Ok don't hurt me now,but here comes a dummy question

[GunClick Rick]

Can i tool on this existing sheath??If so how to prepare it

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've never had much experience tooling an existing item. Stamping a design may be a better idea although I wouldn't warrant it as working all that well. No matter what you do, I would think you would penetrate the existing finish and have to fill those areas with dye. It would probably be easier to just make a whole new one you with whatever design you want on it. Then you have an excuse to buy another knife to fill the existing sheath.

[GunClick Rick]

I would have to take it back to where it was at huh..

[Slowhand Bob]

I have not cut into an existing product before but, as Marshall said, I have stamped/embossed them over their original finish.  My results have been somewhat mixed, those finishes vary, and the best examples looked just a bit washed out.  I have had senior moments and put dye only on the leather and gone back over it with stamping patterns that turned out very well.  I think that a product that has been boned or otherwise been pressure rolled or molded is not going to do well at all.

[Ace Lungger]

Rick,
I think the Pards above have given you some good info!

Later
ACE

[JD Alan]

Rick, that's such a puny little knife, you ought to start over so you can get a real knife, and not that toothpick

[ChuckBurrows]

I've done several pieces after the fact using "simple" scroll carving like this - look through the stuff on my site for more examples.....it helps to strip off the finish (not the dye) first in order to moisten it.........your piece should be fairly easy to do with this style as there is plenty of room...
And/or to dress it up you might also consider adding a simple rawhide or leather cuff at the top - add some spots, a concho,  or a little beadwork to the cuff et voila..........again look through my site for ideas from mild to wild......

I think that a product that has been boned or otherwise been pressure rolled or molded is not going to do well at all.

Actually just the opposite in most cases - the best carvers/toolers I know pre-slick their leather before tooling - most use a heavy glass slicker. This tightens the grain to make the tooling take a better set....

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Rick,

That is why I am so enamoured of your posts ... whenever I see a 'don't hit me' , or 'this is dumb' kind of post from you, I can usually bet that it is something that I have been curious about but was too artificially embarrassed to ask.

So, keep up them 'dumb' questions!

[cowboywc]

Howdy Rick
Take the sheath apart. Strip off the finish. (Lighter fluid on a rag will do it.) Wet the leather and put it in a zip lock bag in the frige over night. Take it out and let it come back almost to room temp. (It should feel cool when placed against your cheek) Put your pattern on it and do your carving or stamping. It will be no different than carving on pre dyed veg. Oil it after it has dried and put on a new finish. If your cut show light color leather in them put a little brown dye in your oil and it should blend in just fine. If you want the cuts to show up better use black dye in your oil. Not too much.
WC

[GunClick Rick]

By golly WC i'll give that a shot,knew there had to be some way and i put the dye on it but didn't think that i would be carvin on it.Even if i messed it up i could make another...Thanks..Tandy has a couple free patterns on thier website,mytbe i can work with one of them.