Neutralizing a sheath???

F

From Tennessee

Joined
Dec 2, 2011
Messages
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I made a knife from a circular saw blade and a sheath from a piece of scrap. I have no idea where the leather came from but it was easy to work with, maybe 6 oz something I'm guessing. The blade is polished to about a 4 micro finish. In the morning when I take it from the sheath the blade is tarnished though it wipes off rubbing it with my thumb and leaves a somewhat patina or a "tone" I want to stop the tarnishing. What can I soak the sheath in to stop the reaction. Im thinking it wasn't vegetable tanned? I like the sheath and the fit just want to stop the tarnishing. It turns the blade almost black dont have a picture of the discoloration im talking about. this picture is after I wipe (thumb rub) it down.

FirstKnifeFinished009.jpg


I've added a picture of the blade after 12hrs in the sheath. Im hoping I can soak the sheath in something to stop whatever is going on. Any suggestions
SheathCorrosion002.jpg
 
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Sounds like the scrap was a piece of chrome tanned leather. If you take a piece and cut it, look at the center of the leather, if it has a greyish look, not flesh toned, then it's most likely chrome tanned. There is no stopping the tarnishing from this leather if it is CT, the reaction with the steel will be continuous and eventually lead to full on rust.
 
Based on teh picture it looks like vegtan since it apparently has been wet formed around the grip - something not possible with CT.
One of the mis-conceptiosn about leather is that vegtan is good to go as is - unfortunately the fact is vegtan is about 4.5 on the PH scale making it on the acidic side (7 being neutral), so yes even vegtan can cause problems.

1) DO NOT store the knife in the sheath
2) the dis-coloration may be coming from the dye/finish not the leather itself - happens all the time
3) For a fix-it -m try sealing teh inside of the shetah with something like Bag Kote - pour it in let set for a moment and then turn upside down to drain off the excess.

If that doesn't do it - start over - even after 51 years at this craft and as a full-time maker for the last 15, my scrap box tends to remain full of rejects and I KNOW that other pros scrap boxes do too.......
 
Ah, I learned something today....didn't know that CT wouldn't wet form.

Good eye Chuck and thanks for correcting my assumption :)
 
Wild Rose said:
Based on teh picture it looks like vegtan since it apparently has been wet formed around the grip - something not possible with CT.
One of the mis-conceptiosn about leather is that vegtan is good to go as is - unfortunately the fact is vegtan is about 4.5 on the PH scale making it on the acidic side (7 being neutral), so yes even vegtan can cause problems.

1) DO NOT store the knife in the sheath
2) the dis-coloration may be coming from the dye/finish not the leather itself - happens all the time
3) For a fix-it -m try sealing teh inside of the shetah with something like Bag Kote - pour it in let set for a moment and then turn upside down to drain off the excess.

If that doesn't do it - start over - even after 51 years at this craft and as a full-time maker for the last 15, my scrap box tends to remain full of rejects and I KNOW that other pros scrap boxes do too.......
Click to expand...

I was guessing Chrome tanned and its been a learning experience from the time I started the knife and the sheath too. I'll make another sheath for it and apply what I learned from this one which was quite a bit. Thanks for the great info and I give the bag cote a shot and see what it does but I do want to make a second. thanks again.
 
Not surprisingly I think Chuck has this one hit on the head. It could be the dye (seal it) - or it could be that it is a little too tight - a little to damp - and causing issues by simply sitting on the blade.

TF
 
BTW - what type of steel is the blade from? Some steels like 01 will tarnish practically just by breathing on them..........
 
You could use Ballistol on you knife.It has a high Ph which will nuetralize acids.It works to keep Randalls from rusting in the sheaths.
 
In my experence, the steel from circular saw blades make decent knives, but will discolor and rust very easly.
 
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