Makin Sheath Leather Rock Hard?

[joebuck]

I really come to admire and like those that magically treat their sheath work to some type of hardy snakeoil to produce a hard product. I have been using beeswax and snowseal to medium results. Can anyone share their special recipe on treating a laether shaeth to make rock hard? thanks

[skullworks]

Why would you want the sheath hard?

[joebuck]

cause i like'em.  

[skullworks]

Sosk it in water, shape it and let it dry...it will be rock hard then. I have no idea of what treatment would make them hsrder than that. I've seen kydex sheaths that are leather wrapped...I would guess they are pretty stiff.

[prarieboy]

get some parifen wax and melt it down soak Your sheath in it until it feels limber hang it dry dry will be hard as a brick when cool.I would use a double boiler system to keep wax from gettin to hot.I would also wrap my blade in saran wrap and place it in the sheath while it,s still hot! C-Ya Bob

[Ragnarok Forge]

Leather armor was made by boiling it in wax for a few minutes.  Should work on sheaths.

[joebuck]

thanks guys!

[ALW]

I was trying to speed up the "softening" of leather once for a sheath so I could form fit it.  I dropped a small test piece into  boiling water to see how much faster it would soften up.  It instantly curled up like a dog chew toy and turned rock hard.  

Aaron

[Ron LaClair]

Rawhide over soft leather gives you a hard sheath. It is nice for a big knife. Art Vincent made one for this big heavy knife .

 

[Mr.Vic]

Ron that gives me goose bumps!

[Maxximusgrind]

Tandy has a couple products that may be what your thinking of.I have used super sheen,I think that may work for you.

[bow'narrow]

Wet the leather, shape it to the knife,  dry it solid in the oven.Comes out rock hard.  Finish the outside with wipe-on poly by min wax.   Oven needs to be warm, not hot.

[TOEJAMMER]

Wet form it and apply a mixture of melted parrafin with a table spoon of saddle oil mixed in.  Use a hairdryer to open the pores of the leather and allow the mixture to soak in.  It will add a nice darker texture to the leather, waterproof it, and make it hard.  You can always reapply as needed.

[agd68]

You want rock hard leather,boil it.Put leather in water at a slow boil for about 3-5 min and it'll be like stone when it dries. Bear in mind the leathetr will shrink a fair bit and ironicallyu gets thicker when dry so experiment with some scap peices first.