Who finds sheathmaking aggravating?

I won't say I hate it, but I don't much care for it. The worst is the stiching, I have had to cut the fingers out of a pair of leather gloves to keep the artifical sinue from cutting into my hands. Other than that, sitting in front of the TV while stitching one up I almost reach a meditative state.
 
Depends on the day. Sometimes it sucks sometimes its ok. I used to make lots of leather stuff now just sheaths when I have to.
 
Ugh, leather. I work indoors on my leather, and the oil dye fumes, leather smell, and the contact cement I use for glueing the parts makes me dry hurl. :barf: Feel sick to my stomach every day after working with leather. :barf: Can't work outside because it's too cold and the contact cement will take three years to set. :(
 
Nick Wheeler has his made by Sandy Morrissey. He likes to make them and it shows by the quality of his work. He goes by Helmar478 and posted in this thread. His prices are very resonable for the quality of the finished sheath. Email him for a couple pics and prices.
 
I enjoy working with leathersheaths :).Also designing them to make the overall appearence of knife/sheath look good is challenging. After spending quite a lot of time with finishing a knife it is very relaxing when you stitch the sheaths .Like some of you said, there´s no noise , just you sitting there and handstitching _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

My page
 
I used to dispise sheath making and tryed to use other
artist? but never found any one that could or would
make a sheath the way I wanted it done. So I made up
my mind to do it my self. I don't mind it all that much
now kinda relaxing and I get a sheath that I am satified
with Gib
http://www.cactusforge.com
 
I will be the first to admit my sheaths are not the arty type, but they are strong, well made and functional. I DO find the measuring and layout phase stressful. But the sewing is relaxing. I get calluses in the crook of my little fingers from pulling the stitches tight. by the time I wax/oil dip 'em and add some shoe polish and buff them out with a shoe brush, they start to feel as comfy as an old shoe. Lots of character.
 
Just a little tip for those who have trouble stitching because of thread digging into your finger.You can cut a small piece of 2-3 oz leather, fit it to your finger and stitch an outside seam.Keeps from having to cut up gloves also.Dave:)
 
Hey Guys....

Yup I agree,,Sheathmaking in general Sucks..:)

Just kidding.. I quite enjoy the work I do....

Thats why there are custom sheathmakers...

A Good custom sheathmaker can make you a sheath better, and sometimes faster than you can do yourself, at a cost that gets rolled into the price of your knife anyway....

I kinda have to laugh when I hear a knifemaker say, "I can't afford your work"..Whats not to afford...

A Quality sheath whether it is custom or done yourself will actually sell the knife, over a knife with a poorly done or questionably made sheath.

Trust me guys,,,I've seen the best of the best and the worst of the worst.

Look at a sheath as the icing on the cake or the ribbon on the box...

If you can't do it yourself, either learn to like it and do a good job,or farm it out to someone you know will do Quality work.

The customer will appreciate a quality job and doesn't mind spending the extra $$$ for it....

As a general rule, stay away from hobbists and leathermakers(This goes for synthetics as well) that make "General" leather goods.. Most don't possess the skills needed to make a quality custom sheath..There are some exceptions to the rule...There more to making a sheath than slapping material together..

A fellow I know who makes belts,wallets and the kind does great work,,but his knife sheaths are laughable and lack even the basics of sheaths.
Theres several quality sheathmakers right here on the forums,,so use them and you will see the difference and watch your sales increase because of it....

I think there are several people here that will back me up on the point I'm trying to make...

Presentation people,,Presentation!!

ttyle

Eric....
 
I do my own Kydex because I can make them fast and after about a 1000 of them, they look OK too ;)

I made my own leather sheaths when I first got into knifemaking. I soon realized it wasn't close to being cost effective.
For leather, I use Kenny Rowe. He can make a leather sheath WAY better than I could ever dream of. The price is either an option or added in to the cost of the knife. I would be out of business if I hand stitched a leather sheath for every knife I make :( That's just me though!! Those that enjoy leather work and can do it quickly, my hat's off to you !!

Neil
 
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