Rodent9 Sheath. Getting better, but still tripping over my own feet!

W

Wyszrd

Joined
Feb 12, 2011
Messages
257
Been tinkering with this in my spare minutes over the last few weeks. I can see improvements but still making technical and stylistic errors (don't worry, I can still critique everyone else's just fine!). Stitching still crooked, made more obvious on long sheaths with long stitching lines. Tried some decorative border but put in one too many... My decision to punch some lashing holes in the bottom showed me that I need to either buy some individual punches or use the mallet to drive the rotary punch. When I tried using the punch by squeezing, the anvil left a permanent mark, and of course I had the anvil on the out side of the sheath for all to see! The edges need more smoothing before burnishing, and I need to do a better gluing job as shown by the gaps along the edge. Yes, it's a working sheath that's gonna take a beating, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be built right.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7074/7282850736_beb3ca8929.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64288790@N05/7282844728/sizes/m/in/photostream/
 
7282850736


Any better?
 
Wyszrd, Always punch front the top if possible, and regardless of which side you punch from slip a little piece of scrap leather between your punch anvil and the sheath to pad the anvil. It also extend the life of the punch tube by making sure it does not crush into the anvil. No anvil marks, ever!!!!

Never ever hit a rotary or plier type punch with a hammer, mallet etc. Buy yourself a set of drive punches if you want to do that.

Keep working at it and practicing. You'll be amazed at the progress. There are some great tech books, dvd, etc. available which will shorten your learning curve considerably. Check them out. Google is your friend.

Paul
 
Understood. I guess I'll have to get the punches since the three layers of 8 oz had to be shoehorned in there, with no room whatsoever for an extra piece to cushion the anvil.
 
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