Thread: wedge made out of leather ?

Originally Posted by outback

But with what...that's the question

Put it in a vacuum chamber just like you would spalted wood.

Originally Posted by 32t

Put it in a vacuum chamber just like you would spalted wood.

Sorry.. What solution?
Same as wood
Cactus juice?

I have never done it but read about it in knife threads about stacked leather handles ect. Of couse many different opinions on what to do/use Some say to use a minwax if I remember right and it soaks into the leather without vacuum. Others say leather is stabilized when it is tanned. Heat and pressure forms leather that I think would work for scales. Cactus Juice would probably work well for a wedge.

Originally Posted by outback

Sorry.. What solution?
Same as wood
Cactus juice?

Since the wedge is so small and thin, I suggested runny CA because it should be possible to get it to soak right through without a vacuum chamber. It would be a cheap and pretty easy thing to try. But I imagine cactus juice and vacuum would be ideal.

If you take a piece of vegetable tanned leather, (chrome tanned, latigo, or bridle leather will not work,) and cut it to size, you should be able to boil it for 10-15 seconds. It will turn into a rubbery texture. Press it into the shape you want, and let it dry. The leather will shrink 30-50% during this process. This chemically changes the material, and it becomes a hard wood like substance. It can then be sanded and shaped like wood. I made some scale blanks last year from leather, but haven't gotten around to shaping them or putting a blade in them. I will be sealing them with Renaissance wax.

If you look up boiled leather armor, you will find more info than you ever wanted on this process.

cool idea drygulch i will probably try that with a test piece