Sheath Question

blgoode

blgoode

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 3, 2003
Messages
7,145
I made a horizontal friction sheath. The fir isn't tight but I can feel the resistance between the blade and the leather. If I tug slightly at it with two fingers it doesn't move but it does come out without much force. Should the friction alone keep it secure or should I try to mold it to fit with water and dry it?

I know its hard to explain so I may not be able to explain it well. Guess I'll just have to wear it a while then see if it falls out!
 
Don't understand the "fir" part of your post, lol, but if you made the sheath out of leather you can easily wet form it to your knife. Just wrap the knife in saran or something similar and wet the sheath with warm water. Put the knife in and squeeze the sheath with your hands to fit the knife the way you want it to. Once you have it the way you want it, slide the knife out and lay the sheath aside to dry. It'll take a day or two for it to dry completely. Then you should rub it down with a couple good coats of neat's foot oil or something to moisten it up. Some folks dip sheaths in a solution of 50/50 menlted bee's wax and parafin wax.
 
blgoode....

I have no idea,,,it sounds like water might do the trick for you,,,good luck

L6steel...Im one of them guys who dip the finished sheath in a hot bath of menlted bee's wax, parafin wax and Mink oil and neat's foot oil...

Now I love the dark color of the sheath after this dip, and the way the leather is so rock hard ,,but I have questioned the long-term effects of this bath on the leather...

any ideas?
 
Depending on knife and sheath design a "cam" in the welt that helps to lock the knifes guard in position when fully in the sheath will help. We used extra heavy, 14/16 oz. (aprox 7/32 to 1/4 inch) saddle skirting for welts and made the welt a bit oversize in the bottom so the point of the knife would be stuck into the welt a bit. That may or may not help with the retention, but would help keep the tip from going thru the side for the sheath. To a point a deeper sheath is better, as long as there is enough handle left exposed to get a grip on. Is this the one you were working on a few days ago? DaQo'tah, how hot is your mix? I never used that but I know several people that use that or something similar. I did some experiments with hardening leather like Cuir Bollei using hot water. Too hot and the leather shrank a lot, got very hard, but brittle. If you sheaths are so hard you're worried they may crack you may want to try lowering the temp a little. My boss at the time talked to the president of the tannery, but I can't remember for sure what he said the point when heat began to negatively effect the structure of the leather, somewhere around 200 deg F. I'm thinking.

Todd Brandel
Wolverine Forge
 
The Arador Armour Library..... arador.com
this page has a good ammount on hardeding leather with wax or with water. check it out it might be a nice little read for those who need help with sheaths hardening and such
 
can't remember for sure what he said the point when heat began to negatively effect the structure of the leather, somewhere around 200 deg F. I'm thinking.
Click to expand...
Leather will begin to shrink/curl at 167F - how much it will shrink/curl will also depend on the thickness of the leather. At around 200F it will begin to polymerize - in other words it starts to turn into hide glue - not a good thing in my experience - the leather will crack and even break if too hard.
An excellent link on how to "harden leather"
http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/leather/hl.html

My recommendation is to dampen the leather and form - while still damp dry at between 120-140F. The above temperature figure is based on 7-9 oz standard weight leather. Finish with your favorite finish. Watch carefully - too wet and/or too hot and it will shrink and then you'll have some of that Elephant scrotum leather that Gouge specializes in! :D

To fit a blade snuggly I use a welt that is about 3/4 the thickness of the blade - leather has a certain amount of malleability so the face and back will stretch slightly leaving a slight hump along the back edge but it will give you the best friction fit possible.
 
Thanks for the info. This is for the skinner I just finnished. I need to figure this sheath thing out. I think the problem lies in the welts. There too thick....I bet you thats it. What can I use to evenly cut the material down for my welts next time?

I may make an insert and turn the horizontal sheath into a neck knife or a vertical wearer. I'll figure this out!!!! one way or another.
 
Nabok...

You have asked me the temp of the leather dip I use....and to tell the truth, I have no idea.

I guess the temp is whatever heat you need to melt the wax?

I use one pan with the wax, inside a larger pan with a bit of water in it to heat my wax slower.
I know that the wax is warm, I use rubber kitchen gloves to protect my hands when dip the sheath , and the wax does not burn, But it is very warm .

The thing I have been haveing my doubts about is what happens to my sheaths down the line after this type of bath that I give them in the hot wax? I have read on other Knife maker forums, that some experts question the use of wax/oil dips such as I like...

so thats why Im asking,,,I just want to know if any guys have strong objections to my system?...Im right in the middle of setting up a webpage where I show my system of hardening a leather sheath,,,and I dont want to do all this website stuff and then have to take it all down later when I learn that my wax/oil bath is hard on leather...
 
I wish I had the notes I took when I was experimenting, but what Chuck says seems to square with what I can recall. DaQo'tah, I have a digital thermometer I think I found in the kitchen section of Wal-Mart for around $10. You could use it to check the temp of your dip, I use mine to check the temp of HT oil, and confirm the reading of my toaster oven for tempering among other things.

Todd Brandel
Wolverine Forge
 
Yep get a candy thermometer and use it - as long as you keep the heat below 167F you shouldn't be causing any damage.

Tod just noticed - you and I share a birthday along with Elvis! :D :cool: :D
 
Ha well, an early happy birthday Chuck, and Elvis where ever he is.

Todd Brandel
Wolverine Forge
 
Hell! The sheath seels perty good as it is! MAn I have OCD.....

I am wearing it sort of backwards on my belt at the moment. I made a right handed back horizontal sheath. Meaning it is worn on your back so that your right hand can get to the handle. We'll just so I can keep an eye on the knife I slid it around so its like a reverse cross draw. Its on my right side, handle twards my belly, riding on its spine. I kind of like it this way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top