Let's see your handmade axe covers!

rjdankert said:
The "washers" or burrs aren't supposed slide down the rivet.

I use the scrap of thick walled tubing in the above photo to pound the burr down tight. Then if needed, trim the rivet off with a side cutter. This will leave enough to peen the rivet over the burr. I peen them down to where none of the rivet is above the burr. If it's not smooth it could catch on something like clothing or fingers. :eek: And IMHO it looks better.

Bob
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No. The burr wouldn't even begin to go on. And others in the same batch worked as they were supposed to. Where did I say the words "slide down the rivet"? Right, I didn't.
 
olybears57 said:
Very nice indeed! I need to learn to saddle stitch
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It's easy, beautiful, and says "handmade" like no other. Basics are, use an overstitch wheel to mark the leather, punch the holes with an awl, then, the needle goes through each hole twice. Pliers are helpful to pull the needle through the holes.
 
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The work in these photos is very impressive. Could one of you post how to make these with some photos? Basics like how to measure, layout, make clean cuts and stich or rivet wiuld be very helpful. I'd love to be able to make one of these. Thanks for starting a really neat thread, very enjoyable to see these.
 
jeffbird said:
The work in these photos is very impressive. Could one of you post how to make these with some photos? Basics like how to measure, layout, make clean cuts and stich or rivet wiuld be very helpful. I'd love to be able to make one of these. Thanks for starting a really neat thread, very enjoyable to see these.
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I can take some pictures next time, but basically, it goes like this:

I freehand draw whatever design i want arount the profile of the axe on a piece of paper. I'm sure that there are better ways, but I do everything freehand and by eye. I cut out my pattern and transfer it to leather. I use a simple box cutter to cut out my patterns. I use my belt sander to clean up my cuts, and match the two pieces perfectly.

After I have two identical pieces of leather, I dye it, chamfer the edges, and wax the leather with my own beezwax concoction, similar to obenaufs. I burnish the edges with a burnishing attachment to my dremel tool, which I bought on ebay. You could make your own.

Now i line up my rivets by eye, evenly spaced, making sure that the bit will still fit well. I punch the holes for the rivets, then peen them. Finally, i measure any straps, and repeat the above for the strap.

Hope this helps. Any questions, just ask!
 
quinton said:
It's easy, beautiful, and says "handmade" like no other. Basics are, use an overstitch wheel to mark the leather, punch the holes with an awl, then, the needle goes through each hole twice. Pliers are helpful to pull the needle through the holes.
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The way I learned to do it is with two needles, one at each end of the thread. You sew from one end to the other, one needle from each side. You make an overhand knot through each hole, ensuring that even if a stitch is cut or worn through the whole piece doesn't unravel. What you use to punch the holes is immaterial - some use a drill press, dremel, awl, or punch, based on what they have available. It's important to wet the leather before stitching, otherwise it's quite tough going.

I'll take some shots of my masks tomorrow to post.

I like these threads because I like seeing how other people solved the problems I'm trying to solve :)
 

I have made a few and they all kind of follow the same idea everything is leather except the stud I lace them with kangaroo lace.
Nothing fancy but deffinatly better than I thought I could do.
 
samek said:
some of my work:

Samek
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Really awesome. I've come across that pic a bunch of times while looking for ideas. Can you tell us, is there some particular finish or "type" of leather on the Estwing (sheath of course, not the handle)? I really like that one.
 
It's called latigo leather. One of the old timers who taught me proper grain orientation in a handle, also built, and restored Eugene Minihan, Kentucky spring seat saddles. Very intelligent, and talented old feller too,(I miss him so much) could do ANYTHING with wood or leather.
 
quinton said:
It's called latigo leather. One of the old timers who taught me proper grain orientation in a handle, also built, and restored Eugene Minihan, Kentucky spring seat saddles. Very intelligent, and talented old feller too,(I miss him so much) could do ANYTHING with wood or leather.
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:thumbup: off to ebay.
 
I can't compete with the talent here but I have done something so I'll post it up. I love this type of thread. It shows you some beautiful work and also gives you some ideas on what to try next.

I don't have rivets and haven't mastered stitching yet but that is next.

I threw in some kydex covers because the thread says "hand made" and all of my kydex work is done by hand, one at a time, by me.

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For those of you using stitching, how do you keep the bit from cutting the threads?
 
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