Whacha Been Up To......

[Nate’s Knives]

I would post pics of my latest but the site is being buggy or glitchy.

 

[Taz]

Yeah, I had a hard time yesterday posting pictures.

 

[Nate’s Knives]

My first completed dump tray. Made it for my pastor for Father’s Day coming up.

 

[Ebbtide]

Here soon I’m gonna have to get me one. Hand stitching may sometimes be cathartic but that thread pulling eats at the edges of the hands and hurts for abt three days especially after a big job

Cut the fingertips ( thumb & index) off a pair of old work gloves.
Dexterity & protection.

 

[navman]

A mix of cow and Buffalo leather sheaths headed out the door.

 

[Lorien]

cutting out patterns isn't my favourite part of the job. But that leather won't cut itself.

 

[Nate’s Knives]

cutting out patterns isn't my favourite part of the job. But that leather won't cut itself.

Got a laser? Could you upload a file and cut it with a laser? Make it easier and more precise

 

[ecallahan]

For my 60th my wife got me some time with a local knife maker. My son and a good friend all made knives out of 1085 steel I believe. I forged and ground and put a handle on a knife. Pretty ugly, but wow I have a new appreciation for those who do this professionally (Horsewright). I knew it was dropped too much, but the guy only had so much time …..Anyway I made a pouch for it, followed one of Horsewright’s tutorials minus the locking potion of the welt as the knife didn’t lend itself to that. As always, I’d change a few things on it but I’m still happy with it.

 

[Lorien]

Got a laser? Could you upload a file and cut it with a laser? Make it easier and more precise

a friend of mine has a bed laser that he uses to make his leather goods, (very cool stuff, btw) and he's done some work for me in the past so I've used laser cut leather components. I don't hate it- but it's definitely not as precise as cutting by hand, (I dream of clicker press). No hide lays flat, so you get some small but weird distortions. There will be future projects requiring laser cut leather parts, but that will be in the 100s. Dozenses are ok by hand, although these 40 will take about two days.

Also, nesting is a problem. A lot of the leather I buy doesn't get used for sheaths because it's not consistent enough. Choosing a specific zone of leather for a specific template is kind of a 'separates the men from the boys' type sheath maker characteristic, imo. The laser eats up a lot of real estate, for example, I can cut two sides for the same sheath 2mm apart. That's sometimes the difference between be able to use a piece of leather or not.

 

[Taz]

I've used the laser and the hides curling is a PITA, as well as the different leathers acting differently and not cutting all the way thru! If you had something like a panel where it's all good leather, you can nest, but most of the times, by hand is actually faster and easier to align with the good parts of the leather. Laser works nicely for me for doing things like belt loops that aren't fold overs (so they are symmetrical!), generic welts, etc. But it leaves a nasty burnt smelling end that needs to be cleaned off!