leather work

[paintfool]

just a small question, should the leather be wet or dry when stamping a pattern/embossing?

 

[John L]

Generally speaking...leather should be damp when working. Damp..meaning ,lightly sponged, allow a little time to dissapate, and then stamped.

 

[paintfool]

cool thanks.
Steve

 

[jaegar]

The leather should be damp as said before. The color should be that of a blush compared to the standard color of the leather. In order to compare the two, hold your thumb over one spot while wetting the leather with a sponge. Another big problem for those new to leather is that they will not wet it enough. This was my problem until I got some instruction from an experienced leatherworker. Basicaly you wet it quite a bit, not quite sopping, but limp. (I wet the back and front, this is personal preference). You then wait for it to dry, about 15-30 min. and start working it when it has dried to a blush (Probably a deep blush). You will need to re-wet it from time to time while working, depending on the size of your project.
I did (and still do) a lot of leatherwork in previous years, so I am more used to it than knfemaking (for those of you that know me as a newbie)

Hope this helps, I can give you more info if needed.
~Brian

 

[paintfool]

Thanks Brian, I'm just about to that point, I'm finished punching holes so now I need to run the channel for the stitches, then I'm going to try and put my mark in it with a home made stamp.
after that I'm going to form it to the blade, it looks ok so far, I'll let you know if I need any more help.
Steve

 

[AKA Knife Knut]

Is there any reason you could not tool in the stitching channel? (newbie to leather)

 

[jaegar]

It's not going to be all that clean...gouges are only 10-15 bucks, so it's better just to get one. Gouges also measure from the edge of the leather, so the distance from the edge is going to be uniform. You don't absolutely have to gouge the stitching channel, but it makes for a much much nicer finish piece. Another tool that is handy/necessary is the overstitcher. It's a little tool with a wheel coming out of the handle. The wheel has several spikes on it, at uniform distances from each other. When run along damp leather, it marks little dots where you should put holes for stitching. You could also use a lacing prong, and skip the overstitcher. I find the lacing prong is a little uneven, and it makes holes too big for most projects, unless of course you are using lace.
Hope this helps
~Brian

 

[Dan Gray]

Is there any reason you could not tool in the stitching channel? (newbie to leather)

you don't need real fancy things to work with
look here at what I use for gouging
http://www.knivesby.com/dan-sheath-tutor-1.html
the Gouging is to protect the thread from wearing Manley but does give it a
nice finished look too.

I use the over stitcher to mark as well as an over stitcher

 

[paintfool]

Thanks Dan, I was actually checking out your tutorial before I started
I have the knivesby site bookmarked and use it quite a bit.
Steve

 

[Dan Gray]

that's Cool Steve
I was just ansering AKA Knife Knut's question..

 

[jaegar]

Thanks Mr. Gray,
I've been doing leather for a while, but I don't specialize in sheaths, mostly wallets, belts, and tooling...it's good to have someone that knows more than me to chime in....thanks! I'm going to print that tutorial, I don't do that style sheath, but I want to. It will be something to go by as I go through it.
~Brian

 

[Dan Gray]

Thanks Mr. Gray,

~Brian

Brian
My Father is Mr Gray,,,, call me Dan

Hey email me
I'd like to know what you'er doing in wallets (whole sale wise)
I have a guy making them for me for resale.