Open spine sheaht for KZII!

That looks a great sheath ... :thumbup:

Having a zig zag pattern on the back of sheaths that I have done for myself is innevitable if you are just using your "eye" and a "thimble" to push the needle through ... even if you drill the leather with a fine drill bit on a dremmel it is the same result if doing it "freehand" ...

To get it "right" on a thick welt you need to have the dremmel mounted in an overhead cradle rig .... kinda like a reloading press where you can bring the drill down perfectly vertical each time .... I've seen them in the DIY stores but never felt the need to get one for my own stuff ....

I am with Jared on this .... if it is round the back and out the way .... no worries :D
 
PeterPHWS said:
That looks a great sheath ... :thumbup:

Having a zig zag pattern on the back of sheaths that I have done for myself is innevitable if you are just using your "eye" and a "thimble" to push the needle through ... even if you drill the leather with a fine drill bit on a dremmel it is the same result if doing it "freehand" ...

To get it "right" on a thick welt you need to have the dremmel mounted in an overhead cradle rig .... kinda like a reloading press where you can bring the drill down perfectly vertical each time .... I've seen them in the DIY stores but never felt the need to get one for my own stuff ....

I am with Jared on this .... if it is round the back and out the way .... no worries :D
Click to expand...

I have been eyeing a dremmel press for a long time. I was going to get one for christmas from my in laws, but instead I got a bunch of pots and pans??????????????????????? Seriously?


I'll get one eventually.
 
I once did a sheath that was only five layers at the thickest, but making the holes with the needle. I'd say it takes about 60-80 pounds of force to get the needle through the leather. Finishing the project took a half dozen needles and about 15 hours of stitching.
That was a very painful experience.

Now I have a drill press, thank goodness.
 
Joshua J. said:
I once did a sheath that was only five layers at the thickest, but making the holes with the needle. I'd say it takes about 60-80 pounds of force to get the needle through the leather. Finishing the project took a half dozen needles and about 15 hours of stitching.
That was a very painful experience.

Now I have a drill press, thank goodness.
Click to expand...

:D I know what you mean .... it is so easy to snap the eyelet end of the needle because of the force needed to push it through ....

Can you believe I tried my first sheath freehand without a thimble or pliers to pull the needle through ??? After an hour I was resorting to trying to use my thumb nail to push down on the eyelet end of the needle .... needles to say the contact "slipped" and the needle went down between my thumb and thumb nail .... :D if I had neighbours nearby they would have thought I had "terrets syndrome" they way I was cursing after doing that .... especially when I had to pull the needle out with a pair of pliers .... then ofcourse the benefit of the pliers dawned on me .... and I searched and found a thimble ...:D
 
PeterPHWS said:
:D I know what you mean .... it is so easy to snap the eyelet end of the needle because of the force needed to push it through ....

Can you believe I tried my first sheath freehand without a thimble or pliers to pull the needle through ??? After an hour I was resorting to trying to use my thumb nail to push down on the eyelet end of the needle .... needles to say the contact "slipped" and the needle went down between my thumb and thumb nail .... :D if I had neighbours nearby they would have thought I had "terrets syndrome" they way I was cursing after doing that .... especially when I had to pull the needle out with a pair of pliers .... then ofcourse the benefit of the pliers dawned on me .... and I searched and found a thimble ...:D
Click to expand...

I have used coins to push the punch through. I don't use the needles to punch the hole.

I have several leather punches Round, diamond, triangle, etc.

I have had to use a hammer and then pliers to get the punch back out.

For this sheath, I used a grooved punch that is meant to actually thread the hole. But I used it without the thread, then pulled the needles through by hand.

The threaded awl, actually was much easier to push through than a any of my other punches. I am a bit concerned about breaking it off in the leather.

I did that with a handful of drill bits on the last big sheath, then you have to try to get those nasties out of the leather.
 
Well now I use a dremmel and so far so good .... I might get a drill press for it though if I find one when I am doing more sheaths .... coins sound a handy idea if you cannot get a metal thimble .... :thumbup:
 
PeterPHWS said:
Well now I use a dremmel and so far so good .... I might get a drill press for it though if I find one when I am doing more sheaths .... coins sound a handy idea if you cannot get a metal thimble .... :thumbup:
Click to expand...

The coin sounds handy till you slip a needle past it and into your thumb. It takes a bit of pressure to push the eye portion of one of those leather stitching needles into your thumb, but it can be done! Waxed linen thread and all! That one hurt! about .5 of an inch into the thumb!
 
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