hey guys. I'm gunna make a sheath for my sbenza out of 6/7oz. leather and put a ray skin overlay on it. my question is would it be more prudent to stitch the ray skin to the leather while im stitching the sheath together or is there an adhesive strong enough to bond it to the leather without stitching it? I like the idea of hiding the stitching behind the ray skin to make a nice clean look.
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rayskin overlay
- Thread starter RobertJ
- Start date
3M contact cement works as does Barge cement.I only do inlays myself as I never have liked overlays but gluing it should be fine.Be aware that if you have never worked with stingray, that it doesn't cut very well so I would cut it big, then trim down and sand the edge to be flush with the leather. You will have to dye the edge of the stingray as wellsince it will be white after cutting.Dave
thanks DC! Yeah I'm making the leather oversized as well just for "fudge" room.
Thanks for the info on the ray skin, I have never used it before so this should be a good learning experience. Im taking my folder sheath ques from Mr.Graley's Post and expanding on it. wonder if i should make a W.I.P. thread? Ive allready started wet forming so im not to far into it yet.
Thanks for the info on the ray skin, I have never used it before so this should be a good learning experience. Im taking my folder sheath ques from Mr.Graley's Post and expanding on it. wonder if i should make a W.I.P. thread? Ive allready started wet forming so im not to far into it yet.
TekSec
Böse Messer
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2006
- Messages
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Yes:thumbup:
nother question.will rayskin "stretch" to ny degree if you wet it then form it? i want get as many contures of the leather to show through onto the rayskin.
And another one. since im just gluing the ray over the stitched sheath should i use unwaxed thread to keep the wax from compromising the bond?
And another one. since im just gluing the ray over the stitched sheath should i use unwaxed thread to keep the wax from compromising the bond?
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I wouldn't count on Rayskin stretching at all, as it's some pretty strong stuff.As for the other question,I would not worry about unwaxed thread.If you groove you stitching channel the thread will be at or beneath the surface and you will be gluing on both sides of the groove.Dave
http://dcknivesandleather.blademakers.com/
http://dcknivesandleather.blademakers.com/
Thanks again DC. Nice lookin inlays on those sheaths! well guys i will have to finish the sheath before i post pics. my comp doesnt wanna read the card so ill finish it then post all the pics after i upload them on a buddies comp. Im gunna try to wet form the ray skin so if anyone else was wondering we will know.
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A few things ive learned on this project so far.
1. Mr.Graley,DC KNIVES, as well as all you other sheath makers have way more patience for it than i do. I would rather be grinding steel than bending leather.
2. Rayskin, when wet, WILL form better and STRETCH! It conforms real well but its to thin to stay in place. I'll let you know how i handled that once ive got pics uploaded. The stretch, while minimal is just enough to get the detail you want.
3.My camera SUCKS!!!!!!!!!
1. Mr.Graley,DC KNIVES, as well as all you other sheath makers have way more patience for it than i do. I would rather be grinding steel than bending leather.
2. Rayskin, when wet, WILL form better and STRETCH!
It conforms real well but its to thin to stay in place. I'll let you know how i handled that once ive got pics uploaded. The stretch, while minimal is just enough to get the detail you want.3.My camera SUCKS!!!!!!!!!
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As I stated I didnt get pics of the forming so we are starting out after the wet forming. My shaper is just a 1/4 inch SS rod that i ground to a bullet shap and polished.
Pic showing Mr.Graley's method of folding and cutting the leather to keep from getting a crease.
I decided since i was going to just glue the overlay i put the coarse side out to aid adhesion.
Drawing out the patern on the ray skin.
Pic showing Mr.Graley's method of folding and cutting the leather to keep from getting a crease.
I decided since i was going to just glue the overlay i put the coarse side out to aid adhesion.
Drawing out the patern on the ray skin.
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My homemade grooving tool
putting a groove down the leather
with the leather grooved i now mark where i will drill the holes with this little tool.
roughing up the leather on the inside of the sheath before gluing.
Didnt get a shot of gluing the sheath. this is a posed pic cuz i needed both hands on the drill press.belt loop was out of the way when i drilled
putting a groove down the leather
with the leather grooved i now mark where i will drill the holes with this little tool.
roughing up the leather on the inside of the sheath before gluing.
Didnt get a shot of gluing the sheath. this is a posed pic cuz i needed both hands on the drill press.belt loop was out of the way when i drilled
i use the "cross stitch?".
taking the needle through the first hole I even up the thread and then start passing both needles through the next hole from opposite sides.
this continues down the sheath til i get to where i will be attaching the belt loop.
now its time to add the ray skin.
taking the needle through the first hole I even up the thread and then start passing both needles through the next hole from opposite sides.
this continues down the sheath til i get to where i will be attaching the belt loop.
now its time to add the ray skin.
U can wet rayskin to make very pliable but you cant form it do to its thinness. so i positioned it where i wanted it on the sheath and smashed it together in my kydex press and let it dry overnite.
end result of putting it in the press
remove the rayskin and spread an even layer of glue on the back side of the sheath.
make sure you run the thread and needle thats on the back side of the sheath through one more hole to bring it back to the front.
end result of putting it in the press
remove the rayskin and spread an even layer of glue on the back side of the sheath.
make sure you run the thread and needle thats on the back side of the sheath through one more hole to bring it back to the front.
otherwise you wont be able to sew the belt loop to the sheath because the thread will be glued under the rayskin.
i didnt take pics of drilling through the rayskin and the belt loop. but after the glue has dried it was back to the drill and i floded down the belt loop and followed the holes that were allready on the sheath and followed through with them through the belt loop.
Before i stitched the belt loop on i took some edge coat and painted the underside of the loop.
now i start stiching the loop to the sheath
now i glue the front of the sheath
i didnt take pics of drilling through the rayskin and the belt loop. but after the glue has dried it was back to the drill and i floded down the belt loop and followed the holes that were allready on the sheath and followed through with them through the belt loop.
Before i stitched the belt loop on i took some edge coat and painted the underside of the loop.
now i start stiching the loop to the sheath
now i glue the front of the sheath
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i trim and sand down the ray skin around the throat of the sheath
now back out to the grinder and sand to final shape.
added the decorative grove the rest of the way around the belt loop then painted it with the edge coat.
now to take care of this problem.
now back out to the grinder and sand to final shape.
added the decorative grove the rest of the way around the belt loop then painted it with the edge coat.
now to take care of this problem.
cutting a slit through the ray skin twords the top edge of the sheath i then spread some more glue in the opening and trimmed the excess off then pressed it all down again and let it dry.
once it was dry it was back out to the grinder to finish up the shape of the sheath
after that i sanded down the edges of the ray skin then gave the exposed leather a once over with another application of edge coat. and heres the finished product.
once it was dry it was back out to the grinder to finish up the shape of the sheath
after that i sanded down the edges of the ray skin then gave the exposed leather a once over with another application of edge coat. and heres the finished product.
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It was a fun project and now i have a beautiful sheath to carry my benz in.
Thanks guys for the support to get a wip goin on this and thanks to DC for the ray skin info.
And last but certainly not least is Mr.Graley. Thank you for sharing with us how you make your sheaths. without your knowledge and methods i wouldnt have made this sheath. so THANK YOU!!:thumbup:
Thanks guys for the support to get a wip goin on this and thanks to DC for the ray skin info.And last but certainly not least is Mr.Graley. Thank you for sharing with us how you make your sheaths. without your knowledge and methods i wouldnt have made this sheath. so THANK YOU!!:thumbup: