stacked leather help

dbalfa

dbalfa

Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Messages
67
I am a relative newbie to the sport and am embarking on a stacked leather handle project from a bundle of hoof pads from my farrier days.

Would you fine gentlemen please share with me your "best method" for doing such?
1. method for cutting the leather - how big, how to slot
2. what is best tang shape/size
3.best way to attach pommel/buttcap
4. do the pieces need to be glued together / with what
5. what/how to treat the handle to get a waterproof, non-slippery finish.

Lots of questions I know, but I am confident you all have got the right answers- Thanks

DB
 
there have been many ways to put a leather washer handle together. the method i use is too long for me to type out here but i will be glad to help you out. i have pictures of one i'm repairing which will be of some help that i can send to you. here is one that i made last year http://mysite.verizon.net/ress6fq6/id31.html
 
Welcome to the forums.

You can make a punch from 1" or 1.25" pipe. You can make a center slot punch from a piece of 1/4" pipe (squish/forge it to the tang hole shape).
A good tang size is about 1/2X3/16".
But cap is simplest if threaded. The other way is to peen it on.
dampen the washers and put all the pieces on the tang. Compress them and let them dry. Take a magic marker and put a reference line down one side (it will be ground off later). Take the handle apart and stack the washers in order on a rod or dowel.Using a slow cure glue ( 1 hour epoxy, Gorilla glue,Tite-bond, etc.) glue up the handle as you reassemble it. Clamp it all tightly and let cure for a couple days. Grind the shape you wish in the now solid leather handle. Sand to 220 grit. Apply a good soaking coat of a sealant ( cyanoacrylic, epoxy, neatsfoot oil, minwax,paraffin, Linseed oil, shoe polish , .....).Let it dry well and hand sand to 400 grit. Buff on a wheel to get a darker and shinier finish, or just buff by hand with a soft cloth, carnuba, and elbow grease.
The washers can be purchased pre-punched ,in bags of 100 ,cheaply.

Stacy
 
I use a hole saw. It gives me the center which can bee notched with a rotary punch for more clearance. The discs come out nice and round allowing me to shape as needed. Hole saw size depends on application.
 
I used this one:
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13253
Cheers Ron.
P1011780.jpg
 
Thanks gentlemen- I think I can proceed from here, looks like fun, wish me luck!
 
I pretty much use the same process as above. Barge Contact cement works best.follow the directions. once cut out and tang holes punched. I use a 3/16 threaded rod, 2 large washers, and nuts. put a washer and a nut on 1 end stack and glue/cement the washers together, add a couple more than you think you need. Install the other washer and nut. This makes a simple press when the nuts are tightened. Also after pressing you can change to smaller washers and shape the handle before installing on your blade. Install on blade fine tune and finish. ( Just a note I use Acra-Glas to coat the tang for final assembly )
 
DB: Thanks for this thread. Personally, I had decided to never make a leather handle. You've got me questioning that decision. Especially since one of my first knives, I had for many years as a kid, had a leather handle. I, of course, loved that knife.

Ron: That link to Mike's (fastbreak's) thread on britishblades is GREAT, thanks.
 
I came on to look for this exact information. I came across a couple of Air Force Survival Knives and thought I could change out their handles.
 
anything you can find to suit your needs. if you can get some thick plastic you can use that or some paper micarta. different colored leather works good too.
 
Farmer Phil said:
Especially since one of my first knives, I had for many years as a kid, had a leather handle. I, of course, loved that knife./QUOTE]

Phil, that was my reason for this as well - I've got an old Camilus "survival" knife that was the first knife I ever purchased with "my" money from Gander Mountain catalog in 1982. I almost cut my hand off with that knife trying to drive a tent stake with it.....what a great memory!
I found in again a few months ago in a box of stuff.....thought "I wanna make something like that.....":)
Click to expand...
 
DB One thing that really helps over the life of the knife is for the leather washers to fit the tang. You don't want them loose prior to gluing. You can use spacers to dress it up and they should fit the tang also. I fit them one at a time and keep them in order if the tang happens to be tapered. If the tang has a threaded end that is round I use a hidden pin to keep the butt cap, washers and spacers from twisting. This is one I finished up about a month ago.
337818474.jpg
 
bladsmth said:
Welcome to the forums.

You can make a punch from 1" or 1.25" pipe. You can make a center slot punch from a piece of 1/4" pipe (squish/forge it to the tang hole shape).
A good tang size is about 1/2X3/16".
But cap is simplest if threaded. The other way is to peen it on.
dampen the washers and put all the pieces on the tang. Compress them and let them dry. Take a magic marker and put a reference line down one side (it will be ground off later). Take the handle apart and stack the washers in order on a rod or dowel.Using a slow cure glue ( 1 hour epoxy, Gorilla glue,Tite-bond, etc.) glue up the handle as you reassemble it. Clamp it all tightly and let cure for a couple days. Grind the shape you wish in the now solid leather handle. Sand to 220 grit. Apply a good soaking coat of a sealant ( cyanoacrylic, epoxy, neatsfoot oil, minwax,paraffin, Linseed oil, shoe polish , .....).Let it dry well and hand sand to 400 grit. Buff on a wheel to get a darker and shinier finish, or just buff by hand with a soft cloth, carnuba, and elbow grease.
The washers can be purchased pre-punched ,in bags of 100 ,cheaply.

Stacy
Click to expand...

Stacy, Have you had much luck with the Gorilla glue? The last time I bought a container of it after the first use the whole container set up. It does sound like a good glue for doing the leather. I do recall seeing the leather donuts but don't recall where. Where can I find elbow grease? I haven't done a stacked leather handle in years. Might be fun for a change. Thanks for the advise!
 
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