Leather Custom Axe Sling Build

[ithinkverydeeply]

This custom sling is for one of the Kirves that Agent_H has. I’m still formulating what I want to do with it as I get it going.

The intended purpose was primarily for storage and transport so I was going to do an out-the-top flap with a D-ring on top to hang on a belt or in the truck. But after much deliberation I decided to put the flap on the bottom, flip the thing over and suspend it from a simple sling. (We’ll See how it goes..)

Stole my wife’s plastic wrap, in an attemp to prevent from ruining his axe by repeatedly soaking it in water..

These scraps are just going to be for the corner guard and I’ll use the bottom piece for spacing other molds and maybe for the welt.

Playing with something for the knob at the same time...

 

[Agent_H]

Terrific ITVD! It’s been traveling in a cardboard/duct tape “sheath” with me everywhere. I’ve seen your leatherwork and am wholly impressed.

Very cool to see it come together as you build it.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

I discover a couple of scratches in this piece of leather but it has come on this journey with me this far so maybe I try to antique it with the dye or maybe I just chalk it up a “natural variation”.

This funky shaped axe has a lot of compound curves! It’s going to sit like this..

Will it work?.. which way will it go?.. Will it ever be done?... Is our hero’s axe rusting at this very moment?!?

Stay tuned for the exciting answers to all these questions and more!

 

[OnceBitten]

Pardon me for saying:

You have a big pair of Nuts.

Carry on.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

I am very interested in what you're doing here, so I will be keeping an eye on this. I've been playing with a little leather working myself and still learning all the ins and outs. Love it when experienced craftsmen show us how they do it. Thank you for sharing your work and ideas!

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Well, I’m still trying to get the shape of this thing in my head and do not know what I am doing here..

I’m leaving some material on at the top of the handle because I can’t yet tell if the poll side will require an extra strap to keep it secured, with the axe hanging from just the bit side.

I’m still not thrilled with those three cuts either and if this goes south I might just reform a whole new piece.

I typically use sole leather for the welt but am trying something different here. Because of the way it will hang, I’m incorporating the D-ring into part of the welt. So the D-ring will be sewn and riveted into the entire length of it.

Wet forming a couple D-ring loops on the side.

 

[Agent_H]

That overall shape is quite a challenge. The work for them I’ve seen is pretty minimal compared to this endeavor - even cardboard was resistant to fold over it cooperatively lol.

The D-ring being fixed to the welt seems ingenious.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

The D-ring being fixed to the welt seems ingenious.

I’d like to think I’m the first person to do it. (as if)
But I’ve never seen it before so I’ll say I made it up until someone proves me wrong.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Skiving the ends of the straps here. It will neat up the edges of the finished product and make forming those ends easier.

My knife was dull, it proved much more difficult than necessary.
I should have just stopped and taken a page out of Abe Lincoln’s play book.

 

[epochelyptikal]

Interesting build coming together here. Definitely added to the watch list. Is the plan a sort of cross body carry like a messenger bag?

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Interesting build coming together here. Definitely added to the watch list. Is the plan a sort of cross body carry like a messenger bag?

Yes, something like that. Thanks!

Working on those strap ends and that d-ring incorporated into the welt is taking shape.

 

[Agent_H]

I am enjoying seeing the build process, ITVD.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

You can see how skiving those ends helps the profile.

I decided the strap on the handle might need something to protect the knob from the d-ring and trigger snap so I was more thoughtful about reforming a new piece covering the swell. (I might trim to size later.)

Here is a tip when doing this kind of leather forming: No need to over saturate your leather by drenching it with water or submersing it and soaking it for extended periods of time. I’ll spray it with water then put it in a ziplock or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for a few hours. It’ll be very workable without being putty and less likely to suffer from bad discoloration.

I’m using a much heavier hide for the backpiece so I grooved where the flap will want to bend then wet formed it. So I could contour it and stamp the back at the same time.

....it’s getting exciting now. I actually still don’t know if it’ll work without an additional strap on the poll that I really don’t want to have to put there...

 

[Agent_H]

You can see how skiving those ends helps the profile.

I decided the strap on the handle might need something to protect the knob from the d-ring and trigger snap so I was more thoughtful about reforming a new piece covering the swell. (I might trim to size later.)

Here is a tip when doing this kind of leather forming: No need to over saturate your leather by drenching it with water or submersing it and soaking it for extended periods of time. I’ll spray it with water then put it in a ziplock or plastic wrap and put it in the fridge for a few hours. It’ll be very workable without being putty and less likely to suffer from bad discoloration.

I’m using a much heavier hide for the backpiece so I grooved where the flap will want to bend then wet formed it. So I could contour it and stamp the back at the same time.

....it’s getting exciting now. I actually still don’t know if it’ll work without an additional strap on the poll that I really don’t want to have to put there...

There is so much meticulous work and thought going into this! I haven't seen or heard of anything like this being made for this style of collared Finnish axe.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Thanks for plying me with compliments! I’ll make things you don’t ask for or need.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Groovy

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Punching these holes with a diamond stitching chisel.

The local store was out of the particular color of light brown in the product that I want to use to dye it so I ordered some. Not too much to do till then...

 

[Fmont]

Wow, man. I might need to talk to you about commissioning something, because wow.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

Yeah! Really nice work!

 

[Agent_H]

There really is so much that goes into making something like this - I don't even recognize some of the tools pictured or even where some of those pieces of leather go!