• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Plastic Cutting Sheets As Blade Protection

C

coote

Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
1,465
I needed something to make my machete blade safe. I don't have ready access to Kydex, and I wanted more than a cardboard and duct tape sheath.

I figured that cheap plastic chopping 'boards' (cutting sheets) are made to resist being cut.

So I bought a cutting sheet (Two for less than NZ$4)

QuickSheath1.jpg


Then I devised a simple pattern that didn't need rivets:

QuickSheathPattern.jpg


The flaps are about the same size, but they are cut to wrap alternately around the sheath. So the flaps aren't lined up with each other.... they are staggered. A hole is punched in each flap, the sheath is folded...then a single lace is used to string the whole thing together.

One thing not shown in the pattern is that the top of the sheath has a doubled over portion. ie: the top inch or so of the plastic sheet is folded over before the main folds are made in the sheath to provide a bit of extra thickness at the top.

This pic is intended to show how the flaps fold alternately:

QuickSheathFold.jpg


And here is the finished quickie sheath. It will serve well as it is if I just want to carry my machete in my backpack. I thought I could eventually fit this as a liner inside a belt sheath made from canvas, pvc, denim or polarfleece.

QuickSheath2.jpg


Just an idea to play with....
 
Nice job, sc.

IIRC, there was a thread on somebody flattening plastic plumbing tube and using that as a machete sheath. I checked my BF links but I couldn't find it, maybe somebody with the search function can.

That's not to belittle your efforts, which look very good, but mentioned only as an alternative, since you have a lot of Trams to sheath. :D

Doc
 
Thank you Doc. Squashing a plastic pipe is a good idea. I think I made a sheath for one of the bigger Cold Steel Bushmen by squashing a bit of waste pipe with the aid of a heat gun and an engineer's vice.

Ive also made smaller sheaths from polythene water pipe. Not as classy as leather of course, but it is a quick method to make a safe and hygienic sheath.

I want to have at least one nice leather sheath for my flock of Tramontinas, but the squashed-pipe-housed-in-fabric may provide a good alternative for my back-ups.

Nice to hear from you.

And any further ideas about leather alternatives will be welcome.

Regards..... Coote.
 
great idea Coote.. that looks cool..:thumbup: i love those plasctic cutting mats, i have one in alomst all of my packs and kits...
 
I've used pvc drain pipe (the thin wall stuff) to make a couple of machete sheathes - I basically used it just like kydex - heated it up, and then molded it to fit my machetes - I used aluminum pop rivets to seal the edge, and then peened the pop rivets flat. It's worked pretty well so far.
 
I actually bought a knife that came with a plastic lined sheath..the liner was uneven/not completly flat so i removed it to see what I could do..It was a section of black polyproplene water pipe. The writing/rating was clearly visible on the side. Its sold here in big rolls at hardware stores in black,blue,red and safety orange. It is used a lot in the oil and gas industry and fairly easy to work with a common butane torch. ( done like heat shrink) You might look into it as to a seamless option for your sheaths. That was inventive with the cutting boards.. I never though of using those even tho I have a smallone in my pack!
 
This is a very clever idea, I especially like the lacing, I never would have thought of that! Thanks for sharing!
 
Thanks for all the comments and ideas. I'm about to head off to work now, and this starts with a car trip of an hour and forty minutes. Then I have to set up a gazebo and a sales display and be charming to the public for five hours or so (which is generally fun) then pack up and drive home. But during this time I will have this and other threads from Bladeforums to contemplate.
 
Nice work!
I've used similar plastic, with duct tape.
Your's looks much nicer :)
 
I made a cutting board one also this past summer. I folded it, wrapped it with OD 100 mph tape, then drilled holes along the open side and laced it with 550 cord. sorry, no pics. i'll have to try PVC next.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top