Hardening a sheath

[Thinker]

Ok so Ive almost completed my first project from scratch :)
Ive made the knife, formed and stitched the sheath and now need to dye but am still deciding on the colour.
What I have noticed though is that the sheath, allthough formed is not as stiff as it should be. What can I use to treat it with to remedy this or will the dye suffice?
Thanx for any help and sorry if this has been posted allready.

[Dave Budd]

the dye will stiffen it a bit. wet it and dry it more quickly (a warm room rather than a cold one, for example) will also stiffen a little. If you want it properly stiff and hard then soak it with molten beeswax :) there are tutorials on here somewhere if you do a search

[parbajtor]

I normally dye with Fiebings and then use Resolene to waterproof the outside especially by the thread holes and any 'fluffy' edges. I usually burnish after 1 coat of Resolene and then reapply the waterproofing. I haven't had any complaints regarding "stiffness" (it's usually size that's the problem)

[MeetTheGeeks]

[QUOTE=parbajtor;1354808 I haven't had any complaints regarding "stiffness" (it's usually size that's the problem)[/QUOTE]

can I use that in a quote??

[Jeannius61]

can I use that in a quote??

NO.

This is a family forum... :)

Try wetting it first. If this is not stiff enough, use molten beeswax (this will make it heavy) or - try applying the gelatine cuir bouilli technique to it, but without much heat (which will shrink it). Use the hot method for a future sheath. I have a small educational reference document/tutorial on the technique here (http://www.knifescales.co.uk/content/tutorials-on-jeanturner.co.uk-index.php)

Hope you get sorted!