Laser Marking Leather Wallets

The article shares practical techniques for laser marking leather wallets, covering equipment selection, parameter adjustment, and design optimization.By explaining the key points in setting the laser marking parameters, and using a custom-made leather wallet as an example, the course helps users avoid common pitfalls in leather marking, and improves the quality and efficiency of the finished product.The book is suitable for hobbyists as well as small leather goods workshops.

Why is leather ideal for laser engraving?

The main reason for the growing popularity of laser engraving on leather wallets is that it can accurately engrave complex patterns without damaging the leather's fiber structure.Compared with traditional hot stamping, laser technology can produce more delicate textures, such as signatures, logos, and even shading.However, different types of leather (such as top grain leather and vegetable tanned leather) react differently to lasers, and thus require different settings.

Choosing the right equipment can make a world of difference.

Choosing the Right Laser Power

Most of the leather wallets that we carve are done with a 20 to 30 watt carbon dioxide laser.If the laser is too powerful, the edges can be burned, while if the laser is too weak, the inscription will not be deep enough.If you are making a very thin wallet (less than 1mm thick), it is advisable to first test using scrap leather to find a balance between speed and power.

Is it necessary to buy the turntable?

If you are doing a lot of curved or side carving (like on the inside of a wallet flap), a rotary base can save a lot of effort.Manually adjusting the position of the leather is prone to error, while the rotating axis can automatically fix the leather and turn it at a uniform speed, ensuring that the lines of the carving are continuous.

Parameter Settings: The Details Are What Determine Success or Failure

A golden ratio of speed and power.

For example, when working with the top layer of cowhide, tests found that the clearest light-colored lines were produced using a speed of 800 mm / sec and 25 % power. To make the lines darker, the speed can be dropped to 600 mm / sec and the power increased to 35 %.Remember to do a test run on a small piece of leather first, before going to town on your finished product!

Don't be lazy about adjusting the focus.

The laser head is usually kept 5-8 centimeters from the surface of the material.Here's a trick: Cut out a small equilateral triangle from a piece of cardboard and stick it to the laser head. When the cardboard just touches the vinyl surface, you know you've got the best focus.This is more intuitive than a scale, and is particularly suitable for novices.

We should avoid these "crash sites.

Dark-colored leather is easy to "hide" in.

Shallow incisions on a black wallet would not be conspicuous.I suggest using low power to grind away the sanding layer, and then doing a second carving, or using colored fillers.Some of my colleagues have tried applying a clear fixative to the carving, which helps preserve the patterns for a longer time.

How do you get rid of the frayed edges?

If the edges of the leather are frayed after cutting, this may be because of dust on the lens of the laser head, or because there is not enough oil in the leather to begin with.Regularly cleaning the lens with alcohol and applying a thin layer of protective oil to the leather before carving can effectively reduce the amount of fraying.

Creative play expands the customer base.

In addition to the traditional carving of characters, now customers prefer personalized designs.For example, using the dot matrix to restore old photos, or combining the dot matrix with relief carving to create a three-dimensional effect.One example is to convert a customer's handwritten message into a vector image, and then engrave it along the wallet's stitch line.Remember to save a template of a frequently used pattern, so that next time you have a similar need, you can just adjust the parameters and use it.