DIY: How to Wet Form a Leather Sheath
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2016
- Most stock leather sheaths, no matter how high quality, typically come without being formed to the knife. This means that usually after a certain amount of use, these sheaths will become loose. With a loose sheath, you run the risk of the knife falling out. This method of wet forming a leather sheath to a knife takes all of 5 minutes of work and requires only a vacuum sealer of some sort and a simple oven. This easy method will make a leather sheath fit it's knife like a glove.
If you have any questions about this, I encourage you to either post in the comments section or email me at joe@feralwoodcraft.com
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Genius. Was wondering if I could use my vacuum sealer that I use for kydex, you answered that question.
That is a great idea using the vacuum sealer, I never would have thought of that. Thanks Joe.
Thanks Leo! I love my vacuum sealer :)
That's so smart it blew my mind and hurt my thinking parts!
I could put a whitty quip in here about it not being surprising or that "it doesn't take much" but I'll be nice ;) Thank you my friend!
Simply brilliant, thanks for sharing, ingenious
Would never thought of using the food saver. Great idea Joe. Thanks.
Fantastic technique thanks for sharing really appreciate it
Wow that's really cool, thanks for sharing!
Wow this is brilliant. I'm gonna do this right now! Subscribed.
Thank you sooooooo much, Joe!!I need to do this for my Genesis.. Huzzah!! Great vid!
Awesome Mark! Send me pics when you're done, I haven't done a Genesis yet.
Great idea! Thanks. I will use this one.
This is....I'm just blown away because I don't mess with leather and I've always wondered how people deal with having weird universal leather sheaths. I LOVE this man. I'm ordering my first sheath that's leather for a special knife and I'm gonna do this immediately when I get it! Thanks for the video!
Wow! What a great idea...gonna remember this one!
Well howdy! Thanks for stopping by! I am greatly enjoying the show! By the way, your impersonation of Larry is hilarious haha
Thanks! The show was a blast - glad you're enjoying it :-). Larry Roberts and I had so much fun doing our parody videos of each other...
nicely done sir. that's genius.. looks like it works amazingly well
Well, in my opinion it works great :) Thanks Travis!
That's an awesome idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Robert, I appreciate that.
Oh cool. I wish I had seen this about a year ago. I have 2 knives that need this treatment and I HAVE a vacuum sealer. Thanks for sharing...
Cool idea! Can't wait wait to try it myself.
Let us know how it goes when you do :) Thanks John!
Excellent video!
Great use of a vacuum sealer I had never thought of doing this. Now I have to get a new sealer.
lol Thanks Rob! Good luck!
Thanks Joe, that was a great video. I had no idea it was that easy.
Thanks Robert, I appreciate it! It is pretty easy. It takes longer to setup then it does in work. The rest is just hurry up and wait.
amazing stuff sir as always ! Blessings !!
Thanks Ray, I appreciate that.
This is ingenious, thanks for the tip.
Thanks man!
Very smart, well done.
Awesome job
That's a neat trick! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Bob!
I watched this video and said "why didn't I think of that". Amazing. Have already done 2 knife sheaths. Thanks!!!!
That's awesome! Glad you found it helpful Patrick!
Just what I was looking for. Thanks.
Awesome! Glad it was helpful!
Very interesting information. Thanks!
great video brother. awesome idea. thanks for sharing that.
Thanks! And thank you for watching!
Nice, thanks for sharing!
Thanks you for this video!
Great tip ! Thanks for sharing
As always, thanks for the support!
Excellent Friend thank You!!!
Thanks for the video. I have a few Esee and even my BHK are great leather just no retention.
Just gave this a go on two leather sheaths and worked quite well. My oven only goes down to 170 so I let it dry overnight. Came out good. Just make sure to oil the knife first
very cool Joe. I will be trying this technique, never wet formed a sheath before
It is surprisingly easy. Let me know how it goes. Thanks man!
Great tip using the vacuum sealer.
Thanks Rich!
Nice video!! 👍 Making a sheath for a friend today this really helps!!
That's a great idea!
Great minds think a like! I sent Gary pics while I was filming this and his first response was "You've been hanging out with Dan again, haven't you?" lol
thanks for the ideas I am going to try it out as I'm repurposing some leather to make some sheaths
Very cool, I'm gonna give it a try.
Awesome! Glad you found it helpful Cole!
used your info here to wet form a condor kephart to it's sheath .... didn't hold the kephart at all when turned upside down ... now it is secure and safe ! thanks for sharing :) .
It’s a really good idea.
Summertime tip: place your newly wet-formed sheath in a sealed up hot car for a few hours to dry. It easily gets to 110-140 degrees in a sealed up car. Let the Sun be your oven.
Scott Blevins - That is such an amazing idea! I'm going to do just that!
I have done that, works well.
That is damn good idea Joe!
Thanks Kelly
Looking good!
Thanks guys! I wasn't picking on y'all I promise!! :)
Lol, we know Joe!
Thanks Joe that's a freaking genius idea. Going to Amazon to get me a food saver. God bless you.
lol thanks man, I appreciate it.
You can also get Ziploc vacuum bags and just use your vacuum cleaner.
Nice vid thanks!
Enjoyed the video. I used to work leather and my main requests were for sheaths and holsters. I had lots of requests due to the wet forming. I wish I had a sealer back then. I have completely immersed some sheaths, but it takes to long to dry and you must continually shape it so that it doesn't sag. With the handguns, I wrapped them in a real thin plastic before putting them in for wet forming. I had a knife maker that constantly wanted sheaths. And once the first holster went out, then there were more requests.
However, if I do anymore making sheaths or holsters, I will use my sealer as you showed. That was a good idea. Thanks for the video.
I don't think I'd have the patience for leather. No, I know I don't lol. My hats off to anyone who does. Thanks David!
Brilliant!
Thanks Paul!
genius love it
Thanks Jeremy, glad you enjoyed it man.
Rock on! Thanks Brother
Wow thanks thats a great tip 👍🐾🐾
Thanks for watching Drew!
Nicely done, my friend! Those vacuum sealer things sure seem handy for the kitchen or for bushcraft. Haha! Keep up the great work!
lol yes they are! I actually use it as much for non food stuffs as I do for food lol Thanks Jude!
brilliant!!
Thanks Bacon! Bacon. I like you already lol
COOL...Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Pretty good idea bud. Wouldn't have thought of the food saver method!
Great video man ! Any tips for when a sheath is too tight ? This is awesome for too lose. I am thinking a tight sheath should loosen up for me with time and use.
Like this A LOT.
Thanks Roger!
I was actually thinking of why people don't do it this way, it sounded easier. I'll definitely need to get a vacuum sealer and try this.
Thanks that that, that is so very simple. Now I just need to find a friend who have a vacuum sealer. Naaa, I will just do it the old fashioned way.
You could use a vacuum? lol Thanks bud!
That is exactly what I was thinking. along with a ziplock bag.
While using the vacuum sealer was a brilliant idea thank you for that.... 🙏🏻🔪
Very smart
Thanks Aaron
I found another trick... that is a partial hack of what you did, and it worked pretty darn good...
So, I got a nice little neck sheath for my Condor pygmy knife. But I treated with Obenauf's heavy LP before stumbling onto your sheath shaping video... Well, I faked it and it turned out great, but I did something things a little different.
First I heated the sheath up with the heatgun, then inserted the knife the way I wanted it situated. Next, I loaded it up with more Obenauf's heavy LP, then heat gunned it again making a hot mess. Then I threw it immediately in a vacuum seal bag, massaged it like you did as the air was extracted, and sealed it up. From there I immediately soaked the vacuum sealed bag in boiling water for 1 minute, then I soaked it in ice cold water for 1 minute, back to boiling for 1 minute, back to ice cold for 1 minute... Then I just let it sit until it returned to room temperature. No wet leather, no fuss, turned out way better than expected...
I did this it works great also did it with a heat gun on low
Well dang now I need a food saver! Good video Joe!
I was just thinking the same thing.
Thanks man, glad you found it helpful :)
@Jashonk they are handy little machines for sure.
I don't own a vacuum sealer, but that is a good idea. Also for those that are new to this drying out in the sun works well, and is safer than trusting a toaster oven. Also I would recommend using a leather oil only after you finish your wet forming, and a finally tip if there is a really tight point if the sheath is a bit small then wetting the interior of the sheath can help yuou stretch it a bit more.
Nice 👌
Great idea now I need a good saver
Food*
They are handy dandy machines, no doubt. Thanks!
Awesome. Can't wait to do this to my bush lore
Let us know how it turns out please :)
Cool
hey joe I did this today to my gns and it worked like a charm accept it took a hour in the oven plus a couple hours outside in the sun but I think I got it squared away I most likely used to much water but non the less the end result was the same
I did the same thing the first time I did it to. It takes a time or two to get a feel for how much water to use. And it really differs per sheath too. A sheath from LT takes longer to dry then a sheath from BRKT. Differing kinds of leather I assume? Glad it worked out for you Gerald and thank you for letting me know!
If you want a tighter fit, half way through drying pull the knife out and finish drying the sheath empty. The leather will hold the same shape but shrink much more making a very secure fit.
Yes this guy is right, it has worked for me many times.
After I wet form mine I just let them dry out with the knife saran wrapped and inserted.
A KEY step for me...is after it's dried out hitting it with an all natural water proofing boot wax. I will soak the thing down with this stuff very generously, hit it with some heat from a hair dryer and rub it in really well, pressing the profile of the knife to continue forming. I do this numerous times and let the knife hang dry with the boot wax still wet.
If you want a VERY plush/supple leather that's healthy and looks and feels like it's been well taken care of for years...that's absolutely the way to go.
Only one add on: wrap it in cling wrap as added protection. I make Damascus knives so the 1095 & 15N20 rust pretty easy if wet to long. Very well may be unnecessary for most blades....
Great video nice and easy technique. if I already treated my sheath with obenaufs can I still do it like this?
Nice! Liked and subbed.
Thanks!
Thanks, and Welcome!!
Hummmm......My method has been much more complicated. Next knife I will have to try your way.
Simplicity is a wonderful "key" in life. Thanks for the sharing! Peace
As a father of 4, in other words, "man who has no time", any shortcut i can take that still results in quality work, I am all for. lol Thanks Matthew!
great video could we use a heat gun or a blow drier instead of an over, do you thing it would work?
Nice work Joe. Ya know, that's the same oven I use for dex :evilgrin:
Is it really!? I got it for tempering steel but I've ended up using it more for this type of thing then that. Thanks Gary!
If you do not have a food sealer or have a larger item (ie. axe/machete or saw) you can use an appropriate size packing storage plastic bag that uses a vacuum cleaner to get the shape correct and then heat in an oven (on LOW HEAT) or leave in the sun for a couple of hours. Don't forget to oil or wax the blade first if you leave in the sun.
All good advice, thanks!
Cool trick. Was worried the toaster would over dry the leather but it works. Any concern regarding rust on the blades?
At 115 degrees you'd have to leave them in there for a long time for that to happen. I did go back and check them every 15 minutes or so though. I neglected to mention on film that I oiled the blades heavily (vaseline) before putting them in the sheaths (which is why I added the text over the screen). I've experienced no issues with rust as of yet. Thanks Mark!
great idea bro. i got one i need to do but dont have a food saver. guess ill do it the old way
Do you have a vacuum? Use a ziplock and a hose attachment. Use heavy duty rubber bands to seal the ziplock around the hose attachment and fire away. You'd have to leave the vacuum running for a few minutes but it should work.
+Feral Woodcraft just did the old method of water and shaping. i used a leather thong and a ink pen to help with shaping while drying but still not really tight fit
Cool 😎 -
Have tou tried the food saver method with kydex?
Hi Joe,
I'm making a few knives for the leaders at our local forest school from old farrier rasps, the blades are crude but authentic and repurposed as are the handle s made from Yew from an old broken bow, I have some great bits of 3inch by 6 inch hide given to me by a saddler for the sheaths my main concern is how to drill and sew the sheaths in a correct manner so as not to slice through the stitches when putting knife away or taking it out, this wet forming seems as if it would help keep a good angle, I really don't want to use rivets, any help pointers, links etc would be very much appreciated indeed,
You have one more subscriber!
On a holster I use the top of a Sharpie to form a closer bond to the curves. If you are wet forming a sheath to a knife with blood grooves would it be good or bad to press in the blood groove on the blade?
Nice moves.
Thanks Ronnie, I appreciate the support!
Hey just the video and person that may be able to answer my conundrum that I'm having. for father's day I received a new knife and sheath. the knife is the PKS mountaineer and the JRE SRT sheath is the sheath she got for me, the sheath is a little large for the knife and I'm worried it may be too big and loose for this knife. I was curious what you thought of this situation and could shed some light on it. don't know whether or not I should return it and look at a different option or try to make it work. thank you for your great videos and please let me know what you think. thank you in advance brother!
Do you leave the knife in the sheath when you put it in the oven? JW, I know it takes a lot very high temp. to ruin the heat treat on a blade, but I just want to make sure I do it right. Thanks for your help Joe, good bit of info!
I was wondering that myself
Yes I do. At 115 or so degree, you are no where near close enough to ruin the heat treat. It depends on the steel but O1 (the only steel I've worked with) it'd take over 425 or 450 (depending on your heat treat recipe) to ruin it. Thanks bud!
Haaaaaaa! That was awesome brother. What was the model of that Bark River knife?
It is my absolute favorite of the ones I currently own. It is a Liten Bror, which is Swedish for "Little Brother". It is basically a miniature version of an Aurora but with a slightly different style grind. It's what Mike Stewart calls a Scandi-Convex...don't confuse it with a scandivex...two totally different styles. It is a fantastic blade.
I'm going to look that one up. It looks pretty sweet man.
Could you do this same process by vacuuming the air out of a ziplock bag and then sealing it before air gets back in?
What if you don't have one of those food prep vacum sealers ? How do you form fit then !
Great idea Joe!
Ok.. what if I don't have a toaster oven? (I know, crazy)
Can I leave it out in the sun or just use my regular oven? I do have a food saver, so no worries there.
Do you turn the sheath over at the halfway point or just keep it going?
Thanks for the video
Yes, the first sheath I did I dried on the hood of my truck. As far as turning over, I play it by ear. If it looks like it is drying unevenly, then yes I do. Thanks Mark!
Nice educational vid! BTW, at approx 1:30, you mentioned a Bark River knife, but I cannot find that knife anywhere. What is the style (name) of that knife? Keep up the good work!
That will Be the Liten Bror. It has been discontinued and replaced by the Mini Aurora. Every great once in a while you can find one on ebay or for sale on trade sites but it's getting rarer and rarer. Thanks!
nice. FWIW, I find my wife's food dehydrator works really well for drying my wet formed leather work..... but don't tell her. ;-)
Question.....would that work with two sheets of kydex??
Should I wait for my sheath to loosen a bit before I wet form?
What if you have already oiled your sheath before wet fitting?
Can it still be wet fit?
Vacuum sealing will give you the check marks from the bag. If your vacuuming it tight enough to form, you will get the checks. Might be alright for a $20 sheath, but not for a sheath that a person sweated hours over.
Now that I agree with. No way I'd do this to a Wolfe Customs sheath or the like. Well, not unless I used the super cheap smooth bags.
What if you covered the textured side with another piece of suitably thick smooth plastic?
Christopher Paustian
Probably would work. I usually turn the bag inside out and use the cheap ones. They have very little checkering.
As long as the plastic could flex with the leather, I don't see why it wouldn't work. As an experiment, I did one in a fully textured bag and it actually turned out really nice. It gave the sheath a subtle rustic look. I am sure that boils down to ones personal tastes but I think it looks quite nice. Great idea!
If your in to texture, that's fine. I like a smooth finish. I turned the bag inside out and used the cheapest ones I could find.
Is 10-15 minutes the optimal amount of time to leave it in the vacuum bag or does it matter?