schmittie
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,963
I need your help, I would appreciate it. I have a leather horizontal sheath that I bought a few years ago. There have always been parts of it that I liked and didn't like. I've considered just replacing it and custom ordering something new. But after reading many of the threads here, I think I may be able to change a few things on the sheath I already have. (I'll post up a few pics so you can see the sheath, sorry they are not the best pics)
I'll offer what info I have on the sheath since it may help you too. I believe it is about 9-10 oz leather, it was hand sewn and I received it in the undyed state. The maker suggested shoe polish if I wanted to make it darker. Well, I did and after attempting to darken it with polish I believe I discovered that he actually meant shoe DYE not polish. All I really did was very, very slightly darken it and shine it up from the wax. But over the past few years from use it has darkened a little.
This gets me to some of my minor issues with it:
#1 I would really like to dye it a darker brown, something a little richer in color. But I'm concerned that since I already attempted to change the color with polish that the wax will keep it from accepting much dye.
#2 I've read up on wet forming leather to conform it to a specific knife and I would like to do that to this one. However, since it is a sort of pouch style, would wet forming be a dumb idea?
#3 After using it for a few years the leather is much softer and pliable that I would like. I looked through the thread about hardening leather and it looks like I could use one of those methods to stiffen the leather (rubbing alcohol, bee's wax, etc).
What would you guys do? I would enjoy the little project of moding this sheath myself. And I like it too much to just scrap it and replace it. It fits the bushcraft knife I made (from a kit) too perfectly to give up on it!
If I dye, wet form, and harden it, what order would I have to go in? Wet form first, followed by dye, then harden? If I harden with rubbing alcohol, wouldn't that mess with the dye?
What do you think?
I'll offer what info I have on the sheath since it may help you too. I believe it is about 9-10 oz leather, it was hand sewn and I received it in the undyed state. The maker suggested shoe polish if I wanted to make it darker. Well, I did and after attempting to darken it with polish I believe I discovered that he actually meant shoe DYE not polish. All I really did was very, very slightly darken it and shine it up from the wax. But over the past few years from use it has darkened a little.
This gets me to some of my minor issues with it:
#1 I would really like to dye it a darker brown, something a little richer in color. But I'm concerned that since I already attempted to change the color with polish that the wax will keep it from accepting much dye.
#2 I've read up on wet forming leather to conform it to a specific knife and I would like to do that to this one. However, since it is a sort of pouch style, would wet forming be a dumb idea?
#3 After using it for a few years the leather is much softer and pliable that I would like. I looked through the thread about hardening leather and it looks like I could use one of those methods to stiffen the leather (rubbing alcohol, bee's wax, etc).
What would you guys do? I would enjoy the little project of moding this sheath myself. And I like it too much to just scrap it and replace it. It fits the bushcraft knife I made (from a kit) too perfectly to give up on it!
If I dye, wet form, and harden it, what order would I have to go in? Wet form first, followed by dye, then harden? If I harden with rubbing alcohol, wouldn't that mess with the dye?
What do you think?
Last edited:
)... Before trying to dye it, I think it needs the waxy finish out otherwise the dye might soak in in some spots and not on others leaving it blotchy looking. Maybe you could try to get it out with a bath and wash in some acetone? As far as the sequence to do the whole thing...someone else would probably know better than me.