Engraved,Embossed....Engraving on Leather...Something a little Different!

[Jim Small]

Here?s something a little different. I did this one time before?sometime a couple of years ago. I have a shot carrier to make for a customer and he wanted a little design on the pouch and this is what I talked him into. I am showing the proof?the finished product will come later. I mounted a piece of Kydex to a piece of plywood and cut the pattern. I then wet the leather and pressed it into the engraved form?.and Wa-La?.the test pattern. You have to remember anything cut in will be raised and if the pattern is left high the pattern will be recessed. I is just like engraving a signet ring. There is no doubt that this could be used on any knife sheath?something I might try later.
This is a little different from any engraving so far but I believe it fits right in with what we are doing. I kind of did a modified leaf and passion flower engraving similar to Marcus?s previous posts. A little on unusual side.
Jim

[Marcus Hunt]

Very nice, what a great idea!

[Don Cowles]

Pretty cool, Jim Bob!

[bigaustin]

Was the cuts deepper and wider than normal?

[Andy S]

I am amazed at how well it reproduced the detail. I will keep this in mind should I ever make some fixed blades with sheaths. Exactly what are the dimensions of the stamp? It's hard to judge the scale from the picture. Thanks for sharing

[Jim Small]

Well, it is kinda interesting. You can do as fine a detail as you want. You really nead to have something to apply allot of preasure, for instance, I use a old book press. You could use a milling vise or a heay roller of some sort. Andy, If you make knife cases for your folders....this would do nicely for the face. Somethng like this would make nice book covers....the ideas are endless. Andy the size is about 2 inches at the widest part and the whole thing is about 9 inches long. The leaf structure is about the size of a Quarter....for Marcus...the size of a six pince. Remember...anything cut in will be raised so, cut accordingly. The whole shot pouch is shaped like a leather bottle and should hold about a pound or two of shot. I will take a few days to finish and I will show the finished product at a later date....soon.
Jim

[rrrf68]

In the commercial leather industry belts, wallets, etc are done with embossing dies placed on rollers (like a washing machine ringer—Showing my age) then the leather is moistend and run through. The dies are sometime hand engraved sometimes etched. I believe that one or two of our member are actually involved in this type of work. Some insite from those folks might be of interest and also it is another place engraves can market their skills.
Fred

[Tim W]

This just opened the door to a lot of ideas, funny how seeing or hearing something you never thought of before can spawn creativity.

Just one question; what is Kydex?

[Jim Small]

Tim
Kydex is a heat forming plastic that many custom knifemakers build sheaths from. Most heat the Kydex with a heat gun and then press the Kydex around the knife. Check out the Sheath making forum.
I used this material because it is easy to engrave....I didn't have a large enough piece of PVC. PVC also cuts clean and is easy to engrave nice detail.
Jim

[6T7L71CPE]

Jim,
Are you making the shot pouch from leather or wrapping another container with the leather? Take lotsa pictures either way!
Thanks

[KERRY BOGAN]

Great idea Jim
The detail is as clear as a silicone mold, looks very nice your customer should be pleased.
Couple of questions: did you leave it in the press until it dried and what angle graver did you use? It sort of looks round from the leather imprint. Also is that the depth you normally cut for a pattern this size?
Thanks for the ideas.

[Jamey Saunders]

That's pretty cool, Jim. Great idea. I really like how it reproduces the detail so exactly.

You're just a reniassance man, aren't you?

[Jim Small]

Thanks for the comments and questions.
I had not planned to take pictures but I may give it a try. This will be hardened leather shot pouch. Before the leather completely sets it has to be formed into a dome shape?.the edges thinned and hand stitched.
Kerry, the cuts are fairly deep using the same grave that I use to cut metal. I may add a little more heal to the graver?this give a little broader cut. When the leather is pressed into the engraving the sharp cuts seem to come out domed. I suppose if I could get enough pressure the cuts might bottom out in the engraving cut and be more angular. What is shown really doesn?t bother me. Getting the correct depth is something you will have to play with. I can see that there are endless possibilities with this process if you are able to cut some designs?anything can be impressed into wet leather?go for it.
I am convinced that with a good high speed hand tool you could actually do designs and press leather into it?.something anyone could play with. As a practice example?wet a piece of leather and press a quarter into it. It is surprising how much detail you can pick up. Jamey, I have never considered myself a renaissance man?.just someone who want to know how it works?no different than you. Much of this is guess work?I will let you know how it works out.
Jim

[deangates]

hey jim,
maybe that later date will be the georgia guild meeting in statesboro, and yes this is just another attempt at getting you to the meeting. great idea and i'll have to try it soon. if you do make it to the meeting, bring the kydex stamp so i can see it.

dean gates