Magnetism affects leather?

[dikman]

Have you got any fine iron filings handy? See if they're attracted to any part of the leather.

[Wepster]

I would consider a piece of plastic wrap (ie saran wrap) between the leather and the magnet. It would confirm magnatism and not some surface tension/ stickyness from the finish or conditioning of the leather.

[SUP]

I don't have any iron filings. Will have to see how I can get some.

The plastic wrap is a good idea although I have thoroughly cleaned the leather and the conditioner is the same I use for all the other knife sheaths.

Let's see. A mystery to solve.

[chuck123wapati]

could be a staple in it check it with a metal detector.

[ArkieNewbie]

You sure you're not really living in a sideways alternate dimension where your shop it laid over on its side?

[TonyV]

22 hours ago, fredk said:

The only explanation I think I can come with;  (Its my theory because it belongs to me) is that there was some sort of ferrous salts used in the tanning. All that leather has a small amount of it through the leather but its only this small sheath because it is so light weight that the magnetism is strong enough to hold it. The bigger sheath would stick as well but its weight overcomes the magnetic grip

My thought as well.   My 1st idea was vinegarroon, until I read the OP  Pro Dye and NFO.   Does pro dyed in the  use some ferrous compound?  So if not that, is there some stray piece of steel embeded in the leather?  Anything ferrous in the thread?

[SUP]

@TonyVCan' feel any metal in the leather - of course it might be too small to feel with bare fingers. The thread is the same spool that I have used for all the other things I have stitched. The  Pro-dye was used for other things as well. This was in the earliest days when I was trying to learn how to use dyes and antiquing, so used both on most things. I have been racking my brain trying to find something different that I did with this piece of leather.

@ArkieNewbie you may have a point there..an alternate dimension might end up being the explanation!

@Handstitched , missed your comment there... leather from the cow that jumped over the moon.. moon dust! 

[Trox]

Some black dye are containing iron, that is an early method of making black leather dye. Or some tanning chemicals may be magnetic. As mentioned before a piece of steel could be inside the leather. Some steel rubbed off inside the holster, like the black on the stropping board after polishing. Or its just the surface stats sticking to  it.

[JerryKilian]

On 7/13/2023 at 12:57 AM, fredk said:

The only explanation I think I can come with;  (Its my theory because it belongs to me) is that there was some sort of ferrous salts used in the tanning. All that leather has a small amount of it through the leather but its only this small sheath because it is so light weight that the magnetism is strong enough to hold it. The bigger sheath would stick as well but its weight overcomes the magnetic grip

edit to add; I just had an idea. Have you got a university or senior college near you? Take it to their science section get them to investigate it. It might interest them to do so and students can learn testing & analysis by doing so

That’s an interesting theory about the ferrous salts in the leather! It makes sense that a lighter sheath could be more easily affected by any magnetic properties. Getting a local university or college to check it out is a great idea. Science departments love unique cases like this, and it could give students a real-world example for testing and analysis. Definitely worth exploring!

 

[SUP]

I would really like to know but I made the grave error of keeping the scissors and sheath 'very safely'. which means I now cannot find it anywhere.  As a large roll of paper, similar kept safely, is not to be found either, my family does not hold out much hope for this much smaller item.