Since you have access to free leather, it might be worthwhile practicing some of the basics with the leather you have. It would be much better if you could come up with some 8/9 oz leather for making sheaths etc. Nothing is wrong with the leather you have so some of the touchups (burnishing, fine trimming etc) would probably add something of a more professional look. Also, check your local library for books and DVD's. They may even order DVD's. Chuck Burrows at Wild Rose Trading has some very good ones. Some of the people who have commented here also have good instructional DVD's that will help give you more of a sense of direction.
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so my sheaths are horrible, how do i make em better
- Thread starter Crawdaddy
- Start date
Going by the things you've said, and how it appears, I'm putting my money on your leather being veg tanned. The stamping, original color and something else you said (can't recall) make it sound so anyway.
Your view on form and function sounds well thought out. I can really appreciate wanting to do something different and unique. Finding your own style is possible, but remember that what people want doesn't always match what you like. We were just talking about this in another thread. I personally love the wild stuff, but that's simply not what anyone orders. The fact that you are selling knives primarily, and accompanied sheaths as secondary may allow you more wiggle room in that sense.
Whatever the case, it sounds like you're on a good path. I look forward to your further work.
WOOHOOO, i stopped at the saddle shop and asked, then i called tandy and asked, then i spent a little time researching on the net. here is what i found and was told
Saddle shop - it's veggie tanned
Tandy leather - it's veggie tanned, chrome tanned leather, i had them ask several people, can't be tooled or dyed. if that is not correct then please contact tandy and inform them
net search - look for chemical layer when cut , no chemicla layer inevidence that i can see
and according to all 3, best i can tell and what i was told is i am dealing with veggie tanned, so my leather is good to go, my leather work, well i am waiting to see how i do, hopefully i can implement some (hopefully all) of what has been shared with me
don't want to start a new thread on this, but to those who also questioned that is what i found... woohooo, now it's time to get my lazy hinnie back to work....lol i have to go load the trailer and take a load of scrap to the scrap yard. still have clean up to do around here.
and THANK YOU to all who have contributed, means a lot
ok, the leather is veggie tanned, and it does not appear to be dyed, i looked at the saddles while i was at their shop and it looks like they dye after they cut out the pieces. will research how to "case?" the leather, wrinkled smooth, i wasn't aware it made a big difference, but if that is what is needed i'll see if i can figure it out. thanks for the heads up on that
yes practicing on the free leather, i just didn't know what to practice, now that i have some feedback i'm fixing to burn through some leather practicing. i have looked at a bunch of videos by Ian Atkins on youtube, his old channel name was satan's barber, his work is awesome, but i just couldn't figure out how to adjust things to make them look like his, now that i have some feedback i will practice and see what i can come up with.
thank you for the input , all is welcome and i appreciate it
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2009
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I can't really add much to what has already been said but this....if you are selling your knives, take the profits from selling a couple of knives and buy yourself a single or double shoulder. Springfield Leather has much better prices than Tandy. Practice on the scrap you get from the dumpster and when your skills improve start working with the better stuff. Also, start charging for your sheaths. I understand in the beginning you don't want to charge much because you want to get your name out and make some money...but you are doing yourself a disservice by not charging for your time. Heck even if it's $5 or $10 for these current sheaths...that's an extra $5-10 you didn't have and closer to getting some good leather to work with...or tools.
thank you and it has been considered, but all things in order. i had steel i rescued from our house fire, and some handle material, of course the stuff nobody liked, but i used it, got enough after bills and bought the diamond wood for the handles, next is to buy some steel, these pitted files are killing me. and thank you again for your input it is appreciated