KnifeHead
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2006
- Messages
- 5,573
Kerry: Do you stitch the desk knife sheaths or do you use a machine and if so..what machine? Thanks and they are surely beautiful.
Thanks much for the nice comment. Here is my process that I am currently using for stitching:
1. I use a stitch groover to create the stitch line. This makes a nice trench for the stitches to lay in.
2. I then go over that with a stitch wheel to lay out the stitch holes. This also refines the bed where the stitches will lay.
3. I made a "needle" out of O-1 and HT'd it that I chuck up in my drill press to make the needle holes.
I have seen other methods where people use small drill bits to make the holes but that tears and makes a nasty looking hole. My "needle" is just a smooth rod that is needle shaped and just the right size. The nice thing about this is the holes will kind of heal themselves and close up around the stitching. I am currently using the double stitch method but a lock stitch method would be even better for keeping the stitches looking neater. It probably goes faster too so I will be trying that on some test pieces till I get that right.
Gary Graley has been gracious to give me some tips that have helped my leather work and Tony knows a few things about leather work himself.


