Sacramento Beginner Knife Sheath Class

WaddWatsonEllis · October 16, 2009, 10:44:24 PM

I have looked around, and it seems that all leather classes require:

About $75.00 for class costs

Purchasing a set of tools ~ $300.00

All I want to do right now is make a nice knife sheath. I have no idea if I have the interest to take up leather as a hobby.

There out to be a class where one pays for the leather, pays the $75.00 for the class, and is allowed to rent tools long enough to finish the project and decide if it was fun before the tool purchases are necessary.

Am I 'way off base here, or does this seem reasonable?

JD Alan · October 17, 2009, 12:38:53 AM

Check out your local Tandy store. The one in Portland has tools people can use there at the store. They always have scrap leather for sale, in large enough pieces to make a sheath. The manager, Donna, will demo tools for people, and show them how they should be used. I think we have a really great Tandy store, so I don't know if they are all this helpful, but you might want to check it out. Good luck.

Curley Cole · October 17, 2009, 01:35:54 AM

I took a short class at a Tandy store years ago, didn't cost much, but I have always been one to be self taught. So I took what I got from that class as a basis and took the book that came in the kit and did the stuff on my own. I am sure I could have made less mistakes from a class ( like not letting the leather twist when doing a lacing the first one looked like hell, but after that I found lacing to be kinda theraputic...

anyways good luck

curley

WaddWatsonEllis · October 17, 2009, 08:58:45 AM

It was Tandy that had the class I was speaking of ... and it will probably fit the needs of the average person who already knows that he is interested in leatherwork.

But my last serious 'leatherwork' was stitching a wallet together in summer camp some 45 years ago.

Even if I was to find that I am fanatic about leatherwork, I would be begging, borrowing and buying (occaisionally) to start out.

And when I went to the leatherworking meeting held at Tandy, they were forthright that the tools could be used in the shop but not taken out .... very fair .... but in the same breath, they said that the class required doing homework that would require the use of tools.

I try to be fair about this ... if they lent tools, most certainly the majority might (or probably) would not return. And to pay an instructor, his wages must be paid from the class. And a profit must be seen; Tandy must be paid for the use of their shop time and use of their tools .... and for the avarage employed person, this probably works. It just doesn't work for me at this point ...

Perhaps later....

Ned Buckshot · October 17, 2009, 09:12:34 AM

What type of knife sheath do you want?

Perhaps I can help you out. Let me know.

Ned

Ned Buckshot · October 18, 2009, 05:31:22 AM

Hey WWE, sent you an email clarifying my last statement!

I think you'll like it!

Ned

JD Alan · October 18, 2009, 08:05:16 AM

WWE, I'll bet someone like Ned, or another experienced sheath maker would cut out some leather to fit your knife and send it to you. Then you could take it to your local Tandy store and borrow some stamps, and crate a sheath to your liking. I've seen Donna at the Portland store help people put together their first project, even helping them to sew it together. I've got leather I would donate to your project. I would mail you some tools for stamping as well, if you knew what you wanted to use, and I had them.

I'm sure the same offer would come from quite a number of guys here, who've been so helpful to me. Just a thought.

Arizona Cattleman · October 18, 2009, 10:57:28 AM

I know that we all have duplicates of tools, stamps etc. Maybe we could set up a broker location where we could ship to, then when a pard needs a basic set to get started, it could be put together and sent to them. Just a thought, whats your feelings or ideas.

AZ Cattleman

Springfield Slim · October 18, 2009, 09:25:15 PM

WWE; Anytime you feel like it you can come on over and use my stuff to make something. It's not like you are going to wear out my stamps and blades are either replaceable or can be sharpened. And I won't even charge the 75.00! I'm in San Jose so not real close but not really that far either, a couple of hours maybe.

WaddWatsonEllis · October 23, 2009, 09:02:31 PM

Gosh guys, I am humbled and a bit red faced at your outright kindness.

AZ Calltleman sent me enough tools to get started ... if these are duplicates, you mush have a HELLACIOUS shop .... thank you so much!

In fact, it got me out in my woodshop.... always thereapeutic, don't know why I don't get oout there more more often... I had some old scrap 1 1/4" plywood .... squared it up .... took it over to the drill press and made four rows of holes that stop 1/40 inch shy of the bottom ..... in the different diameters of the tools

This AM when I went out to my Friday AM Men's Meeting from church, i stopped next door at Home Depot for some water based polyurethane and some library index card style handles and some 1/4" dowel. So now all I need to do is find someone in Sacto with a floor model drill press so that I can drill into the ends and dowel them and drill for the handle screws ...

I placed a pic of the half finished tool carer on this thread ... I am hoping it will fit inot the lower bin of a tool box so that I can use the top for long handles, scissors and whatever.

I think I may have gotten the bug...

Ten Wolves Fiveshooter · October 23, 2009, 10:16:22 PM

Good for you Wad, looks like the AZ Cattleman took good care of you, that's just how a lot of us got started in leather craft, seems like a lot of leather pards just have a great big heart when it comes to things like this, way to go AC,C

and Wad , you did a nice job on that tool box.

Regards

tEN wOLVES

Arizona Cattleman · October 23, 2009, 10:25:02 PM

Glad you got everything OK. You should have everything to do your sheath, except for a knife(box cutter) to cut your leather and an awl to punch your stiching holes. Also it is helpful to have some contact cement to tack the leather together before punching the stiching holes to keep everything in alignment. If you have a work bench, that is solid, then stamping should work. You use the tool with the handle to put a stiching grove in the leather. PM me if you have questions or ask here on the forum. There are lots of Pards with lots of help to make your first project a success. Take your time and practice with some of the scraps I included.

AZ Cattleman

Marshal Will Wingam · October 24, 2009, 12:05:48 AM

Wel, WW, AC got you going in style. Congrats, it's a good start. Now, you'll get hooked. It'll be nice to see what you come up with.

That was a fine thing to do, AC.

I'm honored to be associated with this bunch, for sure.

WaddWatsonEllis · October 24, 2009, 12:55:46 AM

AZ, Marshall, TWF, and JD,

I am triply proud, and am ready to start playin with the leather samples as soom as I figure out how it is done ... LOL

I ordered Chuck Burrow's holstermaking video .... I figure I'll wear it out repeating scenes over and over.

Then I'll start playing with the scraps ....

I was thinkinkg , once I got some time under my blet, that I could marry Will Ghormley's Black Canyon Buscadero Belt to a pair of Mernickle's convertible B Western holsters ...

What do you think??

JD Alan · October 24, 2009, 09:11:03 AM

Chuck B's DVD is an excellent resource. I've watched it so many times I feel like Chuck and I are old friends! Knucklehead loaned me his copy of Chuck's knife sheath DVD, and I've watched the first of two DVDs. I will buy my own copy before too long. So many things to buy, so little money!

Unless your memory is a lot better than mine, I suggest you make notes while watching Chuck's DVD. I started taking notes about the third time I watched it, and it sure has helped.

By the way, I have the capacity to copy Knucklehead's DVD, and save myself some dough, but will not do that. Chuck (and everyone who does something like this) deserves to receive compensation for the work they've done.

I'm sure you're going to do a great job, and have a lot of fun to boot! Good luck.

WaddWatsonEllis · October 24, 2009, 12:12:37 PM

JD,

I ordered it on Thursday; they said it might be here today .... I really hope so 'cause I have a Saturday to myself with 'to-do' list ... a perfect day for watching a DVD ... So we shall see ... otherise I have a tight schedule all through next week.

And JD, thanks for the great idea of taking notes ....I would not normally htake pencil and paper to watch a DVD, but I will now!

WaddWatsonEllis · October 26, 2009, 09:47:35 AM

I am so chuffed (excuse please ; chuffed is Brit slang for excited)!

I shouls be getting my Chuck Burrows DVD as well as a knife and sheath and belt that he has done for me.

Either today or in the next couple of days ....

I am on pins and needles!