Leather Thread! Masks and Sheaths for Axes

[FortyTwoBlades]

This is one I made for a customer. They wanted a belt sheath for a Rinaldi Trento hand axe. It has a swiveling belt loop.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Here's a mask I made for the mini maul I have down at my family's camp. The original leather one got misplaced by one of my relatives so I used one from inventory to do the fitting work.

Thanks for posting that info.... and, actually, for sharing your idea of using root barrier.
From the distance that HDPE sheath looks like black leather.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

It takes on a nice industrial kind of look to it as it ages and scratches over time. Tough as nails stuff.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

I got a bunch of discontinued leather samples for free from a high end furniture store today. Ask around in your area, it won’t hurt, they are great for banging out simple masks.

Some of those reds might look good on a fire axe.

 

[Yankee Josh]

I only ever make masks for my axes. I try out different shapes but they're always variations of the same thing. I still wanted to contribute to the thread though so here's some photos. I made this one last evening for the legitimus connie.

The positive side to making simple masks is that every axe I have that is hung, 130+ at this point, has a mask! Here's a few of those;

I have several axes that deserve a custom made quality sheath. Hopefully this winter I'll get inspired to take a long time with one and make something nice. These masks are all tight fittting and don't budge so that's good.
I'll keep checking this thread for my inspiration!
ITVD's sheaths are really something else... There's a few other guys on here who make some killer sheaths too but I just can't remember who at the moment... Hopefully they'll post and remind me!

 

[Square_peg]

First I apologize for not getting to this Thur. evening . We lost one of thee last four founding members at church. I am head of our facilities team and Co leader of our Security team and on our senior leadership team . I needed to be involved in the planning of the services for Tues. We had to have another lady taken out by the squad today and in my spare time I took the youth to the pond at the gun club I belong to for fishing so I have been a little busy .
my mask are not pretty like many here, but are simple and quick to make. I just got a new supply if rivets I plan on trying a double bit version

I like it. Simple. Practical. Functional. There is beauty in utility.

 

[Old Biker]

I made this for my double bit, out of harness leather.

I made this one for a Vaughan 28 oz, framing hatchet.

I made this one for the Vaughan 8 0z. mini hatchet.

O.B.

 

[Yankee Josh]

I finally tried sewing leather. And I used welt construction for the first time. I purposely made it really snug. It barely fits but that's exactly what I wanted!

I also have never burnished the edges either. I used water and the round part of an old file handle. Then I went over it with wax. It was a very simple sheath which is why I decided to try something new. I'm Happy with it!

 

[Agent_H]

And happy you should be! It is useful, user-made, solid, and pleasing on the eyes.

*I feel like I can see the bevel of the tool in the sheath.

 

[Yankee Josh]

And happy you should be! It is useful, user-made, solid, and pleasing on the eyes.

*I feel like I can see the bevel of the tool in the sheath.

Thank you!
You can see the bevel! I thought about wet forming it because I've never tried that either. After all it was a night of firsts. But there's not really much shape to form to and it fits plenty snug the way it is.
In case anyone is wondering, I didn't know this before this evening, and i thought I'd share it for that reason. If double stitching the thread length is 2.5x the linear length to be sewn. I had to look this up but can verify that it's good info. Just to save someone else the trouble of guessing or trying to find the right info. Ended up using 100" of thread for a 7" x 3.5" sheath. Also carnuba wax isn't the best for final burnishing... it's what I had and I'm impatient!

 

[plumberroy]

I like it. Simple. Practical. Functional. There is beauty in utility.

As I said before it isn't as pretty as many here but it is simple and easy to make . I just finished my first double bit version for my Cruiser axe I will post a picture soon

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

I finally tried sewing leather. And I used welt construction for the first time. I purposely made it really snug. It barely fits but that's exactly what I wanted!

I also have never burnished the edges either. I used water and the round part of an old file handle. Then I went over it with wax. It was a very simple sheath which is why I decided to try something new. I'm Happy with it!

Well done Josh!! Finishing up the edges nicely makes a big difference in the overall look of a project. Did you make a stitching horse for yourself?

 

[Yankee Josh]

Well done Josh!! Finishing up the edges nicely makes a big difference in the overall look of a project. Did you make a stitching horse for yourself?

Being my first time stitching I didn't know I needed one. But after pinching it between my knees while sewing I can see the advantage of having one! That makes your legs cramp in weird places after awhile!
I used a small dremel drill press for the holes. I need to get a few more items now that I'm doing something new.
Do you use wax for the edges? If so what brand if you don't mind sharing?

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Being my first time stitching I didn't know I needed one. But after pinching it between my knees while sewing I can see the advantage of having one! That makes your legs cramp in weird places after awhile!
I used a small dremel drill press for the holes. I need to get a few more items now that I'm doing something new.
Do you use wax for the edges? If so what brand if you don't mind sharing?

For sure! A chisel shaped stitching iron to punch your holes is preferable and you can only get your girlfriend to hold the thing for you so many times.

Unless I am leaving something an unfinished natural veg tan to darken with age I will not burnish the Edge. If I do burnish it, I just use water, and a wood burnishing stick to shape it. Then a little of the same regular beeswax I use for stitching to seal the edge.

But that’s not what I typically do. Usually I am staining and sealing the leather and in those cases I am using Eco-Flo Edge Flex Paint on the edges applied with a rolling application tool.
To prep the edge before painting I’ll moisten the edge just a little with water and shape it with wood. Then I’ll roll on a couple coats of the edge flex.

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

To prep the edge before painting I’ll moisten the edge just a little with water and shape it with wood.

Just do 4-6” at a time to get it in the sweet spot while it’s still wet.

 

[DB_Cruiser]

These are the ones I've made in the past year or so.

 

[Fmont]

You guys are all so damn good at this. I was okay with the collar I most recently made for a Plumb Connie. I cut the pattern and tested it, drilled some holes with brad points to try and get them as clean as I could. I had put collar in a cup and let it sit near the fire for a while until it was warm, and then I tied it on. Stretched a little more than I anticipated, but it fits real tight.

I need to do a lot more research into the proper procedure before I sink a lot of time into something ambitious. But there are a lot of axes here that have long since deserved something better than lots of duct tape and cardboard. And I've been putting it off too long!

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Real nice work! What’s the formed leather project behind it? Earbud case?

 

[DB_Cruiser]

Thank you! The formed piece is a keychain slip for a Vic Classic. I've been making a slew of them to give to friends and family for the Holidays this year. Stocking Stuffers. Here's a finished one I did for my wife. She was the test subject and she likes it. I am doing a few now with a vinegaroon black which looks pretty sharp.

Also wanted to add that I find your work inspiring. You make some fine stuff! Thanks again for your kind words!

 

[ithinkverydeeply]

Thank you! The formed piece is a keychain slip for a Vic Classic. I've been making a slew of them to give to friends and family for the Holidays this year. Stocking Stuffers. Here's a finished one I did for my wife. She was the test subject and she likes it. I am doing a few now with a vinegaroon black which looks pretty sharp.

Also wanted to add that I find your work inspiring. You make some fine stuff! Thanks again for your kind words!

Thank you for the kind words! That is a cool little design and your stamping work there is quite sharp. That’s some tough seeding in there.