Tiffers Tips!

[ris]

I took it to mean that 5400 yards of 18/3 was equal to 1 pound of flax.

Well, that's not what it says. It is quite explicit in saying "three yarns, each made from 1 pound of flax".

If you seperated the 3 strands that make up the thread you would have fibre to the length of 16,200 yards.

That's right, and three pounds of flax.

Of course, I have no idea whether Bowstock have got it right though.

[Weekend_Warr]

I've searched but not found.... Can you help?

After dyeing my sheath/pouch/whathaveyou how should I finish the item? Oil it? - with what? Beeswax? Snoseal? What works best?

TIA,

R.

[Inspector71]

After dyeing my sheath/pouch/whathaveyou how should I finish the item? Oil it? - with what? Beeswax? Snoseal? What works best?

The best general purpose finisher/sealer is Neatsfoot oil. Just keep feeding it in 'till you can't get any more in or you get bored Available from most of the internet leather supplies places or your local saddlery.

There'll be other more knowledgeable leatherworkers answering eventually though. See what they come up with as well...

Cheers,
Rod

[Tiffers]

I have to confess I dont like pure neatsfoot oil as it can over soften some items. I know some people have a lot of success with a beeswax/carnuba/neatsfoot mix which seems like a better alternative to me. The beeswax helps retain the stiffness of the item while the carnuba gives it a nice finish and the neatsfoot acts as a thinner for the 2 waxes.

I'm not sure what the quantities are though but I'll have a look and see what I can find, failing that, someone might be able to enlighten us as its a mix I want to try too

Tiffers

[Dave Budd]

I tried a neetsfoot/beeswax/carnuba a while ago as a handle finish, but the carnuba kept flaking up. I still have it somewhere so I will try adding bit more oil and see what it's like for leather.

Tiffers, would you suggest I make a cream, stiff wax, thin paste? how thick should it be??

[Tiffers]

I reckon it should be a thin paste when cold then when you apply it, I think it needs to be warmed up a little to a runny gloop and I dont think it would hurt the leather to be warmed slightly either, maybe with a hairdryer from a slight distance so it doesnt burn!

Tiffers

[Dave Budd]

thanks, I'll give that a go. I'm just making a sheath for my cutting comp knife

[Inspector71]

I have to confess I dont like pure neatsfoot oil as it can over soften some items. I know some people have a lot of success with a beeswax/carnuba/neatsfoot mix ...

I have to agree - I've made some nice supple pouch sheaths using only neatsfoot, but I recently bought one of Herman's (ggf666 or whatever your name is) scandis and his veg tanned sheath was very hard. He said a beeswax/avcocado mix. I'm tempted to try it as the finish was just right for a scandi. It felt like a sneaky way to get a half-tanned/saamileather finish if you know what I mean

[Weekend_Warr]

I have to confess I dont like pure neatsfoot oil as it can over soften some items. I know some people have a lot of success with a beeswax/carnuba/neatsfoot mix which seems like a better alternative to me. The beeswax helps retain the stiffness of the item while the carnuba gives it a nice finish and the neatsfoot acts as a thinner for the 2 waxes.

I'm not sure what the quantities are though but I'll have a look and see what I can find, failing that, someone might be able to enlighten us as its a mix I want to try too

Tiffers

Thanks for the info - I've just ordered some saddle butter from the USA! Has a nice mix of all these ingredients and it was cheaper to buy a pint of it there and have it shipped (under a tenner). I'll let you know how I get on with it...

PS. I is a leather virgin no more - three wet formed items now awaiting stitching.

[Knife-Man]

Ok here is a question for you tiffer's. not really knife related but Im sure it will be helpful to others.

Ive made myself a nice leather watch strap out of Veg tanned leather. but because I like to feel my watches I have it tighter than most would and as a result the strap has stretched you can actually see it get narrower just before the buckle.

when I make a replacement strap is there anything I can do to prevent this?

Am I using the wrong leather?
Do I have to pre-stretch it?


Cheers in advance
Steve

[Tiffers]

Hmm, this is a characteristic of anything that pulls up tight to a buckle. I recently made a watch strap for someone and I used some very light hide that I covered some 2mm thick shoulder with. I'd be surprised if it stretches too much but I wouldnt guarantee it.

The denser the leather and the less stretch there will be. I guess you could always use german half tan leather to make it with, there would be minimal stretch with that.

Tiffers

[spamel]

Tiffers, I have recently relearned how to use a sewing machine, something I probably shouldn't admit to outside of this fine forum!! I want to make some leather bags for stowing bushcraft kit in, fire making kit, food items such as coffee and etc. What should I be using leatherwise, and will a normal off the shelf household sewing machine sew through leather? I take it the leather could be the thinnest available, but I'm not too sure what to go for and what thread also to use. Is there something the same sort of thickness as cotton but a lot stronger?

Sorry, loads of questions I know, but I am sure you are the person that will be able to help me.

[Moore Leather]

mmm - some good tips - maybe I should add some of mine sometime?

I wouldn't use fishing line for sewing though

IF you get THAT desperate you can always resort to Dental Floss

BUT - IF you DO want to use fishing line - take the hooks & floaters off first

Jon

(p.s. - I have now posted pics of some of my work)

[Tiffers]

I've got a falcon hood to make up and oddly enough was recommended to use dental floss for that, just to make sure I didnt use the minty kind

Tiffers

P.S Spamel! I'm sorry, I had missed your post and will drop you a pm

[Stew]

mmm - some good tips - maybe I should add some of mine sometime?

Yes you should!

I've got a falcon hood to make up and oddly enough was recommended to use dental floss for that, just to make sure I didnt use the minty kind

Any particular reason for the floss over normal thread?