Veg-Tan Leather Luggage Tag
A premium-feeling gift from one of the friendliest natural materials — and the tutorial where you learn the tannage rule that keeps leather work safe: vegetable-tanned only, always. Chrome-tanned leather releases toxic chromium compounds under the laser.
KitWhat you'll need
- Vegetable-tanned leather, 2–3 mm, from a supplier who states the tannage
- A small buckle-strap kit, or a slot-and-loop design
- Damp sponge; leather balm or beeswax finish
SettingsStarting points
| Machine | Operation | Speed | Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 W CO2 | Engrave | 200–400 mm/s | 10–15% |
| 60 W CO2 | Cut 2–3 mm | 15–25 mm/s | 40–60% |
| 10 W diode | Engrave | 3,000–6,000 mm/min | 30–50% |
| 10 W diode | Cut | 200–300 mm/min | 100% × 2–3 passes |
StepsHow to do it
- Design the tag. 110 × 60 mm rounded rectangle, 6 mm buckle slot, bold monogram or name.
- Dampen the surface. A light pass with a damp sponge means less scorch and a crisper mark.
- Flatten it. Weight or pin the leather — it never lies flat on its own, and focus wander blurs the mark.
- Engrave, then cut. Engrave the design first, then cut the outline and slot.
- Lift the soot. Wipe engraved areas with a barely-damp cloth.
- Burnish and finish. Slick the cut edges with a wooden burnisher or spoon back; finish with balm or beeswax.
MistakesWhat everyone gets wrong
- Unverified leather — “genuine leather” from an offcut bin is usually chrome-tanned.
- Too much power. Leather is the material beginners over-burn most.
- Skipping the flattening step, so the mark drifts in and out of focus.
⚠ SafetyVeg-tan smells strong when lasered but isn't toxic; chrome-tan releases carcinogenic chromium compounds. Faux “vegan” leather is often PVC — never laser it unless the base is confirmed PU.
⤴ Level up
Belts, wallets, dog collars. Fibre owners: fibre scorches leather easily — stick to CO2 or diode here.