Leather sheath - waterproofing

calyth

calyth

#!/bin/sh of a man
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Feb 23, 2002
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I just made (more like botched) a leather sheath for a Frost Mora and I wonder how do I waterproof the sheath? I don't want to reshape the sheath everytime it got wet.
Also, it holds on to the blade a bit too tight, and I wonder if there's a way to make it less grippy inside. It's actually quite tight around the handle.
 
Twenty or so years ago I made a center seam sheath out of rawhide for a Green River knife that I wanted to waterproof againt all moisture including humidity so I gave it a couple of coats of clear shellac.I still have it and its never lost its shape or the knife in all that time,should seal the leather fine and stiffen it at the same time.As far as the sheath being a little tight,like all things it will loosen up with use.;)
 
Keep the knife in the sheath overnight and the leather will stretch. In time it will get looser to the point where it is a perfect fit.
There are a number of ways to waterproof leather. The most interesting method I know of is take some neetsfoot oil and beeswax. Heat the oil to about 120 degrees F. then melt the beeswax in the oil and dip your sheath into the mixture. Let the sheath absorb the mix for a few seconds then remove. Wipe the excess off the sheath and let dry.
Other methods are just applying the Neetsfoot oil inside and out, or use Fiebing's Leather Sheen(formula CH-42) or Neat-Lac leather finish by Tandy Leather Co. These are all available at leather craft or craft stores.
There are other ways but I cannot recall them at the moment. Sorry...
 
Thanks all!
I might have to try the dipping thing because I don't see how I could get the oil and wax into the inside of the sheath without taking it apart.
I think it was a fun thing to do, and I wish I could find a place to learn leatherworking. Then maybe I could make some nice sheaths and get a set of new scales for the Companion, then I could carry that in public.
The Frost Mora generated no reaction that I could see so far, but I won't take my chances up at the University. I went to the mall and it seemed fine.
 
Originally posted by calyth

Also, it holds on to the blade a bit too tight, and I wonder if there's a way to make it less grippy inside. It's actually quite tight around the handle.
Click to expand...

I made a sheath out of the hardest leather I had, then stuck a knife with a coated blade into it. The hard leather bit into the coating and made it really difficult to get the blade out.

After I tried everything else, I took a can of Remington Dri-lube and sprayed down the inside of the sheath. That seems to work on mine.
 
I just asked similar question in Shop Talk a few weeks ago, (that is a GREAT place to ask this kind of question!), they gave me similar advice to what Misque says. Use equal parts neetsfoot oil and pure beeswax, I was told to dip and withdraw quickly, otherwise the leather will "curl" and it is ruined. I will try when I have enough lether for a few mistakes, these things they always require errors as you improve your learning curve- but you can't learn unless you try!
Good luck, tell us how it goes-
Martin
 
The leather will only curl, if the mixture of oil and wax is around 225-300 degrees, which of course will cook, or deep fat fry a sheath.
Amazingly enough, people do this with regularity.
One other thing is to heat the sheath in the oven prior to dipping, keep the temp around 180-200 degrees F., and only heat the sheath 10 12 minutes.
Good luck.:)
 
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