- Joined
- Aug 8, 1999
- Messages
- 402
Does anyone know if it is possible to dry leather in a microwawe owen? I know it's done in normal owens, but I'd like to speed it up a bit when I wetform sheaths.
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Leather in microwawe?
- Thread starter P.K.Hansen
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 19, 1999
- Messages
- 3,560
I think that you need air circulation to remove the moisture but I could be wrong.
If you decide to try it and it works email me first. Drying sheaths is a perenial problem around here. Right now I have 20 of them spread out on the couch on towels drying. My matrimonial unit is making sounds about having to find another way.
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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com
If you decide to try it and it works email me first. Drying sheaths is a perenial problem around here. Right now I have 20 of them spread out on the couch on towels drying. My matrimonial unit is making sounds about having to find another way.
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george
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com
- Joined
- May 15, 1999
- Messages
- 720
I have been around and used microwaves, in the restaurant business, for more that 30 years.
If you put ANYTHING in a microwave until is is even barely dry, it will be useless. The moisture expelled from the exploding cells will leave permanenet damage. Within seconds after drying the cells will be so inflexible that any attempt to form or bend will result in horrific damage.
Let the leather dry at normal human-comfort temps. If you try to rush it, the damage may take a short while to show, but it will be there.
One good thing about time is that it passes by itself, with no effort.
Take as good care of your leather as you would a treasured matrimonial unit. You will be glad you did.
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Do not mistake the edge of a rut for the horizon
WinDancer@OlyWa.net
www.olywa.net/windancer/webknives.htm
If you put ANYTHING in a microwave until is is even barely dry, it will be useless. The moisture expelled from the exploding cells will leave permanenet damage. Within seconds after drying the cells will be so inflexible that any attempt to form or bend will result in horrific damage.
Let the leather dry at normal human-comfort temps. If you try to rush it, the damage may take a short while to show, but it will be there.
One good thing about time is that it passes by itself, with no effort.
Take as good care of your leather as you would a treasured matrimonial unit. You will be glad you did.
------------------
Do not mistake the edge of a rut for the horizon
WinDancer@OlyWa.net
www.olywa.net/windancer/webknives.htm
- Joined
- Oct 10, 1998
- Messages
- 224
You can make a "hot box" out of plywood, some 12/3 romex, a porcelain bulb fixture, a cheap thermostat, and a couple hinges.
Construct the box & door, & make some shelves ( Mine's 18"D X18"W X36"H, & I used old kitchen shutter material to allow air passage between the slats).
Mount the bulb fixture inside towards the bottom, & connect it in series to the thermostat mounted near the top. Set it for 85F or so, and the thermostat will cycle the bulb on/off to maintain somewhat constant heat. 40 watt bulb should be more than enough.
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Please feel free to visit my page, & give me any comments or questions you have regarding my knives.
It's at-
http://www.mrcalifornia.com/~hjensen
Construct the box & door, & make some shelves ( Mine's 18"D X18"W X36"H, & I used old kitchen shutter material to allow air passage between the slats).
Mount the bulb fixture inside towards the bottom, & connect it in series to the thermostat mounted near the top. Set it for 85F or so, and the thermostat will cycle the bulb on/off to maintain somewhat constant heat. 40 watt bulb should be more than enough.
------------------
Please feel free to visit my page, & give me any comments or questions you have regarding my knives.
It's at-
http://www.mrcalifornia.com/~hjensen
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,449
I agree with Windancer on that one.
When I started out making sheaths, low these many years, I thought `Hey the Micro wave sure would help out in the time factor' There was a sheath that I needed to get to a fellow the next day and so, LUCKILY I tried a small piece of wet leather in the Micro wave before throwing the sheath in there, it did the curl up and die dance and I felt so thankful that I didn't put the real thing in, which is funny cause I am usually very impetuous and not one for having great patients.
What I do is to use a hair dryer to speed up the evaporation of the water, or like the box mentioned above, I place them on the dash of my car, great little oven that Sun, just until they start to dry and I rework the leather over the knife I'm working on.
Don't ever leave the knife in while it's drying or submit the knife to any heating while the leather is drying, just isn't good for the knife handle and the steel. I also wrap the entire knife in seranwrap to prevent moisture transfering from the leather to the knife during the shaping portion.
So the answer to question A. is Nope, leave the micro wave off while sheath making.
G2
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It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me,
it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html
When I started out making sheaths, low these many years, I thought `Hey the Micro wave sure would help out in the time factor' There was a sheath that I needed to get to a fellow the next day and so, LUCKILY I tried a small piece of wet leather in the Micro wave before throwing the sheath in there, it did the curl up and die dance and I felt so thankful that I didn't put the real thing in, which is funny cause I am usually very impetuous and not one for having great patients.
What I do is to use a hair dryer to speed up the evaporation of the water, or like the box mentioned above, I place them on the dash of my car, great little oven that Sun, just until they start to dry and I rework the leather over the knife I'm working on.
Don't ever leave the knife in while it's drying or submit the knife to any heating while the leather is drying, just isn't good for the knife handle and the steel. I also wrap the entire knife in seranwrap to prevent moisture transfering from the leather to the knife during the shaping portion.
So the answer to question A. is Nope, leave the micro wave off while sheath making.
G2
------------------
It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me,
it is the parts that I do understand.
Mark Twain
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Cabin/7306/blades.html
My ex put my son's sneakers in the microwave to warm them up after they were outside all night. They warmed up alright but they also reek! I've try baking soda and foot powder but can't get rid of the smell. Trying to dry anything in an M.W. strikes me as a very poor idea.
phantom4
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who dares, wins
phantom4
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who dares, wins
I am assuming that by drying the sheaths you mean after wet forming them? I heard someone say they used acetone or alcohol instead of water. It evaporates quicker. I have never tried it, I wonder if it works. I just let them dry by themselves, as long as it takes.