Order of Operations

[jrmysell]

So I just want to confirm that everything is in the right order/not missing any steps or whatnot. What I have now, mostly from bits and pieces from threads from all over going back 5-10 years is this (using all Fiebing's products):

Case

Tool

Neetsfoot Oil

Let dry 8-12 hrs

Dye (cut 50/50 with dye reducer)

Let dry 8-12 hrs

Buff with clean rag

Glue together (mostly making knife sheaths)

Edge work (sand, edger, wet, glycerin bar soap, hand burnish, saddle soap, machine burnish, dye edges)

Resolene (cut 50/50 with DI water)

Let dry 8-12 hrs

Antique (cut 50/50 with tan kote) wipe off high spots immediately

Let dry 8-12 hrs

Resolene (cut 50/50 with DI water)

Let dry 8-12 hrs

Finish steps (carnauba creme on face, paraffin wax on edges)

Stitch together

 

Does this sound correct, or anything I'm missing?

[JLSleather]

You may be worrying too much. I sometimes oil before dye, but usually the dye is before the oil.  Sometimes I dye the leather and then assemble -- sometimes not.  I don't use a LOT of resolene, but when I do I like to give it a whole day to set up.  Probably longer than it needs, really.

Point is, don't get carving this in stone.  A lot of the "order" of steps is just personal preference.  In fact, I often don't apply a "final" finish until AFTER stitching.   You'll get a feel for what you prefer before long.

 

[MADMAX22]

If you mostly doing knife sheaths do you want the long edge to be glued together and uniform? 

When I do mine it depends on what type I am making but all similar. If I am making separate belt loops that get stitched on then I finish those completely before assembly and finish the sheath with the exception of the final long edge. Put it together and glue the long edge and stitch. Then finish the long edge burnish and all that. This keeps everything uniform since its hard to get a finish coat on anything that has stitch or rivet on loops or anything. 

[jrmysell]

I plan on gluing it up before doing the edges, and I will punch the stitch holes before dyeing and all that. Just put the actual stitches in at the end. I have read that lighter color thread can turn yellow with some of the products. When using darker thread, I'm sure it's not as big of a deal to not do that last. I'm probably going to be mostly making pancake sheaths that have the belt loops punched directly into the leather, so it'll all just end up one big piece.