rookie sheath maker question?

nickortizzle1035

nickortizzle1035

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Dec 30, 2009
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I am brand new to making my own sheathes and I wanted to know how do you guys get such clean and evenly straight edges on your sheathes. mine seem to always come out a little bit wavy of wonky. I have seen some videos of people using belt sanders and drum sanders, but I really want to keep mine 100% hand made. does anybody have any tips for a beginner who doesn't want to use power tools?
 
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My edges improved dramatically when I got my disk/belt sander. I even them up on the disk and get them smoothed up on the belt.

I could not get acceptable evenness by hand. For me resistance was futile. :p

I'm sure its possible, with block sanding, glue sand paper to a board and run the sheath edges across it, in fact, glue different grades of paper to a board and go from there. Lots of elbow grease, but maybe worth it if you want to stay away from machines. :)

Might create a 90 degree jig as well, like with wood sanding, something to hold the back of the sheath against while creating a good straight line.
 
thank you for the info. It looks like I may have to cave in and buy a sander. I wanted to keep them as "traditionally" made as possible, but the perfectionist in me is going nuts. do you have any pics of a jig for keeping them square?
 
Leave as many pieces as you can long, once they are glued together cut them together using a straightedge or circle guide if you can. When the pieces are cut exactly the same, it takes less sanding.
 
nickortizzle1035 said:
thank you for the info. It looks like I may have to cave in and buy a sander. I wanted to keep them as "traditionally" made as possible, but the perfectionist in me is going nuts. do you have any pics of a jig for keeping them square?
Click to expand...

Sorry no pics, its essentially two boards attached to each other in a 90 degree angle. Glue the paper to the base as close to the upper board as possible. I'd use good quality lumber for the upper to reduce chances of unevenness and splinters.
 
It also depends on your definition of traditional hand made - why? because "power" tools (pedal power, treadle power, animal power, water power, steam power, etc.) have all been used in leather crafting since at least the early middle ages (circa 1200AD) - unfortunately it's a modern concept that hand made in the past did not include power tools.

While as noted it is possible to use only hand power - sand paper blocks and/or scrapers - to smooth edges, power tools of a sort have been used for such for a long time. So while a modern grinder/belt sander (A 4" x 36" with a disc is usually under $100.00 and that's all you "need" for leather work) may use electricity as it's power source, similar machines powered by those listed above was widely used - even in smaller shops.
 
I do miss the Woodwrights Shop, its a great example of what was capable in the age before electricity. The pedal powered lathe was an amazingly efficient tool, and just as fast as an electric. Well, as fast as one can pedal. :p I'm sure sanders are on the same ideal.

My local PBS station decided that the Woodwrights Shop was out of date and stopped the showings. A sad day indeed. One of the last episodes they showed was a water powered wood shop, amazing stuff. I really want to eventually get every episode on DVD. That, and more editions of Foxfire. My family is from that region originally. :)
 
I can't really help ya there. I do all my by hand with a dremel and free handing and eyeballing it. No belt sanders here. Although I thought about getting one to speed things up...but then again I like to take my time and do it right. Enjoy it and don't rush it.
 
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