Time to get a little more advanced with leather. Can you help?

sogflash

sogflash

Joined
Aug 28, 2011
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I've made someknife handles leather sheaths during the last 18 months. They are very simple almost without anything engraved into them, and that I want to change. The knives keep improving a lot more than the sheaths.

Where do I begin with making the sheaths more visually exiting? I don't even know the correct names and terms for it in English.
 
Check out Tandy's website and look up "border stamp" and the different kinds of "basket weave" and texture stamps as well.

If you have a talent for drawing then pick up a swivel knife, there are literally libraries full of how to books and a quick google got me several hundred pages of how to info both video and text.
 
If you pick up a swivel knife, get some tracing paper and a modeler. You may or may not like using it. I like it because I can plan out my cuts much better than when I just go for it.

With the paper, I simply draw the design on the paper with a pencil, then I lay it on lightly cased leather, then I use the stylus point on my modeler to lightly imprint the design onto the surface of the leather. I believe there are certain techniques to drawing so that you know what type of cut or stamp is used in that area of the design. Dotted lines versus straight, unbroken lines. That kind of thing. I just use solid lines for now. I'm very new at this too.
 
Even better, if you get a hold of some tracing film from Tandy it makes the job of patterning so much easier. Sketch your design out on paper and then transfer it onto the film with a sharpie. Take that over to your leather and use a stylus to impress the damp leather. Viola! You have a multi use pattern, I've used the same film three or four times without any issues. Keep the patterns in a good flat file and you can go back to them over and over.

The tracing film pays for itself several times over.
 
I started out using stamps at first. They are fairly simple to do if planned out well. I did manage to botch one of the weaves when I was doing it but it wasn't too noticeable. My first carving project I used a swivel knife. I just carefully planned out what I was going to carve first. I used leaf and flower stamps to add in the extras. I've practiced a bit more with similar designs. I also made a leather bracelet for my wife.

Here is the link to my first sheath post with pics of those sheaths. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1093732-Hello-from-a-beginner-leather-sheath-maker-2-questions?highlight=Ponsau
 
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Oh if you want to see some amazing leather carving/ designs look up any of Kid Terico's posts here on the forum.
 
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