I'm beginning work on a leather work project and I have a question:
How do you keep leather baldric straps from stretching? This has been yea the bane of mine existence.
I'd love to hear if there are any techniques that can help. Thanks!
Quick leatherwork question
- Kortoso
- Haeropada
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:37 pm
- Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Contact:
Quick leatherwork question
There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.
- E.MacKermak
- Amrod Rhandir
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:01 am
- Location: Lugoff, SC
- Contact:
Re: Quick leatherwork question
The best advice I can give is use good quality veg-tanned or latigo leather. A lot of the soft leather is chrome tanned and does have a tendency to stretch. If the center of the leather when you cut it is gray-ish, it's chrome tanned. Veg-tanned is harder and is tan all the way through. Latigo leather is leather used for saddlery. It will stretch a little but not much. It also helps to use a thicker leather. For straps I usually keep to 8 oz (4/32") though 6 oz (3/32") can be used as well depending on the weight to be carried.
Still round the corner there may wait a new road or a secret gate and though I oft have passed them by a day will come at last when I shall take the hidden paths that run west of the moon, east of the sun.
- Elleth
- êphal ki-*raznahê
- Posts: 2945
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
- Location: in the Angle; New England
Re: Quick leatherwork question
Yup - thicker leather, vegetable tan, and not from the belly.
I've been burned buying no-name straps off eBay before, and now just get the name-brand stuff.
As much work goes into anything leather, cheaping out on materials is foolish economy.
I've been burned buying no-name straps off eBay before, and now just get the name-brand stuff.
As much work goes into anything leather, cheaping out on materials is foolish economy.
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
- Kortoso
- Haeropada
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:37 pm
- Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Contact:
Re: Quick leatherwork question
Thanks!
I'm doing a scabbard project; the design apparently requires fairly thin straps. I was just wondering if there was a treatment that keeps thinner straps from stretching too much.
I'm doing a scabbard project; the design apparently requires fairly thin straps. I was just wondering if there was a treatment that keeps thinner straps from stretching too much.
There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.
- Elleth
- êphal ki-*raznahê
- Posts: 2945
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2010 5:26 am
- Location: in the Angle; New England
Re: Quick leatherwork question
Ah! Is this one of those "leather strap cut and woven through slits in the scabbard leather" projects?
I think the answer is going to be "use a thicker (not necessarily wider) strap" - but fiber stretches less than leather. Worst case you can sew two thinner straps together, back to back: the linen thread sewing the two layers together will keep them from stretching much.
I think the answer is going to be "use a thicker (not necessarily wider) strap" - but fiber stretches less than leather. Worst case you can sew two thinner straps together, back to back: the linen thread sewing the two layers together will keep them from stretching much.
Persona: Aerlinneth, Dúnedain of Amon Lendel c. TA 3010.
- Kortoso
- Haeropada
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:37 pm
- Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Contact:
Re: Quick leatherwork question
Thank you Elleth!Elleth wrote:Ah! Is this one of those "leather strap cut and woven through slits in the scabbard leather" projects?
I think the answer is going to be "use a thicker (not necessarily wider) strap" - but fiber stretches less than leather. Worst case you can sew two thinner straps together, back to back: the linen thread sewing the two layers together will keep them from stretching much.
Somewhere I heard that some sort of wax treatment would keep leather from stretching too much. I will research this.
Withall, I think that the design is clear for doubling the strap at the buckle, which would allow for two layers. I expect that will solve the foreseen problem.
There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.
- Kortoso
- Haeropada
- Posts: 822
- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:37 pm
- Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Contact:
Re: Quick leatherwork question
There are no safe paths in this part of the world. Remember you are over the Edge of the Wild now, and in for all sorts of fun wherever you go.