Hatchet Cover For Fil

[BigK]

My father-in-law brought me his raggedy old hatchet with gouges all up the sides and knicks in the blade. He asked me to make him a leather cover for it, so it wouldn't get banged up in the tool box of his truck. Needless to say, I bit my tongue and said sure.

I cleaned it up with a brash brush and some WD-40, smoothed out the gouges, and polished it with my Dremel until it shined like new. Then I reprofiled the edge to get the knicks out of the blade and sharpened it real good for him.

I mean why bother putting lipstick on a pig, right? I'm not crazy about the snaps on the back and bottom, but he didn't want the kind you slide the handle through and I don't like the kind that only cover the blade instead of the whole head. So, this is what he got...

He liked it and practically accused me of buying him a new hatchet, since he couldn't believe it was the same one he dropped off. It's always good to keep the in-laws happy.

Edited April 25, 2011 by BigK

[tat2]

Certainly an A for effort. If you want a different closure from the snaps I would suggest a Sam Browne closure. adds a better touch and you can get them in nickel plating or solid brass. If your up for feedback I would sand the edges of the top flap smoothing out the edges.

[BigK]

Certainly an A for effort. If you want a different closure from the snaps I would suggest a Sam Browne closure. adds a better touch and you can get them in nickel plating or solid brass. If your up for feedback I would sand the edges of the top flap smoothing out the edges.

Tat2, I am sorry I managed to miss your response somehow. I guess I quit checking or them after a few days. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I got a little lazy on the edges on this piece, especially that particular flap. I had skived it down a little to help it bend over the top of the blade. That made it too flexible to do a good job on the edges, since I don't have a sander or grinder or whatever. I couldn't hold it still well enough to use sandpaper, plus it was too gritty to smooth it any way.

Excuses aside, I'm not real good at dressing edges. I've tried the plastic burnishing tool from Tandy and I must be using it wrong. I keep bending the leather instead of compressing the edges. I want a drill press and to make one from wood, like I've seen in some videos.

[tat2]

A lot of folks are starting to use heavy canvas and rubbing on the edges after using Saddle soap or wax. I couldnot believe how amazing it look and how fast the edges of my belts had a fab finished edge from the canvas and a little fricken!

Tat2, I am sorry I managed to miss your response somehow. I guess I quit checking or them after a few days. Anyway, thanks for the feedback. I got a little lazy on the edges on this piece, especially that particular flap. I had skived it down a little to help it bend over the top of the blade. That made it too flexible to do a good job on the edges, since I don't have a sander or grinder or whatever. I couldn't hold it still well enough to use sandpaper, plus it was too gritty to smooth it any way.

Excuses aside, I'm not real good at dressing edges. I've tried the plastic burnishing tool from Tandy and I must be using it wrong. I keep bending the leather instead of compressing the edges. I want a drill press and to make one from wood, like I've seen in some videos.

[Shooter McGavin]

Looks cool.

[Wareagle50]

very nice.

[BigK]

Looks cool.

very nice.

Thanks guys.

I wish I had more time to do leather work. I envy folks who do it for a living or for side income. They develop skills/talent much faster than I can hope for. I barely have enough time to spare to claim it as a hobby. This is only my 5th or 6th "project" so far, so by the time I get around to the next project, I find myself nearly re-learning half of what I knew.

[Nooj]

I know what you mean, BigK. My projects are few and far between, and I swore I'd start keeping notes so that I wouldn't forget a tip or trick that I picked up from the last project.

I made a hatchet cover for my pa-in-law recently, too. I chose to go with a fully opening one as well, for ease of removal/ re-holstering. It's similar to yours, I just omitted the bottom snap. I posted pics somewhere... don't remember which section.

Anyways- I think your cover looks nice. I like the lacing- something I haven't attempted yet. And I'm sure he'll be proud of it, and glad to have a sharp hatchet, lol.

Keep up the good work,

Nooj