DIY Lens caps.

[Steven Tribe]

I have done a few caps and quite a lot of other thin leather work.
It is possible to get thin leather down to around 0.5mm. Almost all leather used in clothing will be thicker than this.
If you want thinner than this (down to 0.3mm), you will have to use snake/sea snake skin or Shagreen (ray skin) - all of which are perfect to work with.
There is at least one very good supplier on e**y (UK).
With thin skin you can cut just past the bends and use the traditional velvet for the internal surfaces.

[Jay DeFehr]

Kangaroo hide is another potential source of thin, tough leather, but it's not cheap. Then again, it doesn't take much to make a lens cap, even for a big lens.

[sethlatimer]

I have made a couple of these with goat leather. My best recommendations are:
~to get it really wet with warm water
~do not completely wring it out before gluing on. it should still be kinda wet, but not dripping.
~I use a bookmaker's 'bone folder' to smooth it out. It works really well on the inside corners.
~It will take many days (prolly a week) to completely dry
Also, I love the flowers on the inside...nice touch.

Seth

[Ramiro Elena]

Thanks for the tip Steven. I ordered some shagreen. I'll also check my wife's drawers for leather purses and bags
The second cap for a 300mm Xenar came out better. Still not happy about the way the leather wraps around the rim. I tried cutting the fabric in a star shaped manner to avoid overlaping but still not perfect.
Another thing that puzzles me about the instructions in the book is how it says to lay the felt before glueing the leather over the rim. I think the felt should be applied last.

[alex from holland]

Ramiro, real leather will work much easier.
I have tried the artificial and the result is by far not as good as with leather.
Just give it a try and notice the difference.

alex

[Steven Tribe]

Yes, all the genuine old caps have the internal velvet covering the bent-over edge of the leather.

[Ramiro Elena]

Will do Alex. Yours look excellent.

[Randy]

I have no idea. I think they must soak the covers in water. If I find out I'll post.

Randy, I wonder how hard it is too pull appart the leather from the book cover. They're usually glued pretty well.

[Jim C.]

Book binding suppliers have assortments if leather as well as artificial, they're a good source to check into.
Found that out looking for materials for camera bellows. If they're close enough you could go there and look
thru their closeouts and scrap bins for lens cap leather.

[Ramiro Elena]

I now see what you meant Alex. Leather is a whole different thing. As Steven pointed out too, thickness is an important matter. I bought an 80's women jacket at a thrifstore fro 3€. Really horrendous but the leather is very nice and soft.

One problem I found with leather is that (when wet) it often deforms the matboard ruining it sometimes. I like the way artificial leather looks on the outside. The inside is just impossible to work. This might be due to the thickness of the leather.