make an outstanding product. I've already ordered replacement covers form Aki-Asahi, so he has lost my current and future business.

 

David

[djp58]

Guess I should have listened to others on the Forum - Morgan and CameraLeather came through and shipped my Kid Skin kit yesterday. Yes, I feel like a Royal A$$. Hopefully I'm not "persona-non-grata" at CameraLeather and they will let me order some more kits. I should have let my frustrations settle a bit before acting.

 

David

[IWC Doppel]

They are quite easy to fit, I popped on a skin bought 3 years ago for my M8 at the time and was never brave enough to do it. The four places seem to be

 

Camera Leather cameraleather.com Leica M series

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Aki-Asahi Aki-Asahi Camera Coverings

LeicaLeathers https://www.facebook.com/LeicaLeathers

 

A quick picture of my M9-P in need of a wipe over (sorry, the screen has some dust) and a touch up on the base plate. This is a Leica Leathers skin

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[IWC Doppel]

A quick clean and Birchwood Brass Black treatment for the brass dings, much better !

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[jakontil]

My Monochrom has a middle-gray Kid leather skin. Feels very nice when using it. My M9P a brown one. My X1 a dark green one.

jap, did u do it your own?

 

how dealing with the focus liner? u followed what suggested from their web?

 

does the leather fits as fine as the original ones'?

 

i was considering the costly artedimano until i came across aki asahi and had ordered one, just waiting to get it