Snake Skin Failure

[Bert03241]

I glued a snake skin to a piece veg tan on a knife sheath and when I folded over the flap the skin pulled apart. This is supposedly real snake skin. Is this normal. any Ideas on how to fix it, or maybe stop it from happening in the first place?

[chuck123wapati]

i would pre-form the bend before gluing. Did you put a finish on it before bending it? I have seen leather break also due to some of the finishes if its applied before the bend is formed.

[tsunkasapa]

Much like linings wrinkle when folded, as in holsters, checkbooks, etc. Overlays that can't stretch will crack. When bent, it becomes smaller than the leather it is attached to, and something has to give. And if you glue OVER the bend, it may wrinkle when opened. I know WHY, but I can't tell you HOW.

[Bert03241]

33 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

i would pre-form the bend before gluing. Did you put a finish on it before bending it? I have seen leather break also due to some of the finishes if its applied before the bend is formed.

I didn't put anything on it for a finish. Preforming might work but will be very difficult to due. Skin is very thin and as soon as it touches the contact cement you can't move it with out tearing it, so getting it perfect the first time is essential

8 minutes ago, tsunkasapa said:

Much like linings wrinkle when folded, as in holsters, checkbooks, etc. Overlays that can't stretch will crack. When bent, it becomes smaller than the leather it is attached to, and something has to give. And if you glue OVER the bend, it may wrinkle when opened. I know WHY, but I can't tell you HOW.

Right the skin didn't stretch I thought it would 

[Bert03241]

I'm wondering if I cut the skin a little long and used a glue that didn't set so fast it if would slide back when I folded the flap over then clamp in place till glue set up

[Sheilajeanne]

It may be possible the skin wasn't properly tanned, and that's why it fell apart.

[battlemunky]

Make a bend out of some scrap that you can lay the snakeskin over to get the right size and then use that piece since it will be representative.

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, tsunkasapa said:

Much like linings wrinkle when folded, as in holsters, checkbooks, etc. Overlays that can't stretch will crack. When bent, it becomes smaller than the leather it is attached to, and something has to give. And if you glue OVER the bend, it may wrinkle when opened. I know WHY, but I can't tell you HOW.

 

1 hour ago, Bert03241 said:

I didn't put anything on it for a finish. Preforming might work but will be very difficult to due. Skin is very thin and as soon as it touches the contact cement you can't move it with out tearing it, so getting it perfect the first time is essential

Right the skin didn't stretch I thought it would 

I've used snake skin but never on a bend for that reason. I would rethink your design and save the problems.

[Bert03241]

5 hours ago, battlemunky said:

Make a bend out of some scrap that you can lay the snakeskin over to get the right size and then use that piece since it will be representative.

I'll see how that works thnx for the reply

[Bert03241]

5 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

 

I've used snake skin but never on a bend for that reason. I would rethink your design and save the problems.

If you saw the one I did in fake snakeskin, I just brought the flap piece over the bend and stopped. I could do it that way ,but I really would like to cover the whole sheath, looks better I think.