I need sheath tooling help

[R H Clark]

I tooled my first sheath today.The problem is that it faded in the fold.Do I need to try to tool after stiching or did I just not let the leather dry long enough?

 

I tried an antique finish.Here is a clearer picture of the problem area.

 

[Lin Rhea]

I believe I would tool before stitching so you can lay it flat. Your doing some good work. Lin

[R H Clark]

Thanks Lin,I appreciate the compliment.Yes,I did tool before stitching for just that reason.I do hate though that the tooling faded where I folded the leather to stitch.Maby I need to let it dry overnight before stitching.

[Tater John]

Did you do the stitching by hand? Looks good. To bad about the fade, I'm no help with that problem. I'll watch out for it though in the future

Rusty

[R H Clark]

Yes,it is stiched by hand.

[Delta708]

Looks good to me. Awesome work!

[prarieboy]

It is Mighty fine work!
Ya might just smack the stamp a smidgeon harder. If that dosen't work You may want to stop one set of stampin sooner.
 Dry completely. In My opinion.
 C-Ya Bob

[Maxximusgrind]

I am no expert,but I think letting it dry a bit more may help.And also it may be helpful to crease the fold,so the bend may be more concentrated in that area?Like I said I am no expert,and I have been putting off some sheaths of my own,so I haven't done any in a while.I will be the first to tell you my advice might be worth what you paid for it.
Just trying to throw some Ideas at you and hopefully help.
  Robert

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would run the stamps so they stopped just short of the fold and restart them on the other side just past the bend.  This resolves the problem and speeds up your sheath work just a bit.

[skullworks]

Happens to me sometimes. Make sure the sheath is wet enough and hit it harder...practice on some scrap. Is this the Tandy set you bought? I can speak from experience that the tool that makes the arched design is much better if you buy it individually...makes a much sharper impression.

[R H Clark]

Yes,this is a 6 piece set I got from Jantz.

[Roughcountry]

Pretty tough to hold a impresion on the fold. You can shift to a stamp that cuts the surface grain of the leather but that has it's own problems.
I usally stitch top & bottom on a tooled sheath, no bend and the flower carving is cut with a swivel knife and won't fade like the non cutting stamps.
All leather is not created the same, the better the grade of leather the better it holds the impresion. This is really evident over time.

You might also try grooving the flesh side just under the stitching line at the bend, it may help a little.