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The Newbies Arena Are you new to knife making? Here is all the help you will need.

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  #1  
Old 12-07-2018, 08:36 AM
Rasmus Kristens Rasmus Kristens is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2014
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Leathersheath scratched the guard

hi guys

Ss the title says, i have just finished up the sheath for a knife, and when I test the fit the guard gets scratchingmarks from te sheath.

The guard is 304s.
Do you have any idea how i can avoid this?
I didn't think leather was abrasive enough to scrtch steel like that.
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  #2  
Old 12-07-2018, 01:17 PM
epicfail48 epicfail48 is offline
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You were right, leather cant scratch steel like that. Flat out not possible, leather isn't hard enough. Stuff embedded in the leather, however, is more than capable of it. You might have some bits of grinding award, abrasive from sandpaper, something stuck in the leather, and as far as how it got there, there's a long list of suspects. Working with the leather on a dirty surface, storing the leather in range of your grinder, etc.

Best practice to avoid this in the future is make sure your leather and the work surfaces are all clean, to prevent it picking up something you'd rather it didnt
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  #3  
Old 12-08-2018, 12:48 AM
Rasmus Kristens Rasmus Kristens is offline
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I just dont get it. I have obly worked the learher inside the main house. Weird. I Will try to see if i can clean it out somehow. ☹️
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  #4  
Old 12-08-2018, 06:19 AM
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Crex Crex is offline
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Very easily transferred from your fingers. All knifemakers have dirty hands, really got to "doctor" wash them before you do any leather work. Damp or cased leather acts like a sponge for any dirt, stains, dust etc.
You are probably not going to be able to remove what is embedded in the leather now that it's finished, but you can try cleaning with acetone to remove finish/sealer. This is going to change coloration in that area so you will have to adapt the best you can. Usually on a high dollar knife I will just make another sheath and work harder at keeping things "clean".
Good luck, any of us that work leather regular know your pain.


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  #5  
Old 12-10-2018, 05:37 AM
Rasmus Kristens Rasmus Kristens is offline
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ohhh no! I don't know why I din't think of this earlier, but I have been storing the leather pieces in the workshop.. Thats properly why i have this issue now.

Thank for letting me know about this, i will take my precautions from now one.

I love this community :-)
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  #6  
Old 12-10-2018, 08:24 AM
damon damon is offline
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in future, you could shave the inside surfaces a little to make sure you remove any contaminants.
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  #7  
Old 12-13-2018, 12:42 PM
Rasmus Kristens Rasmus Kristens is offline
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I tried rubbing the inside with a ctoth with acetone. It took off a lot of the Colour but it did remove the abrasive! Thank you very much for the. Help
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  #8  
Old 12-15-2018, 02:05 AM
jimmontg jimmontg is offline
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not a good idea to use acetone on leather

It breaks down the fibers in the leather and really dries it out. It is very harsh if used beyond a very light wipe.

Last edited by jimmontg; 12-15-2018 at 02:14 AM.
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  #9  
Old 12-15-2018, 06:34 AM
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Crex Crex is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmontg View Post
It breaks down the fibers in the leather and really dries it out. It is very harsh if used beyond a very light wipe.
This is correct, I should have been a bit more precise about how to apply. Use a Q-tip and as little as necessary, then re-oil with lanolin oil followed with a good quality waxing.
Never good to use acetone in any quantity on leather. It has the same effect on our skin as well so wear gloves.
Thanks for pointing this out.


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  #10  
Old 12-16-2018, 05:50 PM
jimmontg jimmontg is offline
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Lightbulb I use alcohol exclusively to clean my leather now Carl.

I get the 93% rubbing alcohol at Walmart for a buck. Works good and it can be used to thin my dyes too. I only use Fiebings Pro dye which is an oil dye in an alcohol carrier. I used lacquer thinner to clean or deglaze before and I noticed it was a different color when I dyed it. It harmed the surface a little and it absorbed dye at a different rate, so I stopped using it.

Saw some guy on YouTube promoting using bleach to lighten dark or dyed leather. I commented that letting bleach, an oxidizer into the leather was a sure way to break down the fibers. Bleach on what used to be skin is too harsh and he came back and said he did notice it made the leather "kind of unravel a little bit at the edges." LOL
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