Thread: Playing with leather

Very nice job . Clean , simple and stylish ! Love the natural oiled look too

Question for all you smart buggers that play with leather, I recently bought a cheap 2nd hand leather pouch for a folding knife. It was a punt as to size and fit, but only a few bucks so took a punt. Anyway the folder fits but it’s very tight. Is there a way to stretch the leather ? Probably only needs a slight stretch to make the fit right.

@chainsaw. Assuming it is vegtan leather(if it was cheap it may not be) try soaking it in warm water for a minute then jam the knife in,then leave it to dry. It should mold around the knife and hold the required shape. Wrap the knife in gladwrap to prevent it rusting overnight.Just my suggestion others may have different opinions.

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@hunter Al.7mm08
Perfect thanks mate.

This thread is very inspirational! My wife gave me a basic leathermaking toolkit as a present a few years ago, and I'm keen to start using it.

Question - if I want to start by making a basic belts and some pouches to hold a pocket knife, mobile phone, that kind of thing - what kind of leather do I need? Grades, thicknesses? I assume a belt needs to be thicker leather than a pouch. A wet-molded knife pouch thicker leather than a belt pouch for a mobile phone?

Where do you source your leather from in NZ? I've looked through this thread, and googled, but most websites / youtube videos seem to be overseas based and using overseas suppliers.

Lapco for leather (akl) is where I have bought most of my leather . Usually in large sheets which are not cheap but they do sometimes have off cut pieces a little cheaper , or can sometimes be found on the yellow site . Lapco also do tools , dyes , rivets etc . If molding to shape vege tan leather is required .
Hope that helps @RV1 ...

thickness depends on you really . Can make anything out of the thicker leather but will obviously end up being a little bulkier . I use 3 mm + for sheaths and would think a belt would require the same sort of thickness for strength and to minimise stretch . That said the little folding scalpel knife sheath I used around 1.5 mm thick leather as any thicker I felt was overkill and would have been a very big bulky sheath for a very small light knife (not worn on a belt but carried in bum bag). I would probably look at around 2mm for a pouch depending on what you are using the pouch for to avoid excessive bulk.... but thats just me ...

Awesome, thanks - that's very helpful! I've got a bunch of tools, I just need some leather and hardware to get started. Cheers

Hardware you can also sometimes pick up on TM or places like Ali express cheaper than retailers...

+1 for Lapco @RV1 I would agree with what @Ftx325 said. Try and buy some scrap pieces to practice stitching etc on first.If in doubt YouTube!

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Originally Posted by sneeze

@hunter Al.7mm08
Perfect thanks mate.

Attachment 191631

Your welcome. Hope the boss likes it. Thought the lanyard might help to pull the knife out but cut it off if it's a nuisance.

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Originally Posted by hunter Al.7mm08

Your welcome. Hope the boss likes it. Thought the lanyard might help to pull the knife out but cut it off if it's a nuisance.

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Nice work Al!

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Recently got asked to make a sheath for a shepherd who was having issues with his steel poking holes in the seat of his side by side, also rubbing against the seat has prematurely worn the side of the sheath out.I suggested wearing it on the opposite side but he wasn't keen on that.I reckon it was a perfect job for that heavy Buffalo leather @Ftx325 . Also enclosed the steel and reinforced it. Will be interesting to hear how it lasts.

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Bit of crap weather lately so decided I better finish the wife's Mother's day gift I said I'd make for her.

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Originally Posted by hunter Al.7mm08

Bit of crap weather lately so decided I better finish the wife's Mother's day gift I said I'd make for her.

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You might get an early birthday present as well!

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You might get an early birthday present as well!
@andyanimal31 Ha! Fingers crossed

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