Dealin' with the fuzzies

[Phil705]

I'm kind of new to sheath making, and have had some difficulty with the rough side of the leather shedding fuzzy stuff. How and when in the sheath making process do you reduce or eliminate fuzzies? Thanks.

Phil705
Winthrop WA

 

[Wild Rose]

1) Dampen the leather and sand it off - I use a hand sander with 100 grit, Dampening keeps the dust down but also helps smooth things out.
2) Once that's done - burnish it while damp - I use a large curved rib bone, but they make glass burnishers
3) Once dyed/finished if still a bit fuzzy use a couple of coats of Gum T, burnish, followed by a coat of Leather Balm with Atom Wax
4) Alternative - Do step one and then glue in a liner

If the piece is heavily fuzzed I keep it for making a thinner piece i.e. 8/9 oz down to 6/7 oz - I sand, but if you have a splitter that works too

 

[Phil705]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.