Leather Knife Scales

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Bighaze51

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Dec 26, 2012
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I'm wondering if anyone has tried this. I'm not talking about stacked leather but like on a stockman or slip joint. I was thinking of taking some of my really thick leather and pre dyeing it. Then glueing it on, trimming and shaping. And finishing with wax or possibly super glue. Any one have any ideas?
 
The problem with leather is that it swells when wet, shrinks when dry, and can rot. I wouldn't recommend it unless you want it to be able to be ruined at any time, and have a pretty limited life.
 
dkb45 said:
The problem with leather is that it swells when wet, shrinks when dry, and can rot. I wouldn't recommend it unless you want it to be able to be ruined at any time, and have a pretty limited life.
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That is a perfectly logical explanation. But then again, you have stacked leather handles and sheaths that can last for decades if properly cared for. I'm super anal about caring for my knives. I try not to let them get wet and am fairly successful at it :) I've also been thinking about all my sheaths I've made lately and when properly finished at somewhat water resistant. But if I seal it with super glue, that should make it even more water resistant. I don't know, I'm just brainstorming. I think I'm going to try it anyways. It's not an expensive knife and if something does go wrong down the road, leather should be easier to remove than any other material.
 
Well, I've started the project. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I've got the leather glued and trimmed up. I put one coat of dye on but after sanding the leather, I'm going to redye it when I get home. I've got it sanded down fairly well. After the dye dries, I think I'm going with a superglue finish to harden the leather and make it more moisture resistant. And hopefully, I'll be able to sand it smooth and get a nice polish on it

 
Okay, wife and baby went to bed early so I had a few minutes to continue. I've applied some superglue and did a little bit of wet sanding. There are a few pits in the leather I still need to sand down and maybe some more glue but I'm pretty happy with where this is going.
 
I'll be curious to see where it goes. My biggest concern would be that it will shrink away from the bolsters (the way old celluloid handles do). It's not as big an issue with stacked handles - they are put together under pressure, and most of the shrinkage is lateral rather than thickness.

But it's looking great so far. Interesting experiment.
 
Here it is. I recited with superglue, wet sanded with 220, 600, and 1500 grit sand paper. Then the buffing wheel with green compound on tight stitch wheel then red rouge on soft wheel. Finished up with mothers mag polish. I'm pretty happy wih this little guy now.



 
Looks great! although, it almost doesn't look like leather, more like some sort of plastic. What does it feel like? Does it have give? or did the superglue just make it as hard as plastic?
 
that is pretty much how we make our stacked leather customs. if it starts to show ware add ca glue and rebuff. should last a life time or two.
 
It's held up pretty well. I've lost some of the shine but I'm not terribly worried about that. It may get another buffing today
 
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