7. Hand-Stenciled Cowhide Coaster & Valet Tray Set
Introduction
An elegant vanity or entryway organizing tray made from a rigid vegetable-tanned base walled with soft, ethically sourced genuine hair-on-hide leather, punctuated at the four corners with antiqued brass Chicago screws.
What This Idea Means
Valet trays provide a tidy drop zone for daily essentials like pocketknives, brass keys, and rings. Utilizing hair-on-hide brings natural tactile patterns into interior spaces while preserving rugged ranch authenticity.
Needs & Materials
- 1 piece stiff 6 oz tooling leather ($8\times8$ inches)
- 1 piece genuine hair-on-hide leather ($8\times8$ inches)
- Heavy leather contact cement (Barge or Renia)
- Leather rotary punch
- 4 antique brass screw-post Chicago screws (1/4-inch post)
- Edge beveler and edge finishing wax
How to Make It
- Apply a thin, even coat of contact cement to the flesh sides of both the stiff tooling leather and the hair-on-hide. Let become tacky for 10 minutes.
- Carefully bond both sheets together, rolling firmly with a leather seam roller to eliminate trapped air bubbles.
- Trim the laminated leather into a clean, uniform 7×7-inch square using a utility knife and steel ruler.
- Cut a square notch (1.25×1.25 inches) out of each of the four corners.
- Punch holes precisely 1/2 inch inward from each corner tab cut.
- Fold adjacent corner flaps upward and align punched holes; insert antique brass Chicago screws through the walls and tighten down with a flathead screwdriver.
- Smooth and buff external leather edges with beeswax for a professional finish.
Tips & Variations
- Tip: Comb hair away from the trim lines before cutting to avoid shearing off visible fur along the upper edges.
- Variation: Brand the center interior with a custom heated brass metal monogram stamp before gluing the layers together.