Leather Questions

[Andrew Lynch]

I just got some very thin (2oz) pigskin to make leather outershells (for lack of a better word) for kydex sheaths. I have some ideas:

First off, would it be a good idea to get the leather wet and then put the leather over the kydex and put it in a kydex mold for a few hours? I'm thinking this would get the leather in the approximate shape I need.

Then, I plan to glue the leather on. Any suggestions on the gluing?

This stuff is already dyed it seems....do I need to do anything else? Perhaps put some leather lotion of some sort on it?

Thanks guys! I'm looking forward to making some nice kydex/leather hybrid sheaths.

 

[Wild Rose]

Andrew-
I don't do kydex, but I do a lot of leather covered wooden sheaths and this is my procedure.
"Case" your leather first - ie dampen it, not soaking wet, with a sponge until pliable - let it set until it returns to almost the same color as dry, but it will feel cool and damp. 2 oz is pretty thin so it won't take much time or water to do this.
Wrapping it around your finished piece and then molding it should work great if the molds will accept the extra thickness. I'll bet that being the leather is so thin you should be able to just wrap it around the kydex dry or very lightly dampened and "bone" it to shape. To bone it, take an antler tip or bone folder and rub the leather to the shape of the kydex. If you're real careful you can do this as you contact cement it to the base, which brings us to glueing.
Glue = contact cement #1 choice. Put a THIN coat on the leather and let it dry. Pigskin is pretty porous so use only thin coats of any glue. Then put another thin coat on both the leather and the kydex. Let the glue dry until tacky (should look shiney but dry). Stick the parts together.
You can also put a thin coat of glue on the leather before dampening and then put another one on the leather and kydex after dampening and then just glue and clamp or bone it around the kydex. Experiment on some scrap so you get the feel of it. Remember when working with contact cement that the two parts will stick to each other where ever it touches. Use waxed paper as a "resist" in order to keep parts from sticking together until you are ready for them to stick.
First alternative is to use vinyl flooring cement. I've got a friend who makes leather covered wooden cases and this is what he uses. Positioning isn't so critical as the glue doesn't set for about 15 miutes.
Second alternative would be to try a thin coat of carpenter's white glue (the waterproof kind) and then clamp the pieces together (if your molds allow it).
Finish: I would use either Fiebings Leather Balm w/Atom wax or their Tan Kote. Both excellent products designed for use on leather that will give you a water resistant low sheen finish. A finish coat of carnuba (you can get get it through Tandy or Leather Factory or just use Turtle Wax) would also work, but it will give give you a high shine.

Hope this helps - any questions feel free to give me a shout.
Chuck

 

[rev_jch]

you can try wet molding it, or you can try glueing it with super 77 3m spary glue (you can pick it up at lowes or home depot. Just remember if you want to glue it, make sure the kydex is "roughened" up a bit. Ive never tried wet molding leather to kydex, but I have done plenty of glueing it to kydex. you can also use upholstery glue, you can pick it up at mosy any upholstery supply store.

The easiest way to do it is to spray both pieces and wait about a minute and a half and press both together. to make things a little easier you can use a small seam roller (for wallpaper) to press it out evenly.