Public Service Announcement. Don't put leather in the oven.

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
7,743
At least without closely monitoring it. :(

I cut and stamped a little giveaway sheath. Got in a rush and stuck it in the toaster oven on "keep warm". When I took it out the pan was warm, definitely not hot, but the sheath was toast(ed). Literally.

4hqMwf2.jpg


Tried putting a little neatsfoot on it, but the leather cracked when I tried to fold it. Edges are curled too. At least I only had a few minutes into it, and it wasn't a customer sheath.

I know the idea of heating leather splits makers. Some do it all the time, some wouldn't even consider it. I won't ever do it again.
 
Next time you want to speed up the drying process, borrow you wife's hairdryer and get the job done quickly without damaging the leather. The heat is moving and also part of circulated air so no one spot gets overheated. The added bonus is if it is done on a finished sheath the leather stiffens nicely to a "just right" hardness. I spritz all finished sheaths with a spray bottle of water and then flash dry to obtain the firmness, prior to the final finish (TanKote etc.)

Paul
 
Microwaves don't work either! Made a pair of spur straps look like a sponge. I do use the oven but have a repeatable protocol that I have developed over thousands of uses. Never quite kilt one like that though buddy! My wife uses Paul's method with the hair dryer for her tooling on her purses. Works well for her.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. Looking back I probably had it in there longer than I'd thought. I put it in, then went to do some laundry, when I was done I went upstairs and remembered it was in there. It may have been 45 minutes, not sure.

I think I'll cut a few stamps, case them then see if I can find a reasonable (oven) solution. Until then I'll wait it out and try the hair dryer. That sounds like a good way because you're dealing with it directly. Hands on is probably best for me.

Thanks again. :)
 
sheathmaker said:
Strigamort said:
see if I can find a reasonable (oven) solution.

Another quote: "There is little extra knowledge gained from the second kick of a mule"

Paul
Click to expand...

Probably right Paul, but I simply refuse to give up without even trying. You must think poorly of me, or at least think I'm a bit stubborn, but I like to learn by doing too. I hope you can respect that because I really do appreciate and respect your opinion and advice. Regardless of how it may appear, it never goes dismissed. I've learned a lot from you and the other guys here.

I made another example of the above. I did use a lighter leather this time because even after skiving, gouging a few channels (for the bend) and sanding the whole thing, I wasn't quite happy with the thickness. It's windy and about 90° out and I have it in the shade. I'm closely watching it this time. I'm thinking about leaving it natural because this Wickett & Craig is pretty dark. I'll report back on how it goes.
Click to expand...
 
As it sits now.

BcGstnm.jpg


It's really small and just a giveaway, so not very complex.

Thin leather is harder to stamp too. Have to whack it a bit more than 8oz.
 
Strig, I appreciate your position, but from my view it kind of reminds me of my childhood and young life being raised in Corpus Christi, Texas where there is always an off shore breeze. One of the first things I learned from experience was NOT to piss into the wind. Sometimes I think I need to revisit that lesson when I'm sharing experiences or giving advice.:rolleyes:

Paul
 
10-4 Sorry you feel that way.

Anyway, the leather did well in the shade. Dried quickly enough, but not so fast as to cause any issues. Unless I find a better way to do a few at a time I'll use the great weather at this time of year, or a hair dryer for times when I'm not so blessed.

I'll close this thread, it's served its purpose.
 
Hmm... not sure why this won't lock?

I'm glad it didn't anyway. A dehydrator sounds like it's worth a shot. I think they make them with tiers so I may be able to do batches that way. Thanks professor! :)
 
I have one of those big turbine fans in the shop. We put them on a table in front of it and go work on something else while they dry. Forced heat and leather is a no go and I put that on every single care sheet that goes out with a sheath. Not like anyone reads it. :D
 
I should probably include that in my care sheets, thanks for the tip. I have sheets for the sheaths, notes on the fire steel (if included), and a sheet for the strops. Amounts to a book if you buy all three! :D

Might be a bit much, but I was a writer before a sheath maker. ;)
 
I've made a drying box with a hair dryer. Took a cardboard box that some knife supplies came in, cut a circle in the side just a tad larger than the hair dryer end (which is tapered), then lined the cut with blue painters tape to keep it from tearing. Now, I insert the dryer, put my leather piece in to dry, loosely close the top to allow the air to flow out and turn the dryer on low.

It works...and works well.
 
Great idea Grizz,but I would probably burn the house down. :D

I'm kidding, I'll try that. I did up a sheath yesterday and put it in the wind. Didn't dry as quickly as last time. Maybe it was a tad cooler, or maybe it was the dye. Still, a few hours is fine. The weather will only last for so long though so a backup is a good idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top