Softening Leather ???

T

Terry_Dodson

Joined
Jul 10, 2002
Messages
839
I was looking for some leather to make a sheath for my latest knife, i went to the only place i can find local that carries any leather. All they has was a 1lb Premium Leather Trim Pack of scrap remnants that had a tan piece a between 1/16" and 1/8" i thought was big enough to make a sheath. When i got it home and opened the pack it did have 1 fairly good size piece but it feels hard and i am afraid if i bend it much it will crack. Do i need to soften this before i start to make the sheath? And if so what do i need to do to it before i start?
 
Terry,
Make sure it's veggy tanned leather. Most of those "Scrap packs" like you'd get at Hobby Lobby or Michaels are chem tanned and will corrode almost any blade. Major frustration! You'd be better served by ordering from a reputable leather supplier.
Email Sandy and get a couple of leads to websites from him.
 
If it's vegetable tanned leather you can soak it in water. I prefer to boil water and put the leather in, then let it cool in the water. just be sure you oil the knife well while you're working with the leather wet, then let it dry, it takes about a day or day and a half depending on how thick the leather is.


Tony
 
Alcohol usually works to soften it for wet-forming as well. It works like water, but dries a lot faster. I've used denatured, but rubbing alcohol probably works too.

-Will
 
Dealers:
Siegel of Ca
www.siegelofca.com

Demers Leather
http://www.surehost.net/demersleather/store/commerce.cgi?product=Shoulders&cart_id=6128974.83566

Get a double shoulder of vegtan cow - Demers stuff is excellent - a 12 square foot shoulder will run about $75.00 with postage and that will make a BUNCH of sheaths.

Tandy/Leather factory is another option if there is one near.

As for wetting to bend - just plain ole tap water (luke warm) is best. Boiling hot water can damage the leather dependent on the thickness and isn't necessary (just check out Mater Mark Williams elephant scrotum sheath sometime..... :rolleyes:).
As for alcohol - yep it and acetone both work but they also pull out all or at least most of the essential oils that are infused into it to keep it flexible and alive and that causes damage. Wiping the surface down with alcohol or acetone to deglaze it is fine but soaking is IMO a major no no.

Leather doesn't need to be sopping wet to mold - in fact it can be counter productive.
 
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