Sheath making questions

[SteelSlaver]

My knives have improved greatly and I think my sheaths need to take a step up. I make a decent pouch sheath but, it could use some refinement. One is my stitching holes. I currently mark a line with a divider then go down it with a tool that looks like a spur. Then I drill the holes with a small bit in a tiny dremel drill press after I glue up the sheath. It is hard to get the holes perfect and sometimes I don't come out right on the back side. How should I do the holes. Are there any good tutorials out there for stuff like this. Do you guys buff or sand the rough side of the leather some how to smooth it up a bit? Thanks Jim

 

[SDS]

I have drilled my holes out similarly to what you have described. Recently I started drilling only part of the way through though. Instead of drilling a hole all the way through I drill about 85-90% of the way through and then use an awl to make sure my holes come out even on the back side. I also use a groover before I use the "spur" type tool you mentioned. I mark a line on the back side to match up with the front so that I know where to punch through with my awl.

Before I do any marking for my stitching I glue everything up and then sand it all smooth on my grinder. I don't buff mine but I think I'm going to start burninshing it using a piece of canvas. I learned that one from someone locally.

After getting everything stitched up run the "spur" tool over your stitching again and it will help seat your thread.

I hope this helps.

SDS

 

[Wild Rose]

Try this........
http://www.wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tutorials/_leatherstitch.html

 

[SteelSlaver]

Thanks for the help Jim

 

[Chris Meyer]

On my last sheath I took some advice that someone posted here. I mounted my awl blade in the drill chuck of my mini-mill. I clamped a piece of wood in my milling vise, then with the power off, I let the weight of the mill/drill head push the awl through the leather for my sheath. Using this method, I can get the awl through both sides of the leather at once, and the holes are nice and straight. It works great.

 

[Hmathews]

Good advice above. I would add that it is important to have the edges as square as you can get them to the front and back of the sheath. An angle will compound any error in stitching. I like to square my sheaths up with a light sanding on my belt grinder going sloooow. If you go to fast or use pressure on a dull belt it is easy to burn the leather. Lightly and slow are the key words.

I used a drill press with an awl chucked in it for years. It is faster than hand punching the holes but you give up some control of the location of the hole on the back side. It becomes more important to have every thing right before you start the stitching. Setting the wooden block up in the drill press, so that only the edge of the sheath is resting on the block while the holes are being punched, makes it easier to keep the sheath square and the holes will be more likely to come out where you want them.