Welt lock with stingray and a question

[Robber58]

I just completed this knife and sheath for a customer and thought some of you might be interested. This is the first time I have tried an inlay on a welt lock sheath and the first time I have used stingray period. Although I think it came out OK I had a real challenge trying to skive the edges of the inlay thin enough to not cause a big ridge under the overlay leather. The back side was easy and my knife worked fine; until I reached the calcium bumps on the front. I ended up using a file in an effort to get it thinned down enough but even that was not totally satisfactory. Are there any tricks to skiving this stuff or do you just have to live with somewhat thicker edges? Any ideas would be appreciated.
Randy

 

[sheathmaker]

The sheath is very nicely done, Randy. Sting Ray is almost impossible to skive and sanding often ends up with a somewhat thinner but ragged edge. I have quit using Sting Ray entirely because it is also very hard on the sewing machines. Using a slightly thicker front panel will minimize the halo shadow effect but it will still be there to a degree, and you will have a much more noticeable "step" at the borders of the window. Selecting the VERY small skins will result in thinner overall.

I just tell my customers politely that I don't do Sting Ray.

Also Sting Ray has become common and is seen in many wild colors which in my personal opinion only tends to cheapen your work and put it in a class along with the "off shore" produced goods where Sting Ray use is common, but as always, to each his own.

All that aside, your sheath really looks great!

Paul

 

[Robber58]

Paul,
Thanks for your comments and advice. I kind of suspected it was the nature of the beast but I had to ask. I actually eliminated the tooling I had planned around the window because I was concerned how it would look on my 3 oz leather with that hard bumpy surface underneath. I can see how it would drive a sewing machine nuts. It was hard enough to hand sew. I agree that the wild dyed stuff I have seen does not look natural at all. Frankly, even this black is highly processed but it does look pretty good in the right context.
Randy

 

[kid terico]

I agree with what Paul has said about colors etc.. I have used a lot of sting ray and have found if you taped it on your belt sander you can get it thin enough and get enough angle so there will be no line shown . It takes time but will work out perfect. KT