Leatherwork help needed

[robtattoo]

I'm making up a special knife to take to a show this coming weekend. I'd really like to make a Native American-style sheath to go with it. I'm usually OK at the sheathmaking but this time I'm stumped! I want to extend the welt of the sheath out beyond the main body & cut it into fringes (similar to Ron LaClaire's Rifleman's knife) Trouble is, I really don't have a clue how best to soften the leather fringes. I'm using 3mm veg-tan leather. Can somebody *cough*Mike G*cough* give me an idea how to go about it? I've never 'fringed' before  :D

[JEFF B]

hey bro how about putting a soft pice of leather in between the two sheath halfs then cut it after.  

[robtattoo]

The only trouble is that the welt needs to be fairly heavy leather to stop the blade cutting through the stitching. I was kinda hoping that it'd be possible to work the leather, after it's cut to soften off the fringes.

[JEFF B]

put a double welt in soft on top heavy on bottom that should work.

[Carbon Caster]

If you do that, do a tripple welt.  Sandwich the tooling or veg leather between the soft fringe leather.  I found out the hard way not to put two pieces of leather in for a welt.  The knife edge cuts the stitching between them like a darn.  LOL!!!!  3 would work though.  It would give you more fringe too!!!!

[Dryrot]

I second the double or triple welt. It would be tough to get the veg-tan soft enought to look good but it can be done. If you just gotta do it that way though after you have cut your fringe  you will have to really work the leather to get it to soften up and you will want to use a fairly liberal dose of some kind of conditioner to help soften it. I would recommend something non-oily like Lexol or similar.

[Pat B]

To make the veg tanned leather pliable enough for fringe you will have to skive down(thin) the part to be fringed and then soak all of it in neatsfoot oil(sort of oil tanned). That ought to soften it enough. Tandys used to offer a skiving tool. Basically it is a handle with a place for a single edged razor blade(kinda like a potatoe peeler). Lay the blade on the leather and draw it to you and a thin layer of the leather will come off making what's left thin enough for fringe. You will want to remove the leather from the flesh side. The grain side is where the strength is. You may be able to do this with a sharp thin bladed knife.     Pat

[robtattoo]

Cheers all, I'd considered pretty much all of these options. I think I'll try skiving off the leather for the fringe. It's gonna be the hardest way to go, but I think it'll look best.

[Dryrot]

Good point Pat> but since my slow thinking brain still won't convert mm to Oz thickness in leather I wasn't thinking aout the thickness. An alternative t the abomination of a tool Tandy sells as a skiving knife is a French Edger tool. Properly sharpened it is much easier to control and get good results with.

[Jeremy]

You mean something like this:
 

Make your sheath the way you normally would - just not quite as tall - and then wrap it with a soft leather.

Most of the reproduction Native American sheaths I've seen were made from rawhide wrapped with soft deer or elk leather

[Shell]

Hey Rob, I don't have a skiver either...BUT have found Frank's belt sander does the job pretty darn good in a pinch!

I've used it for thick bear hides to get them plyable and let me tell you, it works really nice!!

You can tell when it's down to where you want it too fairly easy and then can work it out with some conditioner or oil (like the other's said) but not necessary if you did do it this way.

If you needed some soft tanned hide pieces, I will be happy to send you several in elk or deerskin. Let me know        

Shell

[robtattoo]

Hi Shell! Thanks for the advice. I should be OK with the hides I've got, but thanks for the offer.
Jeremy, NICE! but I need the sheath to have well defined form-lines.
I'll get on with it tommorrow morning & hopefully post up some pics when it's all complete. (I've still got about 5 hours worth of polishing to do on the handle!!)

[Shell]

Hey can't wait to see! I know it's unethical to use those machines but in a pinch they do the job!!

Shell

P.S. Jeremy, Nice sheath!!

[robtattoo]

'K. It's all stitched up, skived, cut into fringes, dyed, worked, softened. I'll leave it overnight for the dye to take & for the wet forming to dry, but so far all's well. Well, apart from the fact that I've lost all the feeling in my fingers. I must say, it's turned out better than I expected, but it'll be a cold day in Hell before I do another like this!!!  

Photos tommorrow, when my hands work again!

[4runr]

Can't wait Rob!!

I love this place. Just lookin at others's stuff makes it like Christmas everyday.          :D