Needed to make a sheath for this skinner... It has a unusual shape and the sheath needed to work with a sash. I have been learning different leather hardening techniques and wanted to give this a try. Made the sheath, stained it, and heated it up to 200 degrees and wax formed/hardened the leather. The sheath is rigid and retains the knife tightly...
I made a good paper pattern, but the secondary welt was not quite right when it went to leather. Had to redo the whole thing. Really like the end result, never having used wax to harden leather, before...in this manner.
200° is a tad too much heat for the good of the leather. Beeswax melts at around 170°, and even that is a little too hot. The leathers molecular structure begins to suffer if heated much beyond 150°. Especially if left at a higher heat very long. 130/140° is a much safer heat range, and will harden the leather very nicely if it is well dampened first. Not dripping wet, but damp. Simply bake it until dry, then let it cool and oil it. Mineral oil will do.
Posts: 557 | Location: geneva,fl | Registered: 29 March 2005
I harden mine by putting them into the oven @ 150 and damp. Afterwards I dip them into a mixture of neats foot oil, beeswax and mink oil melted in a crock pot. That way the whole sheath is sealed.
Looking good there.
Posts: 2 | Location: Fort Mill SC | Registered: 22 December 2012