My bone folder slipped and gouged a $120 leather cover, here's the save

Last Tuesday in my studio I pressed too hard on a wet paring edge and the folder skidded across a full hide, leaving a deep scratch. I rubbed in a bit of matching dye and then burnished the spot with a smooth river stone for about 15 minutes, and you honestly can't see it unless you tilt it in direct light. Has anyone else fixed a gouge without cutting and re-covering?

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mia44227d ago

I read once that some bookbinders use a warmed bone folder to gently press down the raised fibers after a gouge, which helps the area lay flat before you dye it. That trick plus a stone sounds like a solid combo. River stones are underrated for this, they push the leather down without adding shine like a slicker would. Matching the dye is the real gamble though, even a slight mismatch catches your eye every time you handle the piece.