New Bk-2 Sheath

[vaalpens]

I just finished my first complete sheath and is happy how it came out. The sheath is for my BK-2 and will probably be used for day hikes where there is no need for survival items to be added to the sheath. I think it is called a Randall type sheath and I have decided to dye it to go with the black BK-2. The only Issue I found was that it seems that some of the wax from the stitching thread remained on the sheath, which resulted in some spots where the dye did not take that well. The stitching holes were drilled with a sharpened stitching needle, since there was no way I could use a diamond awl through 3/4" of leather. Sheathe was finished with neatsfoot oil and then leather balm with wax.

Thanks for looking and any comments will be appreciated.

[jackd942]

Nice job. Looks good!

[vaalpens]

Nice job. Looks good!

Thanks!

I have seen some of the holsters you have done and they are pieces of art where mine are just holsters and sheaths fit for personal use. Hopefully one day I can get to the point where the finish on my holsters looks as professional as yours.

[dbusarow]

Nice work.

To punch holes in 3/4" of leather, chuck your diamond awl into the drill press and use the leverage of the press to punch the holes. NO POWER! You have to line the awl blade up carefully and check on it as you go to make sure it doesn't rotate into the wrong angle.

Dan

[jackd942]

Thanks!

I have seen some of the holsters you have done and they are pieces of art where mine are just holsters and sheaths fit for personal use. Hopefully one day I can get to the point where the finish on my holsters looks as professional as yours.

I appreciate it, but I think anything you make with your hands is a piece of art in some way and yours looks good. Some are more ornate, some are more utility, but art nonetheless. I just got into leather work a couple of months ago mainly because I couldn't find a holster I liked. After trying some finishes out on test pieces that didn't look good, I dug out my old Iwata airbrush and started using it. That was the key for me. It allows so much flexibility in the look from the shade to doing effects like the sunburst look that most of mine have. The improvement was drastic. That's just my newbie $.02 FWIW.

Jack

[vaalpens]

Nice work.

To punch holes in 3/4" of leather, chuck your diamond awl into the drill press and use the leverage of the press to punch the holes. NO POWER! You have to line the awl blade up carefully and check on it as you go to make sure it doesn't rotate into the wrong angle.

Dan

I never thought of putting the diamond awl in the drill press. Thanks for the great idea! My diamond awl is one piece with the handle and I will have to cut of the handle or buy just the diamond awl without the handle. This is definitely I want to pursue. It can't be much more difficult than using a drill press and a sharpened needle. Even with the needle I have to stop the drill, line up the hole, start the drill and then lower the drill, one hole at a time. At least with the drill press each hole should be straight, and you just need to make sure the blade is at the correct angle.

[vaalpens]

I appreciate it, but I think anything you make with your hands is a piece of art in some way and yours looks good. Some are more ornate, some are more utility, but art nonetheless. I just got into leather work a couple of months ago mainly because I couldn't find a holster I liked. After trying some finishes out on test pieces that didn't look good, I dug out my old Iwata airbrush and started using it. That was the key for me. It allows so much flexibility in the look from the shade to doing effects like the sunburst look that most of mine have. The improvement was drastic. That's just my newbie $.02 FWIW.

Jack

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am also lucky that my wife also think the pieces I am creating looks great. I only started a few months ago because I received a small starting kit and I wanted the create a holster that was functional for me. I also had a tough time finding a holster for my gun, since it is not a Glock. From most of the posts I have seen it looks like using an airbrush is the way to go if you want to be more artistic with shading. I will only probably get into airbrushing once I can get to a finish that I like. Currently I finish with leather balm atom wax, which looks good, but I don't think it gives you that professional look yet.

[chiefjason]

Another plus for the awl is it will make your stitches behave better than a round hole. You can buy replacement awl blades. I got mine from Springfield. I use my floor drill press to punch all my holes.

[renegadelizard]

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am also lucky that my wife also think the pieces I am creating looks great. I only started a few months ago because I received a small starting kit and I wanted the create a holster that was functional for me. I also had a tough time finding a holster for my gun, since it is not a Glock. From most of the posts I have seen it looks like using an airbrush is the way to go if you want to be more artistic with shading. I will only probably get into airbrushing once I can get to a finish that I like. Currently I finish with leather balm atom wax, which looks good, but I don't think it gives you that professional look yet.

Try angulus 600 or mop and glow cut with water...using an airbrush, you have to remember that your dye isnt going to penetrate very deep into the leather, and any scratch is gonna show releatively quickly...

[jackd942]

Try angulus 600 or mop and glow cut with water...using an airbrush, you have to remember that your dye isnt going to penetrate very deep into the leather, and any scratch is gonna show releatively quickly...

While I agree that the dye penetration with the airbrush isn't as good, I have found (in my brief experience) that as long as you follow the dye with neatsfoot oil and finally a good sealer (I use resolene), scratches are not an issue. I have worn one of my original holsters every day at my job which involves getting in and out of a truck constantly all day....no issues with scratches at all even though it is riding next to the seat belt. You definitely have to be careful not to scratch it between the dye and oil stages though.