Whacha Been Up To......

[SwissHeritageCo]

Still kicking stuff out around here. Getting the Christmas orders out. Nichole just finished a purse and is working on a duffel bag. She won't give me pics though till after Christmas as they are both personalized with brands so we're always kinda careful of posting those kinda pics prior to the Holiday, don't want to give anything away. I'm partway through another batch of knives and should have them done say Monday. I did finish off this pair of spur straps:

A Couple of belts too. Hardware except the tip provided by the customer, I sourced the tip. First Ranger belt I've made in25 years or so. I've done quite a few tapered belts but this is a true Ranger belt that slips back on itself underneath the buckle.

It's always tough to take pics of belts. Only so many poses I guess. Un split fire wood from above was our backdrop this time.

Always admiring those nice round edges.

 

[Horsewright]

Always admiring those nice round edges.

Thanks! I think getting em round helps with longevity. Those projects were done with a #2 on top and a #3 on the bottom.

 

[Lorien]

Giving ya two days to practice and get the hang of it. Then I expect custom boot top perfection:

Aw heck probably the wrong machine for that! In all seriousness CONGRATS! While not personally familiar with that machine I'm pretty experienced with machine sewing. If I can be of help when ya have a problem I'm only a phone call or a type away. And there will be a few bumps in the road but ya get it figured.

thank you, Dave! I messed around with the machine some last night, just trying to figure out the tension and whatnot. It blows my mind how much power there is to be had, a little scary if I'm being totally honest.

 

[jfk1110]

Still kicking stuff out around here. Getting the Christmas orders out. Nichole just finished a purse and is working on a duffel bag. She won't give me pics though till after Christmas as they are both personalized with brands so we're always kinda careful of posting those kinda pics prior to the Holiday, don't want to give anything away. I'm partway through another batch of knives and should have them done say Monday. I did finish off this pair of spur straps:

A Couple of belts too. Hardware except the tip provided by the customer, I sourced the tip. First Ranger belt I've made in25 years or so. I've done quite a few tapered belts but this is a true Ranger belt that slips back on itself underneath the buckle.

It's always tough to take pics of belts. Only so many poses I guess. Un split fire wood from above was our backdrop this time.

That ranger belt is AWESOME. Great job... Haven't seen one in ages.....

 

[Horsewright]

That ranger belt is AWESOME. Great job... Haven't seen one in ages.....

Thank you!

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Horsewright

Have you ever used any of Wickett's brown skirting before? I'm curious to see real life examples of the color (website isn't the best). Also, does the bag kote you use darken the leather after application?

I appreciate any info as I'm about to place a sizable (for me) order - thank you

 

[Horsewright]

Horsewright

Have you ever used any of Wickett's brown skirting before? I'm curious to see real life examples of the color (website isn't the best). Also, does the bag kote you use darken the leather after application?

I appreciate any info as I'm about to place a sizable (for me) order - thank you

I have not used the brown before but have used the chestnut which I really like too. Chestnut:

Regular russet:

Yes Bag Kote will slightly darken the leather. But the oil I put on first prior to the BagKote darkens it more.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

I have not used the brown before but have used the chestnut which I really like too. Chestnut:

Regular russet:

Yes Bag Kote will slightly darken the leather. But the oil I put on first prior to the BagKote darkens it more.

Thank you my friend, always genuinely helpful I find myself ending up taking your advice regardless of the road traveled.

What about that bag kote that you use, does that darken the leather after treatment?

 

[Horsewright]

Took this pic yesterday. This is one of our water buffalo overlay belts. So regular vegan is on the inside. From the holes over to the right has had a coat of BagKote put on it after oiling. To the left has not had BagKote applied yet.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Took this pic yesterday. This is one of our water buffalo overlay belts. So regular vegan is on the inside. From the holes over to the right has had a coat of BagKote put on it after oiling. To the left has not had BagKote applied yet.

I hadn't seen your bottom answer on the post before this one, but I sure do appreciate the illustration I've got some "brown" w & c 8-10oz skirting on order direct from the factory. Figured if I didn't enjoy it's native color I could darken it with wax.

It's strange because I always thought it was hot stuffed but was delighted to find out that it wasn't. In any case, thanks for all your help!

 

[jfk1110]

Took this pic yesterday. This is one of our water buffalo overlay belts. So regular vegan is on the inside. From the holes over to the right has had a coat of BagKote put on it after oiling. To the left has not had BagKote applied yet.

Come.on.I.wanna see.the.BUFF..... Flip that sucka!!!!!

Pretty please

 

[Horsewright]

Come.on.I.wanna see.the.BUFF..... Flip that sucka!!!!!

Pretty please

It looks just like this one:

Half of a two belt order:

The buckle that the customer had me put on it, when he picked them up was kinda cool:

I hadn't seen your bottom answer on the post before this one, but I sure do appreciate the illustration I've got some "brown" w & c 8-10oz skirting on order direct from the factory. Figured if I didn't enjoy it's native color I could darken it with wax.

It's strange because I always thought it was hot stuffed but was delighted to find out that it wasn't. In any case, thanks for all your help!

Hard to go wrong with good leather. I think you'll like it.

Paul Long used this W & C leather exclusively and did not dye leather either. If you Google images of some of his sheaths you will see how some of the other colors finish.

 

[jfk1110]

It looks just like this one:

Half of a two belt order:

The buckle that the customer had me put on it, when he picked them up was kinda cool:

Hard to go wrong with good leather. I think you'll like it.

Paul Long used this W & C leather exclusively and did not dye leather either. If you Google images of some of his sheaths you will see how some of the other colors finish.

Thanx

 

[Lorien]

getting to some long awaited sheath requests.

I've just totally revamped my work space, so I can lay out full sides and really dial in my cutting, take advantage of interesting marks, and minimize waste.

 

[Taz]

So close!!! I have been working on a blade with a higher polish hand rub, so I wanted to use leather for it. Got some water buffalo, so I decided to use that and just go slow and take my time. I wanted to get the sheath slimmer profile wise and not have as much extra material on it and work on my welt burnishing, too.

Really worked on my template and decided to do a dropped top edge like someone suggested and it looks nicer! I think I will do more dropping at the spine area, too to clean up the opening profile and make it a bit more rounded instead of straight. Sharpened up my corner punches to get the corners where the fold over belt loop meets the sheath more rounded out, but I gotta get better at centering the belt loop. When I glued the welt to the sides, the welt didn't want to stay glued, so my holes went a touch wonky when punching thru, especially near the tip. I usually glue everything up, then do the profiling on the belt sander and then run the stitch groove. This time, because the layers weren't sticking and I didn't want the grit inside, I rough profiled with the head knife and skivers and then did the stitching groove. When I punched, I did the front and welt first, then since the layers weren't stuck well, I did the welt and back 2nd to try to get better punching, but it didn't work as well. I think I need to prep/sand the Water Buffalo more to get it to glue better. Water Buffalo doesn't fold/wet form as well, so I did cut a channel where the fold it, but it's still fairly stiff and even with clamping, kept pulling at the glue seam and pulling it open. I need to spend more time wet folding the areas (belt loop and the main center fold in the taco style sheath). And when burnishing the opening area, I slipped and put a nice, deep scratch between the threads and belt loop at the top with the tip of the burnisher.




Pretty happy with the welt burnishing though! Went to 600 grit sandpaper and then burnished with white Tokonole. Came out better than my other welts, even though it's water buffalo, so I am making progress there!




So I got better with the welt burnishing and getting a slimmer profile and less waste between the stitching and edge of the sheath, but it's a bit wonky and the threading and deep scratch on the back mean it will be for one of my carry knives instead of the nice knife and I get to start over!


I did get an economy veg tan black double shoulder for Christmas, so I may use that for the next attempt!

I tried the drill press to punch holes. It punches well, but it's a PITA to remove the punch from the leather, even with using the little metal tool. I usually end up taking the punch out of the chuck, using the tool and then re chucking the punch on some test pieces, so I went back to punching the holes manually. I may try polishing and waxing the punches more and see how that goes.

 

[Horsewright]

getting to some long awaited sheath requests.

I've just totally revamped my work space, so I can lay out full sides and really dial in my cutting, take advantage of interesting marks, and minimize waste.

Looking good!!

So close!!! I have been working on a blade with a higher polish hand rub, so I wanted to use leather for it. Got some water buffalo, so I decided to use that and just go slow and take my time. I wanted to get the sheath slimmer profile wise and not have as much extra material on it and work on my welt burnishing, too.

Really worked on my template and decided to do a dropped top edge like someone suggested and it looks nicer! I think I will do more dropping at the spine area, too to clean up the opening profile and make it a bit more rounded instead of straight. Sharpened up my corner punches to get the corners where the fold over belt loop meets the sheath more rounded out, but I gotta get better at centering the belt loop. When I glued the welt to the sides, the welt didn't want to stay glued, so my holes went a touch wonky when punching thru, especially near the tip. I usually glue everything up, then do the profiling on the belt sander and then run the stitch groove. This time, because the layers weren't sticking and I didn't want the grit inside, I rough profiled with the head knife and skivers and then did the stitching groove. When I punched, I did the front and welt first, then since the layers weren't stuck well, I did the welt and back 2nd to try to get better punching, but it didn't work as well. I think I need to prep/sand the Water Buffalo more to get it to glue better. Water Buffalo doesn't fold/wet form as well, so I did cut a channel where the fold it, but it's still fairly stiff and even with clamping, kept pulling at the glue seam and pulling it open. I need to spend more time wet folding the areas (belt loop and the main center fold in the taco style sheath). And when burnishing the opening area, I slipped and put a nice, deep scratch between the threads and belt loop at the top with the tip of the burnisher.

View attachment 3060233View attachment 3060231


Pretty happy with the welt burnishing though! Went to 600 grit sandpaper and then burnished with white Tokonole. Came out better than my other welts, even though it's water buffalo, so I am making progress there!

View attachment 3060232


So I got better with the welt burnishing and getting a slimmer profile and less waste between the stitching and edge of the sheath, but it's a bit wonky and the threading and deep scratch on the back mean it will be for one of my carry knives instead of the nice knife and I get to start over!
View attachment 3060230View attachment 3060229

I did get an economy veg tan black double shoulder for Christmas, so I may use that for the next attempt!

I tried the drill press to punch holes. It punches well, but it's a PITA to remove the punch from the leather, even with using the little metal tool. I usually end up taking the punch out of the chuck, using the tool and then re chucking the punch on some test pieces, so I went back to punching the holes manually. I may try polishing and waxing the punches more and see how that goes.

Yep water buff is a whole different critter, sorry for the pun. It really does behave differently than normal veg tan. Years ago when I first started using it, I made some sheaths and holsters from it. Didn't take long for me to quit that leather for those uses though. Even with wet molding it just didn't hold a shape for me as well. Kinda why we came up with the water buff overlay deal. Still get the molding and attributes of the regular veg tan while getting some of the cool factor of the water buff leather. We do use a chrome tan water buff for that though. Not the veg tan water buff as you've used here. Your work is coming along, nice job!

 

[Taz]

Thanks! I haven't done any leather work in over a month, so I was a bit rusty! I will probably use the drum dyed stuff and save the buffalo for some smaller/thinner sheaths, maybe pocket sheaths? I may do some full welt pocket sheaths, would work better for that with a thinner overall handle I would think, less wet forming needed!

 

[jfk1110]

Nice job...

 

[Horsewright]

Three "sets" out this year just before Christmas:

Two sheaths for this Sonoran Skinner qualifies as a set, I guess:

This set is for a guy from Australia. International shipping is tricky these days but he was here in the US visiting family and I was able to get it out to him while he was here:

Then a set of three in Carlos border stamp:

 

[jfk1110]

Beautiful stuff as always