Well, I learned a new trick or two. Maybe they have been posted before, if so I missed it.
You may want to mould your leather sheath to your knife for a better fit, or maybe you made a sheath that was slightly too big (no one here would make that mistake, right?).
This is to be done after the sheath is completed but before you apply finish or waterproofing.
Wet the sheath down inside and out. Not dripping wet, but wet throughout. Insert knife, then put them in a food vacuum packer bag and vacuum it. It'll mold the wet leather right to the knife. Wait a few minutes, open the bag, and remove the knife carefully.
Let it dry completely before putting on a finish. Or you can use a food dehydrator to speed up things.
A couple of things to be careful of...try not to get wrinkles in the vacuum bag, as they may show up on the leather. The bags sometimes have a texture to them, it will show up on the leather. You could put in another smooth bag before in the vacuum sealer bag. When drying in a dehydrator, lay on a folded paper towel in the dehydrator, so you don't get a waffle pattern from the dehydrator tray.
Dan
(http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/OconeeDan/2009_0328Image0004.jpg)
Thanks!! Nice sheath too!
Very cool idea. :thumbsup:
That's a great idea I never would have thought of that myself.
don't have a food vaccum, but i usualy mould my sheaths by wetting them and putting them between heavy weight foam. then clamping in my vice between 1x4's. i do this with all my crossdraw sheaths.
Good tip! Very nice sheath!
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IN GOD WE TRUST
Where is a good place to order leather for a sheath like this and some accessories ( stamps? ). Also what kind of leather do you you specify to get this kind of thickness? Working on a knife now and sheath next.
I get my leather from Tandy. It should tell you the ounce weight of the leather. I also get my stamps from Tandy other than the ones I make myself...like a deer track and turkey track.
Good tip Dan!
Yes I see they have lots of stuff. What would I order to get something similar to sheath in this picture, chaps, sides, splits?
I generally just go in the store here(lucky to have one local) and telling them what I'm doing and they help me. I think this is what I normally get.
Oak Leaf Brand Double Shoulders 8 to 9 oz.
Sorry for the derail Dan! LOL! :knothead:
I normally get 9-10oz double shoulders. I have a local Tandy, but the last batch I bought from Siegal of CA online. Cheaper than Tandy and the entire piece is flawless.
Tandy or Springfield leather.
This sheath is 10oz, heavier than I like to work with. And harder to work with.
I like 7-8oz best. And 4-5oz works good for small knife sheaths and other things like cell phone holders.
Dan