Infidel
09-20-2014, 08:21 PM
I made this one for a guy on another forum but figured this might be a good time to do a "How To" on it. It's a pretty simple project and can be done with some very basic tools, no stitching involved so it's a perfect starter piece. All you need to get started is a piece of leather, something to cut it with (I use a razor knife), a tape measure, a straight edge and something to punch holes in the leather with. You'll also need to decide on a finish and apply that after your done. So let's get started:
Step 1, cut yourself a strap. Cut it to the maximum width of your sling in this case it's 2 1/4" wide. The customer wanted the maximum length to be 33" so I cut the strap to about 39" leaving me enough for fold over on the ends at that length. As an alternative you can order straps pre-cut from Tandy but you'll likely have to cut them to the final width.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Strap_zpscd46b51f.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Strap_zpscd46b51f.jpg.html)
Step 2, cut the strap to shape. Make yourself a template first to find the desired shape then take a scratch awl or even a finishing nail and trace it onto the leather. You only need faint lines to be able to follow with a razor knife. If you're going to dye the leather black you can trace the template with an ultra fine point sharpie. Once it's traced on the leather it's time to cut it. This is the nerve wracking part because if you mess it up you're out a pretty substantial piece of leather.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/CutStrap_zps651c8aaa.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/CutStrap_zps651c8aaa.jpg.html)
Once it's cut I take the strap to the shop and clean up my cuts with a 1x30" belt sander, works like a charm.
Step 3 (optional), put your border on. I use a wing divider to set the border to the sling. I set the wing divider width to the thickness of the leather. Wet the leather with a damp sponge (wet the whole thing to avoid staining) and then run the wing divider down the edge from top to bottom, the border will then follow the edge of the strap the whole length. This customer wanted a basket weave pattern sling so in the widest part I used the wing divider again and put a faint line down the center. This line will be hidden later by the stamping. I then set the wing divider to make the semi circles on the ends using that same center line.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Border1_zps68a0c875.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Border1_zps68a0c875.jpg.html)
Step 4 (optional), cut the border. I opted for a cut border around the basket weave so using a swivel knife I followed the border and semi circles to create a large oval for the stamping to go in. I then took a beveling tool and went around the entire oval to make that border stand out a bit.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/CutBorder_zpsa5848ac1.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/CutBorder_zpsa5848ac1.jpg.html)
Step 5 (optional), stamping. This is the most time consuming part of the whole process, you really have to pay attention here because if you get one too crooked it'll ruin the whole look. They don't all have to be perfect (I've reached the conclusion that me and perfection just don't get along well) but if they're really crooked you'll see it. Spend some time practicing before you set that stamp down on the piece. There's lot's of good videos on youtube that will show you how to do it if you're interested in it.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Stamping_zps7bfbef3a.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Stamping_zps7bfbef3a.jpg.html)
Here's a look at the tools needed for the stamping process:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Stampingtools_zpsf39dfccd.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Stampingtools_zpsf39dfccd.jpg.html)
Continued.....
Step 1, cut yourself a strap. Cut it to the maximum width of your sling in this case it's 2 1/4" wide. The customer wanted the maximum length to be 33" so I cut the strap to about 39" leaving me enough for fold over on the ends at that length. As an alternative you can order straps pre-cut from Tandy but you'll likely have to cut them to the final width.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Strap_zpscd46b51f.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Strap_zpscd46b51f.jpg.html)
Step 2, cut the strap to shape. Make yourself a template first to find the desired shape then take a scratch awl or even a finishing nail and trace it onto the leather. You only need faint lines to be able to follow with a razor knife. If you're going to dye the leather black you can trace the template with an ultra fine point sharpie. Once it's traced on the leather it's time to cut it. This is the nerve wracking part because if you mess it up you're out a pretty substantial piece of leather.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/CutStrap_zps651c8aaa.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/CutStrap_zps651c8aaa.jpg.html)
Once it's cut I take the strap to the shop and clean up my cuts with a 1x30" belt sander, works like a charm.
Step 3 (optional), put your border on. I use a wing divider to set the border to the sling. I set the wing divider width to the thickness of the leather. Wet the leather with a damp sponge (wet the whole thing to avoid staining) and then run the wing divider down the edge from top to bottom, the border will then follow the edge of the strap the whole length. This customer wanted a basket weave pattern sling so in the widest part I used the wing divider again and put a faint line down the center. This line will be hidden later by the stamping. I then set the wing divider to make the semi circles on the ends using that same center line.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Border1_zps68a0c875.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Border1_zps68a0c875.jpg.html)
Step 4 (optional), cut the border. I opted for a cut border around the basket weave so using a swivel knife I followed the border and semi circles to create a large oval for the stamping to go in. I then took a beveling tool and went around the entire oval to make that border stand out a bit.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/CutBorder_zpsa5848ac1.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/CutBorder_zpsa5848ac1.jpg.html)
Step 5 (optional), stamping. This is the most time consuming part of the whole process, you really have to pay attention here because if you get one too crooked it'll ruin the whole look. They don't all have to be perfect (I've reached the conclusion that me and perfection just don't get along well) but if they're really crooked you'll see it. Spend some time practicing before you set that stamp down on the piece. There's lot's of good videos on youtube that will show you how to do it if you're interested in it.
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Stamping_zps7bfbef3a.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Stamping_zps7bfbef3a.jpg.html)
Here's a look at the tools needed for the stamping process:
http://i1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc492/stu925/HIKayaker/Stampingtools_zpsf39dfccd.jpg (http://s1214.photobucket.com/user/stu925/media/HIKayaker/Stampingtools_zpsf39dfccd.jpg.html)
Continued.....