Here is my endless loop. I make stuff to make stuff to make stuff. Seriously. I have a theory that a leather tool box might be ideal. In any case I want to experiment. One thing that I need for this is a few leather tools. A lot I have bought, but one of the tools that I want can be fairly expensive for one as nice as I want to have.
I want a top notch, none better head knife. Sadly the economy is destroying my economy, so to afford a great tool, I will have to make it.
To start with, fortunately, I have a bit of Classic NOS Sheffield O1. Best stuff for holding a great edge, and stropping easily, so the next step is laying it out. I usually make a couple of tools at a time, in case I mess up. In this case, I decided to go ahead and make a few. Since I have scant leatherworking knowledge, I may make a few mistakes on the way.
Here is my initial layout.
Sadly the cuts were not going to work with the tools I have at hand for cutting. I had to make a less efficient layout that I could actually cut.
As this is nice tool steel, I tried to cut out to make good scraps for other tools.
After drilling and cutting, they are beginning to look more like head knives!
Now I need to be able to mark a center point of the blades arc and perfect the blade to that arc. This will enable me to rig a jig to sharpen it more easily later. This means, I need to be able to scribe a consistant line from a center point.
So I need to make a tool for that purpose. Fortunately the Texas heat has cooled down a bit this week.
Bob
Hey Bob;
Good to see you making tools again! I don’t know a thing about working leather, so I’ll be along for the ride……
Skip
Good to be back making tools. All I needed was a bit of cool weather, I have tons of tool plans.
No problem with the lack of leather knowledge, I am no great expert when it comes to leather myself. Leather is something I can work indoors without making a lot of sawdust, so I may get lots of practice over a year or two though.
Bob
Ahhhhh….. I hadn’t thought about working it indoors tho…. need to think about that some. I have no object to working leather at all, I just have never done any so far….
Ummmm… exactly how do you make a leather tool box that is not a tool roll anyway?????
Skip
If you consider luggage of old, much of it was leather. wood can reinforce and give rigidity. Leather boiled in wax can become amazingly stiff and hard. I just need to get the methods down.
Bob
Ah, old luggage. Actually, I have an old leather briefcase from the ’70’s made that way that is in such good shape I could never throw it away. Always thought it mite make a good tool carrier, and it’s big. I could carry 4 or 5 planes in it and they would be protected fairly well. I’ll be watching this one…
Skip
I think this is one of those projects that will take me a while. But I think the learning curve is well worth it.
Bob
I want one I will pay upfront mail me a reply. Thanks