Hello from the UK

[MikeDB]

Hello from England

Thought I'd best introduce myself. I'm Mike.

Most of my leatherwork is based around historical pieces in cuir but I'm hoping to expand on that in the future.

Ok, possibly not the best introduction but I'll try harder in the future.

Some of my more recent projects

Tudor bottles

An Elizabethan Ale set of bombard & cups

Bronze age inspired leather drinking horn

Old style sheath for a modern Scottish Dirk

I'm no skilled craftsman but will gladly help anyone that asks if I can.

Cheers

Mike

[Beaverslayer]

Mike, welcome to the forum. That's some pretty nice looking work you've done there, the flask is especially nice. Do you do that with sand, or something else? Also, what kind of wax on the inside?

Hope you enjoy the forum, and I look forward to seeing more of your fine work.

Ken

[MikeDB]

Mike, welcome to the forum. That's some pretty nice looking work you've done there, the flask is especially nice. Do you do that with sand, or something else? Also, what kind of wax on the inside?

Hope you enjoy the forum, and I look forward to seeing more of your fine work.

Ken

Thanks for the kind comments Ken.

Many people do use sand but I find it a real pain to fully remove from the dry flask. I actually use pearl barley which is easier to reuse and much easier to empty out. After I've taken the barley out of the item the few grains that are always left inside are easy to get out with either some coins or a couple of smooth metal balls.

The cuir work is dipped and lined with beeswax.

Mike

[Pip]

thats some lovely work, what do you seal tbe inside of your stuff with.

[Regis]

Mike welcome to LW.net . Very nice work you've done there. Looking forward to seeing more.

[ferret]

Hi Mike, nice to see another Brit here. Have you considered putting a plastic bag inside the flask before using the sand/barley? Makes getting it out a lot easier.

[MikeDB]

Hi Mike, nice to see another Brit here. Have you considered putting a plastic bag inside the flask before using the sand/barley? Makes getting it out a lot easier.

Hi,

Nope, not tried a plastic bag. The barley is easy enough to get out when it's dry. Some of the flasks require a fair amount of force to mould being in 4mm veg tan, hot and very wet so I would think a plastic bag would rip.

The main issue with cuir is the wax dip. You can never really be sure if your work will come out right or looking like crispy bacon

[abn]

I'm no skilled craftsman but will gladly help anyone that asks if I can.

It's nice to be modest, but I have to say, there's one heck of lot of skill that goes into executing the projects you just posted. Beautiful work! Hope to see more!

Best, -Alex

[Jordan]

Very nice stuff, I have read some about the lining in old bottles that have been found, but I would be concerned about coating my insides with wax. How do you seal them and soothe someones anxiety about drinking the sealant along with the liquid?

[MikeDB]

Very nice stuff, I have read some about the lining in old bottles that have been found, but I would be concerned about coating my insides with wax. How do you seal them and soothe someones anxiety about drinking the sealant along with the liquid?

The beeswax is really impregnated into the leather so really the additional inner coating of wax is mainly a seam sealer. Unless you are putting something corrosive like cola or something hot into the flask then the wax will stay solid and mix with the contents. Beeswax, as far as I know is foodsafe & won't coat anyones insides but it does sometimes give the user an impression of having added some honey-like flavour to the drink. I cant say I've noticed a taste but you certainly get an faint aroma which may expalin some of the anxieties.

Hope that ramble helps.

Mike

[singteck]

Hi Mike

Good to see you over here too!

singteck

[MikeDB]

Hi Mike

Good to see you over here too!

singteck

And your good self Sir!

Mike