pattern transfer? [Archive] - The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions

Sandy Morrissey

01-22-2003, 10:46 PM

Tracey, my friend----The info that Chuck gave you is excellent and the traced design on the mylar or tracing film can be used over quite a few times before it has to be re-done. For one time use I generally draw my design on a high grade tracing paper and make the transfer to the cased leather directly. The tracing paper is translucent enough to line up to border lines, incised or even lightly scored. As most of my designs are one of a kind for a custom sheath, this is a very inexpensive alternative. I draw the design directly on the tracing paper as it is tough stuff and will withstand quite a bit of erasing and abuse. If my customer wants the original design drawing I send it with the sheath and also the sheath pattern as well. I do not save designs or patterns as I can make new quicker than I can find the old. If many transfers of the same pattern is necessary, I use an old saddlemakers trick. Make your desired design as before on the tracing paper. If this is to be transferred to a quantity of right handed sheaths (stock item) cut out the sheath pattern in LEFT HANDED VERSION from 8/9 ounce cowhide and case the leather before attempting to transfer the design. By inverting the tracing paper you will have the opposite of the original (right handed) drawing. Now you can trace this on your cased sheath leather. When tracing is completed, incise the traced lines with a swivel knife that is sharpened so as to incise a wider cut than your standard swivel blade cut. When the sheath leather is dry give it two coats of Neatlac or Saddle Lac and let dry thoroughly for several days until the lacquer has cured hard. Now in order to transfer the incised design to the right handed , cased, sheath leathers, place the left hand pattern on top of the right hand piece so that the edges match. The incised portion will be laying on top of the cased leather. Lightly pound the top of the stacked pieces with a shot bag filled with birdshot or coarse sand and the design will be transferred to the cased leather. The transfer will appear to be a small ridge instead of an incision. This is easier to obliterate than an impressed line if small changes are made during swivel knife work on new sheath. Six or eight ounces of shot sewed inside a suede leather pouch with enough handle to swing the shot freely, will do nicely! Now you can duplicate that design for years! Sandy


The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > The Sheath/Holster Makers Community Forum > pattern transfer? PDA View Full Version : pattern transfer? tmickley 01-22-2003, 07:45 PM Is there a best way to transfer a pattern to leather before carving? Chuck Burrows 01-22-2003, 07:46 PM Get some of the mylar sheeting that Tandy or whoever sells and also a ball point stylus which they also sell. Dampen you leather and trace the pattern on the mylar with the stylus. Chuck Sandy Morrissey 01-22-2003, 10:46 PM Tracey, my friend----The info that Chuck gave you is excellent and the traced design on the mylar or tracing film can be used over quite a few times before it has to be re-done. For one time use I generally draw my design on a high grade tracing paper and make the transfer to the cased leather directly. The tracing paper is translucent enough to line up to border lines, incised or even lightly scored. As most of my designs are one of a kind for a custom sheath, this is a very inexpensive alternative. I draw the design directly on the tracing paper as it is tough stuff and will withstand quite a bit of erasing and abuse. If my customer wants the original design drawing I send it with the sheath and also the sheath pattern as well. I do not save designs or patterns as I can make new quicker than I can find the old. If many transfers of the same pattern is necessary, I use an old saddlemakers trick. Make your desired design as before on the tracing paper. If this is to be transferred to a quantity of right handed sheaths (stock item) cut out the sheath pattern in LEFT HANDED VERSION from 8/9 ounce cowhide and case the leather before attempting to transfer the design. By inverting the tracing paper you will have the opposite of the original (right handed) drawing. Now you can trace this on your cased sheath leather. When tracing is completed, incise the traced lines with a swivel knife that is sharpened so as to incise a wider cut than your standard swivel blade cut. When the sheath leather is dry give it two coats of Neatlac or Saddle Lac and let dry thoroughly for several days until the lacquer has cured hard. Now in order to transfer the incised design to the right handed , cased, sheath leathers, place the left hand pattern on top of the right hand piece so that the edges match. The incised portion will be laying on top of the cased leather. Lightly pound the top of the stacked pieces with a shot bag filled with birdshot or coarse sand and the design will be transferred to the cased leather. The transfer will appear to be a small ridge instead of an incision. This is easier to obliterate than an impressed line if small changes are made during swivel knife work on new sheath. Six or eight ounces of shot sewed inside a suede leather pouch with enough handle to swing the shot freely, will do nicely! Now you can duplicate that design for years! Sandy Chuck Burrows 01-23-2003, 05:18 AM Sandy beat me to it. I was going to come back and mention the one time only tracing paper pattern. I use the mylar though because I then keep the original in the customer file just in case (the tracing paper can get pretty munged up during transfer depending on how ham handed I am that day). I don't do stock items so hadn't thought about the old reverse image trick in years. Thanks Sandy for the reminder takes me back a ways.... Chuck tmickley 01-23-2003, 06:50 PM Thank you gents. All three ways make sense, even though I had to read them twice - slowly. :D Now I'm off to the basement to take a couple stabs at this.