Rawhide

[billk]

I read in some posts that one source for rawhide is regular rawhide bones sold at the pet stores.
How do you prepare it for wraping it around a knife handle made of leg bone?
Thank you,
Billk

 

[shmrck1]

billk,
From what I have read here at the MLF, it is my understanding you just boil or soak them in hot water. Make sence when you consider they are just
dried out rawhide.
snake-eyes:hmm:

 

[LRB]

You will find most of the dog chew rawhide a bit too thick for a good wrap, but it also depends on the way you want wrap. If you are going to make it a single piece, and sew it up the bottom, it may work ok, but if you want a winding wrap, it is a little too heavy for a knife grip. You would be better off with eastern deer rawhide, in either case. They generally run about $35. to $40 a hide. Don't need a whole hide? You might be surprised at the uses for it you may find. Sheaths, inner sheaths, sheath coverings, bag stiffeners, tobacco pouches, ball bags, edge covers for your axes, ect.

 

[bob1961]

the wally worlds and other petsmarts have a selection of rawhide to pick from....the big 3' long knoted bones that are bout 1/8"+ thick to the little rolls 5" - 6" long and bout 1/16" + - that ya should be able to find what ya need, size and thickness wise :v ...............bob

 

[ameling]

Don't boil those rawhide dog bones. Boiling will COOK the rawhide and ruin it. Just soak them in water for a while, and you can un-knot and un-roll them. Thicknesses vary a lot. And some of the bones have long rectangular strips of rawhide rolled up inside them. These strips are great for sewing/lacing up around a smaller knife handle.

The big advantage to using the rawhide dog bones is that all the hard work of scraping the raw hide is already done for you. It's been scraped, cleaned, and trimmed. All you have to do is cut it to the size/shape you want.

They also work for making true rawhide lacing. Just round the corners off of the rectangular strips, and then start cutting in a spiral around it - just like making leather lacing out of odd scraps. Then just work/rub/pull the strips over a metal bar to smooth them out, stretch the rawhide a bit, and soften it.

One note: some of the doggie rawhide bones have a lot of salt in them. This can cause a rusting problem when in contact with iron/steel. And some have added "flavoring" - avoid them.

Deer rawhide is a lot better for spiral wrapping knife handles because it is so thin, but those doggie chew bones are great for lots of projects - and pretty cheap.

Just don't boil them - as it will cook the rawhide and they will become stiff, fragile, and rot quickly.

Just my humble thoughts to share.

Mikey - blacksmithing out in the Hinterlands

 

[paulvallandigham]

Soaking the rawhides and changing the water several times should get the salt out. If you put a little vinegar in the water it will also help draw the salt out. I would think that several rinses would remove any " flavoring " that is put in the " bones".

 

[chipper]

I agree with Mike, don't boil them. I use warm/hot water from the tap to soften them quickly. I like to sew mine on with an awl and sinew. I use a baseball stitch, "the needle from inside to outside like shoe laces." Be sure to leave quite a bit of room at the edge, a hole close to the edge will tear out. Remember, when these dry out they are going to really suck down on the wood.

Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado

 

[jasontn]

heres some i have done using rawhides i got at a Dollar Tree store here locally. i soaked them and pulled them apart like the guys have said they have nice long strips as the outside and some small filler pieces on the inside, these small ones fall apart if you soak em too long. i used hot water in my sink soaked till almost pliable the punched holes and baseball stitched you do, as others have said, have to keep the holes away from the edge or they tear. i used artificial sinew and when i got to the end of the stitching i went under the edge and tied the knot and pushed it as far under as i could with my awl that way the rawhide will cover and press the knot down the last one has a sheath i made from the long strips