My leather-bound journal went from perfect to warped in a single humid weekend

I finished a custom journal for a client last Thursday, using 3 oz vegetable-tanned leather and Davey board. It looked flawless when I shipped it. They received it Monday and sent a photo: the cover had a visible curve, like a potato chip. The cause? They left it on a windowsill in their Florida sunroom over a hot, rainy weekend. The humidity must have been 80% plus. Has anyone else had a project ruined by sudden humidity changes after delivery?

2 comments

2 Comments

ninabutler11d ago

That's actually a normal reaction for veg-tan leather in high humidity... it'll flatten back out.

jordanl8211d ago

My 10 year old veg-tan wallet got a permanent wave after a rainy week in Florida. @ninabutler I hear you, but in my experience once that grain raises up it never goes back to being perfectly smooth. The leather just holds that textured feel. It might flatten a bit when it dries, but the surface is changed for good. That's part of the charm, it shows the life of the piece.