Sheathmaking my way

[Tacol]

Bravo !

[Tvividr]

gerd what thickness of leather do you use?

3,5 mm for the ones in this tutorial, and the majority of my sheaths. Sometimes I use 4 mm too.

Gerd, you sew the leather dry?
and what about the glue, do you let that cure befpre you drill and sew?
Thanks
Nice job BTW

Yes I sew these sheaths dry. The leather will swell slightly when wettet - thus shrinking the holes, and letting the stitching sink slightly down into the leather, more or less creating its own groove as I don't cut one for it.
Yes, I let the glue cure before pressing the leather sides together, drill and sew.

great tutorial
how do you stop the black dye getting into the thread? I have used well waxed thread and it seems to darken it a little. Have you tried dyeing the leather where the stiching goes before stitching?

The thread I use darkens very little. When I dye the sheath, the thread will become as dark as the leather, but when I waterproof the leather with the wax/lanoline paste and do a final polish with a dry rag, the colouring dissapears and the original colour comes back. It was not intentional the first few times, and I actually think it a bit strange as it is a natural fibre (linen, and not synthetic) which is only waxed.
As it is a good and strong thread I have just carried on using it, but will use a factory dyed thread in say black etc if people want that instead.

[spamel]

Excellent tutorial, makes me want to go out and cut up a cow!

I do need a new sheath for an old knife that used to belong to my grandad. It has one of those 'pop the knife in up to the guard and pop stud a little tab around the handle' type sheaths that has seen better days. I like the idea of one of these sheaths that grips the handle, they must be secure enough otherwise they wouldn't be used. Edit: Would this type of sheath be possible with the guard on the handle?



So, where do I get the kit here in Germany? I could wait to summer when I come over, but I know there are some guys from Germany kicking about here on the site. Any help guys please?

[spamel]

Would this be any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...178295796&rd=1

[Mike T.]

Would this be any good?

Maybe but not for sheathmaking!

[spamel]

Oh yeah, I didn't see the rugmaking comment at the bottom!

el

[keith_beef]

Ah! "Edge Kote"!

I've been wondering how to get a nice clean smooth edge to the leather. No matter how sharp the blade I use to trim the leather, the edges always look a little "furry".

Any idea of the name of this stuff in French? Or is there some way I can prepare it for myself?

KKK.

[PS_Bond]

Use gum tragacanth, a bone folder & elbow grease? Edge Kote is a thick paint-like substance, not to my taste but other people like it...

[keith_beef]

Use gum tragacanth, a bone folder & elbow grease? Edge Kote is a thick paint-like substance, not to my taste but other people like it...

Thanks. I'll see if I can get hold of some of that stuff. The gum tragacanth, I mean.

Is is sold in granules or pre-dissolved in methanol (shellac is available in both forms).

I could do with burning off a bit of elbow grease... it's building up, and flowing down into my carpal tunnels.


KKK.

[PS_Bond]

Thanks. I'll see if I can get hold of some of that stuff. The gum tragacanth, I mean.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...ead.php?t=6974

Is is sold in granules or pre-dissolved in methanol (shellac is available in both forms).

I think it is a water-soluble, not sure offhand. I've only used it pre-mixed.

I could do with burning off a bit of elbow grease... it's building up, and flowing down into my carpal tunnels.

Sounds foul. But I understand it can be rendered?

[keith_beef]

I think [gum tragacanth] is a water-soluble, not sure offhand. I've only used it pre-mixed.

Thanks.

I've found a couple of suppliers in France, but only mail-order. And it's expensive stuff.

Around €11 for 100g in powder form! Five to six time more expensive than gum Arabic.

This is from artists' suppliers. I could get it from a caterers' supplier, no doubt, but I expect food grade gum to be more expensive.

In French, it's "gomme adragante"

KKK.


Found some! I asked on fr.rec.bricolage, and was pointed to http://www.laverdure.fr

I just phoned, since the website doesn't give prices

€16.16 for 250g in chunks. Much more reasonable price, and over the counter (no waiting around for weeks on end for it to be delivered).


KKK.

[handwerker]

I had a look around for gum tragacanth:
"astralagus gummifer" is used as a food-additive, then classified as E413.
It is also used as an add-on in burn-incense since medieval times.
I found a source in the net (selling witchcraft-stuff), selling 50gr for € 2,60.

[Tvividr]

Use gum tragacanth, a bone folder & elbow grease? Edge Kote is a thick paint-like substance, not to my taste but other people like it...

Using an excessive amount of EdgeKote do not look nice. I only use enough to seal the rough fibres (which already have been smoothed down on the little disc / belt grinder mentioned, and sometimes sanded with fine sandpaper too).

You can also use shellac to seal the edge. Again do not use too much. By too much I mean so much that it looks like it is coated in varnish (shellac) or "plastic-like" paint (EdgeKote).
Just add a thin coat, let it become dry to the touch and then polish. Then add another coat or two.

[Mr_Yarrow]

Gerd,

Great tutorial. A quick question for you. Would this style of sheath be ok for this knife;



Or, would I be better with the woodlore style bucket sheath. If so, has anyone done a tutorial on how to make them.

Rapidboy, i'm looking at you

Rgds

.

[Stew]

Would this style of sheath be ok for this knife;

It should be fine.