While staining a sheath I just got excited!

[Kevster]

I cut this leather today for a sheath, and after staining it I noticed a spot that would not take the stain, so I went to the garage and was going to sand just the bad spot but I liked the look so much I did the whole sheath.

[WBE]

Kinda gives it a nice aged look. I like it.

[Doug Lester]

Nice way to distress a sheath. It looks like you might have gotten a stray bit of cement on the leather, at least it's a possibility. You might have been able to rub most of it off with an eraser or cleaned it with acetone.

Doug

[ericbrinkerhoff]

Speaking of erasers for leather .
I use a scrap of the same leather to "erase"stray contact cement .
Seems like the same leather wont mar itself but will have enough friction to remove the glue .

[Kevster]

I don't think I got contact cement on it, but non the less I'm happy.





The belt loop covered it anyway.

[Whipster]

For what it's worth, I usually don't stain until after sewing and shaping the edges. That would avoid some of the stretch marks you have near the fold.

http://www.knifenetwork.com/forum/at...2&d=1163347960

[BCROB]

looks great Kevster ,
the finish on the sheath really compliments the handle on your knife, nice character in the sheath finish as well...........well done !!

[Kevster]

Hey Whipster, what kind of thread do you use, the thread on mine is waxed and it would be easier to stain after sewing.

Your sheath looks great.

[Ray Rogers]

I also stain after the sheath is finished (except for putting on the thumb snap if there will be one). The thing I do differently is that I have a large pot of Neatsfoot oil with my dye mixed in. The entire sheath gets dunked so that it gets dyed and oiled in one easy pass, very even coating too, inside and out ...

[Wazukie]

Hmmm, I haven't had the problem of "stretch" marks if I stain before forming the sheath. I do however like the Idea of dipping the sheath as Ray mentions. I do wonder though, as I've read that neatsfoot softens the leather quite a bit. Is this true? Will it affect a wet formed sheath?

Nice work Kev.

[Ray Rogers]

Butch,

Yes, It does soften the leather (for a while) and it can affect a formed sheath. But, how much effect it has has to do with how long you leave it in there, no need to soak the darned thing, just dip it a time or two until the color is where you want it. It takes a few days to dry completely but it will dry out. In the meantime, if you protect the knife with some SaranWrap you can use the time to touch up the forming if you feel the need . I don't think I've ever really needed to .....

[BCROB]

Originally Posted by Ray Rogers

I also stain after the sheath is finished (except for putting on the thumb snap if there will be one). The thing I do differently is that I have a large pot of Neatsfoot oil with my dye mixed in. The entire sheath gets dunked so that it gets dyed and oiled in one easy pass, very even coating too, inside and out ...

Ray I've tried this as well, whats your mixture ratio ? ball park is good

[Ray Rogers]

Not really sure. I just filled the pot with Neatsfoot, then added a bottle of dye. Every now and then I add more oil and another bottle of dye. There's also a small amount of beeswax in there, the pot is heated so the wax melts ....

[Kevster]

It must sux to live in the cold weather states. God Bless Texas!!

[Ray Rogers]

Oh, I dunno about that Kevin. I lived in Houston for 35 years and I remember those summer time electric bills and I figure they are even worse by now. On the other hand, I've been out here for 13 years and my summer electric bill hardly ever reaches $60 even with all the equipment I have. Winter time is barely twice that amount. I love Texas and the people but, for me, the weather was hell on earth ....