WIP Cherokee Rose Sheath ?

Ok time to move forward, sorry in advance for the large pics but photobucket is killing me. Ok so last night we left off at the rose carving, I like the Idea that Steve and Karda had so im gonna go with that, but first lets move on the sheath more. For this one Im doing a reverse belt loop, instead of rolling the leather backwards for the loop you roll it forward into the sheath. This allows you to have the smooth side of the leather on both sides.

Before we glue it down, we have to cut our retention strap holes in the belt loop. I dont have any fancy tool to do it so I use my punch and exacto. I punch the holes at the top and bottom of the strap holes and then with my ruler and knife I cut to each hole






Once this is done I can now prep the loop for gluing. I use contact cement to glue up my sheaths, it works very well for me. Now with the retention strap holes done here is what it looks like prior to gluing up.



I will apply a few coats of cement to the area im gluing up, wait a few to set then put it together, pound it a few time with a rubber mallet to get any air bubbles out and then I clamp it up to let set more.


While that is setting up, lets move to some carving, the original pic i had was to large to fit the sheath so I had to retrace it out a tad smaller. I use a plastic transfer paper for leather to trace. I trace out the pic I need, check the size to the sheath and if good start the set up for carving. Here are a few pics of the set up
This is the rose I will be using, I traced it to size and ready to transfer to the leather,

Check the fit again,

To begin the transfer you have to case or wet the leather alittle, then put the pic on and begin to transfer it using a stylus, while doing this you lift the trace to see if your lines are good,


Then begin tracing,


Here is a quick pic of the tools I am using to do this carving.

I will explain more later got to run for a bit. enjoy
 
Brilliant. I love the reverse loop very much. Probably adds a bit of retention up top.

I'm not big on retention straps or snaps but it has to be done and your doing that extremely well at least to my untrained inexperienced eye.

Well done sir.
 
Bawanna said:
Brilliant. I love the reverse loop very much. Probably adds a bit of retention up top.

I'm not big on retention straps or snaps but it has to be done and your doing that extremely well at least to my untrained inexperienced eye.

Well done sir.
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What:eek: You dont like my idea of the rose with the stems? Well...."KABOOM".....alright already!!! no more suggestions! OK ...the single rose idea im liking a lot better anywayz:thumbup::D
 
Huh? I never mentioned no stems or the rose at all. And Kaboom, you want to start seeing other people.
 
Ok let keep going, so we have the rose traced out onto the leather, now its time for the swivel knife, when using this you need to keep the leather cased so the blade will glide, when cutting the lines you pull the blade not push it and angle it so only a portion of the blade is cutting. This is tricky it looks easy but it's tricky. Follow the lines and go slow.
Here is one before we start with the swivel knife,

Almost but got to go slow,

And all cut out,

Now that part is done I need to take my beveler and maul and start to make some definition, you work the beveler around the lines you cut by tapping it with the maul, but you need to be moving it as you hit.
Here is the beveler and maul I use,

As you move around the the definition starts to pop the design you are doing, I dont worry about small mistakes while doing this as I usually texture the design and to be honest sometime a small mistake lets you know it's hand made, heck im certainly not perfect lol.
A shot half way done with beveling,

The beveling is all done and looking pretty good, but not done yet!!

Now that we are done beveling, now it's time to detail it out, I use a tool called a pear shader to make some depth in the petals and then add some small lines to finish the pedals as well. Once that is done I begin the texturing around the design and the rest of the front. Again you have to make sure the leather is cased and ready for stamping.
Here is a shot of the texturing around the design, I used a larger stamp for this and will use a smaller one to fill any gaps the larger one would not work in,

Now I work the rest of the sheath with the texture and call it good. Hope ya like it.

Here is a pic with the blade set in and the top placed on it. Now it needs to dry and then it's time for some dye. Loving it so far.

Ok im done for the day. enjoy the pic and any questions feel free to ask.
 
Ah! That is sweet pugs! Dont waste a good grenade on me man. Im just playin with an Amigo! btw: I have a pizza cutter if you decide to do a bigger rose;)
No Bawanna your still amigo! Im staying right here where my amigos are:thumbup:
 
I don't know man, I'm feeling a little spousal / amigo abused. You better send me a flower.


Looking gooooood Pugs. Amazing transformation. From simple cow skin to work of art. Nice.
 
Pugs, you're doing fine. This is an interesting thread and I like to see other craftsmen at their craft...."in action", so to speak. If you ever do another sheath for me...well, better start practicing on mules.... Although I'm late tonight, the single rose and location were good ideas. Yep. I like this thread.
 
Bookie said:
...If you ever do another sheath for me...well, better start practicing on mules.... ...
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Kamidog, step over here behind the shed. I wanna whisper something in your ear...... That's right, Bawanna Blood sports!!
 
Thanks Bookie, mules you say... ohhh man.
Just got home from work and got some dye on her, before we start lets go over the process, as you see on the bench is a spray bottle and a tub of something??? dye and an applicator.

Before you dye you need to clean or deglaze the leather, in the spray bottle is rubbing alcohol, I spray this on a paper towel and clean the leather, while that dries I turn it over and start the inside of the sheath, I always dye the entire sheath inside and out, some makers only go in about 2 inches or so, that bothers the heck out of me for some reason so I do the whole thing.

So after doing the inside I let it set a sec, you have to do a few coats to get the desired color, but remember it's wet so it looks darker than it will dry to.
Here is the inside dyed,

Once im done I turn it over and begin on the outside, I apply the dye and do a few coats to get the color I like and let it set up some,here is a step that alot of leatherworkers don't do. I condition/waterproof the leather while the leather is damp from dye, this is more conditioning at this point but it allows me to get the inside done as well. What this does also is helps seal the dye so it does not transfer to the knife or you. Again maybe not what others do but it works for me.
This is the sheath all dyed and conditioned, all but the edges those get done later.

This is the conditioner/waterproofing I use, this is amazing stuff, it has all thegood things you want for leather, look it up and read about it. I have been using it since I started and will always use it.

And lastly for the evening is a glam shot of the rose all dyed up and looking nice,

Hope you all like it so far and thanks for checking it out.
 
Pugs...that is just freakin' awesome!

When you gonna have some time to get to my blades? They need some pugs pants!
 
Thats slick Pugs! I like the sleekness of the whole sheath and that rose looks very nice! Pine pitch, mink oil, and bees wax? Interesting:thumbup:
 
Thanks fellas, im glad you are digging it. Yeah the conditioner is great stuff, works like a dream soaks in nicely and repels water really well.
 
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