boarding
1. A method of producing a design on the grain
side of leather, as well as softening it, by means
of a series of creases produced on the surface of
the skin. Boarding is accomplished by folding the
leather, grain side to grain side, and working the
fold board knife across its surface. A straight or
"willow" grain results when the skin is boarded on
one direction, and a box or "cross" grain when it
is also boarded at right angles to the first.
Boarding a third time in a direction diagonal to
the first two produces a pebbled-grain pattern.
Boarding may be done by hand, using a
cork-surfaced board called aGRAINING BOARD , the
fold of the leather being rolled under the board,
or, as is the usual case today, by means of a
boarding machine, in which the leather is rolled
between two cylinders, one covered with cork or
rubber and the other with felt or rubber. 2. See:
GRAINED UP . (306 , 363 )