Leather question

[Fiddleback]

How do you get leather to shrink around a form such as in a half wood sheath? I am wanting to try this half wood sheath, but I can't find any straight info on how to get it to shrink onto the form. Do you use cold water? Warm water? Acetone? Is there something I'm missing? I also would like to make a wooden khuk sheath with bands of leather around it, but i would need the leather to shrink tightly to the wood. How do they do that?

 

[Kevin the grey]

If you use rawhide it would be a snap . Thats proabably not a viable response to your question so I will leave it to those more in the know than I . I personally hope to use a piece of buffalo rawhide . It is also the way Iwill be covering the tip of my Boken/walking stick . I will sew wet wild boar rawhide into place and it will shrink tight into position . I think I will sandpaper/scuff the end so it will gain purchase on slick surfaces .

 

[sogguy]

Hello all; does ayone know the differences in shrinkage between leathers/ Cow, calf, horse, pig, deer, elk, human ( I have an ex-wife that should be good for something).
Just kidding about the ex, I'm pretty sure she isn't good for anything.

Dick

 

[cavetech]

How do you get leather to shrink around a form such as in a half wood sheath? I am wanting to try this half wood sheath, but I can't find any straight info on how to get it to shrink onto the form. Do you use cold water? Warm water? Acetone? Is there something I'm missing? I also would like to make a wooden khuk sheath with bands of leather around it, but i would need the leather to shrink tightly to the wood. How do they do that?

The process should be similar to shrinking a sheath to friction fit around a knife. This topic is also LOADED with strong opinions and different techniques.

I would try the approach I use on knife sheaths. Dampen the leather with warm water. Don't soak it. You can shape the leather when it's damp and keep a wet cloth handy to continue applying moisture if it gets too dry while shaping. Then just set it aside until it is dried. I've also tried drying it under a heat lamp and in a toaster oven. Just letting it dry naturally will shrink it pretty good. If the first try doesn't shrink it enough, do it again. Using heat risks having the leather ruined and looking like a prune

 

[Leatherface]

Yea what Steve said...



Dont get it soaking wet or you will be waiting for a while for it to dry...Lightly damp and let her go...

 

[Fiddleback]

Thanks guys I'll try that. Is the process the same for rawhide?