- Joined
- Jan 31, 2014
- Messages
- 35
Hi group -- I've recently begun to learn how to work with leather. Obviously, the main reason is to sheath my ever-growing collection of rusty "vintage" axes (e.g. meteorites) Generally, they are beat-to-death double bits.
My usual goal is is to rehab the blade into a safe working tool. (Remove any "cancer" such as stress risers, cracks, and rust; remove peened metal from the eye, conservative sharpening, etc.) I try to get a proper working tool while minimizing metal removal.
Plus... I'm about four feet tall. (Call me a midget, it doesn't offend me.) So part of the reason of buying a clapped-out axe is that I can install a helve that's suitable to my body size. I'm PERFECTLY comfortable swinging a 3.5 pounder on a 20-24 inch helve. Small Swedish and boys axes are as proportionate to my body size as a 32-36 inch work axe is to an average person's body size.
Leather work has been a whole hobby in and of itself! Though I seem to enjoy it most using simple tools; just a stitch marker, a diamond awl, thread and two saddler's needles. I cut the leather with common craft knives (X-Acto, Fiskars rotary "pizza cutter"). This is a relaxing axe-related activity I can do at nights without making much noise or mess.
Gosh, I wish I had a pic to post, but so far my double-bit axe sheaths have basically been two rectangular "envelopes" that are held together by a strap with snaps. Functional, not bad looking, but certainly not fancy.
What I'd like to do is build something that sheaths the edges AND can be used to suitcase-carry an axe, clip it to a backpack or vehicle, etc etc etc. Any of you guys imagine a high-utility axe case with all kinds of snap hooks, D-rings, mounting points, etc etc etc? Please help stimulate my creative juices.
My usual goal is is to rehab the blade into a safe working tool. (Remove any "cancer" such as stress risers, cracks, and rust; remove peened metal from the eye, conservative sharpening, etc.) I try to get a proper working tool while minimizing metal removal.
Plus... I'm about four feet tall. (Call me a midget, it doesn't offend me.) So part of the reason of buying a clapped-out axe is that I can install a helve that's suitable to my body size. I'm PERFECTLY comfortable swinging a 3.5 pounder on a 20-24 inch helve. Small Swedish and boys axes are as proportionate to my body size as a 32-36 inch work axe is to an average person's body size.
Leather work has been a whole hobby in and of itself! Though I seem to enjoy it most using simple tools; just a stitch marker, a diamond awl, thread and two saddler's needles. I cut the leather with common craft knives (X-Acto, Fiskars rotary "pizza cutter"). This is a relaxing axe-related activity I can do at nights without making much noise or mess.
Gosh, I wish I had a pic to post, but so far my double-bit axe sheaths have basically been two rectangular "envelopes" that are held together by a strap with snaps. Functional, not bad looking, but certainly not fancy.
What I'd like to do is build something that sheaths the edges AND can be used to suitcase-carry an axe, clip it to a backpack or vehicle, etc etc etc. Any of you guys imagine a high-utility axe case with all kinds of snap hooks, D-rings, mounting points, etc etc etc? Please help stimulate my creative juices.
