In the world of handmade leather goods, every detail tells the story of the craftsman. Carl Lau's story began with his endless love for leather art and his unremitting pursuit of perfection.
In the studio late at night, the soft light of the desk lamp sprinkled on Carl Lau's workbench. His fingers gently stroked a stainless steel buckle, feeling the delicate texture of the metal. Over the past decade, there have been countless moments of such concentration, but he has never been bored. In his eyes, every hardware accessory is a miniature work of art, carrying the craftsman's persistent pursuit of perfection.
As a senior teacher at the Handmade Leather Design Academy, Carl always remembers the troubles of students when making leather goods. "Teacher, why does this buckle always not fit the leather well enough?" "Why does this rivet loosen after a short time of use?" These questions constantly remind him that the birth of a high-quality leather product requires not only exquisite craftsmanship, but also excellent accessories support.
Whenever he stood on the podium and explained the essentials of leather goods production to students, he would always unconsciously recall the throbbing when he first came into contact with leather goods. At that time, he was passionate about leather goods production, just like the students now, but was often troubled by poor-quality hardware accessories. Disappointing experiences again and again strengthened his determination to pursue perfection.
In his exchanges with many handmade leather goods enthusiasts and professional makers, Carl found that this was not his only problem. Craftsmen generally desire to obtain truly high-quality hardware accessories. These accessories must not only have excellent texture, but also be able to perfectly integrate with leather goods, and together tell a story about quality and aesthetics.
It was this experience that made Carl determined to create truly high-quality hardware accessories for leather craftsmen. In his studio, each product must go through at least 30 processes of careful polishing. From the selection of raw materials to the development of molds, from surface treatment to the final quality inspection, every link embodies his pursuit of perfection.
Carl has invested countless days and nights on the road of craft exploration. He knows that truly high-quality hardware accessories require strict control from the beginning of material selection. He selects high-quality brass, stainless steel and other materials to ensure that each product can stand the test of time. In terms of surface treatment technology, he continues to innovate and develop a unique electroplating process, which not only ensures the durability of the product, but also gives the metal a warm and elegant texture.
Carl is almost demanding in his choice of materials. After years of research, he selected the most suitable materials for different hardware accessories:
Stainless steel series:
- 316L medical grade stainless steel:
- Carbon content is controlled below 0.03%, ensuring excellent corrosion resistance
- Chromium content is 18-20%, forming a stable protective film
- Nickel content is 10-14%, providing excellent toughness
- Molybdenum content is 2-3%, enhancing pitting resistance
- Suitable for buckle cores, springs and other load-bearing parts of buckles
- 304A grade stainless steel:
- Carbon content ≤ 0.08%, with good processing performance
- Chromium content is 18-20%, providing basic corrosion resistance
- Nickel content is 8-10.5%, ensuring material stability
- Suitable for appearance parts such as frame buckles and hooks
- 420 stainless steel:
- Carbon content is 0.15-0.35%, providing higher hardness
- Chromium content is 12-14%, with basic rust resistance
- Hardness can reach HRC after special heat treatment 50-52
- Suitable for rivets and screws that require high strength
Brass series:
- H62 environmentally friendly brass: 62% copper content, with excellent mechanical properties and processing performance
During the production process, Carl pays special attention to the details. The rounded arc of each corner and the strength of each polishing have been repeatedly debugged and optimized. He insists on using traditional manual polishing techniques and modern precision processing equipment to ensure that each product can reach the best state. Especially in the design of the buckle mechanism, he innovatively improved the traditional structure, which not only increased the service life, but also made the opening and closing smoother.
In terms of surface treatment technology, different materials use different treatment solutions:
316L medical grade stainless steel:
- Mechanical polishing:
- 600#-2000# abrasive belts for step-by-step polishing
- Special polishing wax for final polishing
- Ensure surface roughness Ra≤0.2μm
- Electrochemical treatment:
- Special electrolyte formula
- Accurately control current density 0.5-0.8A/dm²
- Form 20-30nm passivation film
304A grade stainless steel:
- Wire drawing process:
- Customized 160#-400# wire drawing wheels
- Strictly control wire drawing speed and pressure
- Form uniform and delicate texture
- Nano treatment:
- Use nano-grade ceramic coating
- Increase surface hardness to 750-850HV
- Enhance wear resistance and anti-fingerprint performance
In Carl's concept, excellent hardware accessories should be the finishing touch of leather goods and an extension of the craftsman's creative concept. He insists on controlling every production link with strict standards and creating every detail with heart, so that every accessory can become a powerful assistant for leather goods makers and the highlight of finished leather goods.
Today, Carl Lau's hardware accessories not only carry his love for leather art, but also his respect for handmade art. Each carefully crafted accessory is a testimony to his pursuit of perfection and the result of his hard work with all leather lovers.
This is not only a story about hardware accessories, but also a story about love, persistence and inheritance. Carl firmly believes that as long as he has a love for art and a persistence in quality, he will be able to create good works that can stand the test of time. This is his brand story, and it is also the chapter he wants to write with all craftsmen who pursue excellence.