Slinging.org Forum - methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?

xxkid123

Past Moderator

Offline

Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel

Posts: 4807
new to california
Gender: male

methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?
Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:03pm

the title wouldn't fit it all, but is there any method of shaping leather to keep it open? i'm going to make a knife sheath, and although i will stretch the leather, i need a method of keeping the leather in an open circular shape to fit the knife handle (a deep pouch sheath).

and that being said, i'm thinking of sewing in a paper clip ring, but i need to shape down the end so that it's not rough or pointy. i'm thinking of hot gluing the end, but that creates a small bulge which i don't want.

Back to top

There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;&&Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

IP Logged

Et Cetera Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks Into Windows! Posts: 1550 Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #1 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:17pm How thick is your leather? I recently made a knife sheath for a Mora knife, and I just soaked it in water and clamped it to the shape i want and let it dry.
Back to top	IP Logged

xxkid123

Past Moderator

Offline

Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel

Posts: 4807
new to california
Gender: male

Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?
Reply #2 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:22pm

Et Cetera wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:17pm:

How thick is your leather? I recently made a knife sheath for a Mora knife, and I just soaked it in water and clamped it to the shape i want and let it dry.

1/8 of and inch, maybe less. i have some thicker leather that's 1/4 inch (elk hide) but doesn't stretch too well, and i don't have anything suitable to poke holes in it.

Back to top

There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;&&Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

IP Logged

Et Cetera Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks Into Windows! Posts: 1550 Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #3 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 5:33pm Than it might work to soak it and then bend it.
Back to top	IP Logged

Masiakasaurus Forum Moderation Offline mah-SEE-a-kah-SOR-us Posts: 6069 Alabama, USA Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #4 - Feb 23^rd, 2010 at 11:40pm make the sheath slightly big, stick the knife in, wet the leather, shape and hold it around the knife handle, and let it dry. You also may want to make it 2-ply using thin leather.
Back to top	Pikåru wrote on Nov 19^th, 2013 at 6:59pm: Massi - WTF? It's called a sling. You use it to throw rocks farther and faster than you could otherwise. That's all. ~Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily avialable, they will create their own problems.~ IP Logged

xxkid123

Past Moderator

Offline

Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel

Posts: 4807
new to california
Gender: male

Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?
Reply #5 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 3:59pm

yeah, i'm also thinking of stitching it so that the base where it doesn't need much forming but needs to hold the blade would be elk hide, and then a much loosed flexible leather on top

Masiakasauras, how would i do that? because the center tends to get ripply if you stitch around, and if you where to stitch in the inside then you would have to make hundreds of mad stitches.

Back to top

There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;&&Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

IP Logged

slingbadger

Interfector Viris Spurii

Offline

Don't Badger a Badger

Posts: 3220
Akron NY
Gender: male

Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?
Reply #6 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 4:09pm

Kid, you can use an awl for the holes. If you don't have one, use nails. Just lay out the leather and use a small hammer to put the nail through the leather.
Try using upholstery needles. They are available at fabric and craft stores ( Joanne's, Micheals) They are thicker, and some are curved. It really helps. While you're there, a heavy cotton or hemp thread will be great for sewing. ( can you tell I do this alot?)

Back to top

The greatest of all the accomplishments of 20th cent. science has been the discovery of human ignorance The main difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits.-Einstein I'm getting psychic as I get older. Or is that psychotic?

IP Logged

xxkid123

Past Moderator

Offline

Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel

Posts: 4807
new to california
Gender: male

Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff?
Reply #7 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 4:22pm

slingbadger wrote on Feb 24^th, 2010 at 4:09pm:

Kid, you can use an awl for the holes. If you don't have one, use nails. Just lay out the leather and use a small hammer to put the nail through the leather.
Try using upholstery needles. They are available at fabric and craft stores ( Joanne's, Micheals) They are thicker, and some are curved. It really helps. While you're there, a heavy cotton or hemp thread will be great for sewing. ( can you tell I do this alot?)

lol, probably not, especially with your cobbling background and your knowledge of these crafts and your involvement with the SCA

Back to top

There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;&&Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

IP Logged

Et Cetera Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks Into Windows! Posts: 1550 Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #8 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 9:56pm I used some thin copper wire for my stitching as I had nothing else, it turned out I think. BTW, has anyone noticed that wet leather seems to react with carbon steel knives?
Back to top	IP Logged

Masiakasaurus Forum Moderation Offline mah-SEE-a-kah-SOR-us Posts: 6069 Alabama, USA Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #9 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 10:47pm I use this tutorial, except instead of acetone I use water. http://beknivessite2.homestead.com/pouchsheath.html
Back to top	Pikåru wrote on Nov 19^th, 2013 at 6:59pm: Massi - WTF? It's called a sling. You use it to throw rocks farther and faster than you could otherwise. That's all. ~Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily avialable, they will create their own problems.~ IP Logged

Masiakasaurus Forum Moderation Offline mah-SEE-a-kah-SOR-us Posts: 6069 Alabama, USA Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #10 - Feb 24^th, 2010 at 10:50pm Et Cetera wrote on Feb 24^th, 2010 at 9:56pm: I used some thin copper wire for my stitching as I had nothing else, it turned out I think. BTW, has anyone noticed that wet leather seems to react with carbon steel knives? The end of this tutorial talks about that.
Back to top	Pikåru wrote on Nov 19^th, 2013 at 6:59pm: Massi - WTF? It's called a sling. You use it to throw rocks farther and faster than you could otherwise. That's all. ~Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily avialable, they will create their own problems.~ IP Logged

Et Cetera Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks Into Windows! Posts: 1550 Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #11 - Feb 25^th, 2010 at 7:27am Aha, must've just been the water. But boy, it rusted fast, just a few minutes.
Back to top	IP Logged

xxkid123 Past Moderator Offline Hallo, ich heiße kartoffel Posts: 4807 new to california Gender:	Re: methods of shaping thin leather and stuff? Reply #12 - Feb 25^th, 2010 at 12:11pm great, i'm stuck with thumbtacks and hammers to knock holes into my hide lol. i'll start in a few days.
Back to top	There's no break, there's no end, just a-living on;&&Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on. IP Logged