Stacked Leather Washer Handle-Questions

[Steven Penner]

Stacked Leather Washer Handle questions

Dye
Do you dye the washers first, or last?
I’m aiming for a varied colour and soIi am thinking to use 2 or 3 different dyes used to colour the individual washers first.

Any dye recommendations?
I’m thinking alcohol based rather that water based, although not sure why.

Assembly
I am also thinking that I should glue the whole stack together before putting on the knife.
I'm leaning toward epoxy.
Barge / contact cement vs. epoxy???

Stabilizing / weather treatment
Buffing with beeswax at the end vs. having the whole washer stack stabilized???

Also considering soaking in melted beeswax as I have seen on other leather working tutorials, but I’m afraid that would kill any glue bonds there are.


Any other ideas or considerations ???

 

[richard j]

there are many ways to do a stacked leather washer handle. the method i used last turned out pretty good. i used a water based contact cement made by duro. i applied the cement to each piece then slid half on the tang to line them up before clamping the washers together and removing them so i could do the other half. once i had the 2 halves clamped and set, i applied cement where the 2 halves went together and put them on the tang to line them up. i put a clamp on and let the cement dry. i put superglue on when i was done which made the leather dark. i didnt dye my leather which gave me the pattern thats on the knife now. i just posted pictures of it in fixed blades for sale yesterday if you wish to look at it.

 

[Robert Mayo]

Steve
I would dye the leather first. When i do a stacked handle i add a little acetone to the mixed epoxy then rub it in well to each piece as i put them on the tang then clamp it nice and tight and grind or file to shape after the epoxy has set. It gives me a nice hard water proof handle.

Bob

 

[John Andrews]

I use tooling leather. I cut the washers and then cut the tang hole. Then soak the washers in water for a few minutes and then slide them onto a 1/4" or 3/8" bolt that is longer than the tang of the knife.
First, slide a washer that's larger than the leather washers on the bolt and let the bolt head stop the steel washer.
Then, slide the leather washers onto the bolt and apply the other metal washer at the end of the stacked leather washers.
Next step is to apply the nut and crank the nut down until the washers are pretty well compressed. You want some good compression on the washers but not too mutch or your leather washers will be pretty badly distorted.

Then remove when dry and dye the leather. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THE LEATHER WASHERS IN THE EXACT ORDER WHEN THEY CAME OFF THE FORMING BOLT, IF POSSIBLE. Reason being, the washers are wet formed together and when applied to the tang, they won't move around. There is just enough distortion/forming to insure the leather washers won't turn.

I then apply contact cement to both contact sides of the washers, let dry, and slide them onto the tang after I apply my AcraGlas Gel to the tang. As you add the washers on the tang you can fill any tang/leather voids with the 'glas.

This has always worked for me and turns out a handle that doesn't have the leather washers shrinking and moving. It was taught to me by a master with leather that makes my sheaths, Eldon Aby from Oquawka, Ill.

Apply the tang end nut or other means of pressure on the stack, and let dry.

I don't cut round leather washers, I cut square ones so I have a reference when grinding the stacked handle to the desired round/shape.

You want to be careful, the grinding belts eat the meat of the stacked leather really fast. A light touch and a good fresh belt is best because you don't want to burn the leather if you are at the desired or close to finish demensions.

Finish as you like, with leather treatment of your choice. You may want to add some additional dye to the handle before the final coat of sealer and finish materials. The stacked leather handle building was taught to me by my sheath maker ,Eldon Aby from Oquawka, Ill., a master with leather.

Edited to add, I prefer a good alcohol based dye.