How To Build A Collar Step By Step

[the big chief 3,099]

right chaps a few of you have asked me to make a step by step acount on how to build a leather collar well boys and girls hear it is so if any of you guys want to start leather work this is all you need to know. and this is what i am making

 

1

choose your leather in this case its brown bridle butt leather then get a strap cutter and set it to what size you decide it to be this one will be a 2 1/2" cut out your leather and shape you can use a stanly knife if you wish but have sharp blades or you will probably cock up the work

 

2

as i have my shape of the collar it has sharp edges what i mean by that is there not round so you get an edge beveler and trim the edges round

 

3

you then choose a dye and dye the edges of the leather but be carefull not to get it on the front or back of your collar edges only or keep it naturel if you wish after this is done you get you sliker and dampen the edge of the leather with water then start to burnish the edge till it goes hard and shiny

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4

you then take a product called edge kote and then put it on the edge of your collar and just leave it to dry this protect the edge along with the burnishing having good edges on leather is a must it makes it look so more better than your average leather work good edges is a sign of good work and i can't stress enough you must have a good edge

a freshly burneshed edge no edge kote on yet

 

the next step for this collar is a 1" strap and repeat the proces as shown above i will ad the rest as there will be other stuff that needs doing to the stap its a bit late now so i will finish and pick this up again when i get a bit of time thanks for reading and if anyone need anything explaining feel free to ask atb kev.

[the big chief 3,099]

forgot to tell you how to burnish you get your sliker and rub it back and forth causing friction and heat do this in small sections to get better burnishing

[Mister Gain 1,764]

Nice one Gaffer, looking forward to reading about the rest of the procedure Do you always burnish the edge with the slicker by hand or do you use one in a Dremel?

[the big chief 3,099]

Always by hand myself as I don't have one like that but by hand you get a feel for how much is needed and don't take that long

[robin hood 109]

Always fancied a go at making one,i look forward to the rest of the topic

[the big chief 3,099]

Thanks chaps also I wouldn't start with bridle leather as its dam expensive I would use a dyed through shoulder and everything applies the same

[ratbuster 807]

Thanks for the inspiration, always wanted to give leatherwork a try, this will help me getting it done the right way. Thanks Gaffer

[the big chief 3,099]

Thanks for the inspiration, always wanted to give leatherwork a try, this will help me getting it done the right way. Thanks Gaffer

no problem buddy also look on youtube at lbknives he does video on sheath making

[the big chief 3,099]

right guy back on this topic i have done the strap burnished and edge kote put on aswell as making a leather keeper

pic of a freshly finished edge

[the big chief 3,099]

on with the building of the collar i puch holes in both ends of the keeper and on the base of the collar and rivet this in place

 

i then take the leather strap and use this punch on it so i can fit the buckle

 

then i make two guide lines so i can use another tool called a priking iron this makes the holes for the stiching and a awl is used also

place on the line and tap it with a hamer you do this on both lines and and do the same when the leather is folded over for the buckle ready for sewing

[the big chief 3,099]

the stitch i use is a sadle stitch you take a length of thread and put a needle on each end and this also shows you how to lock on ya thread

 

to sew you start 3 holes back and sew up and then back on your self and do the same when you get to the other end .when you have the tread like this in the pic you put the needle through one hole the the other needle through that same hole and this is a sadle stitch plenty of vids on youtube

other side sewn

then the brass keeper sewn in

[the big chief 3,099]

then simply repeat it make the lines up to where you want the d ring but make sure there is a bit of gap or its a twat to sew lol use the priking iron like so

then sew again using the method of starting 3 holes back sew to the top then back stich

do all this on both sides

the strap is long now so you need to measure where the holes are and cut what you don't need off the pics a bit shit i was too close with the flash

all cut then finish off the end by dyeing it then burnesh then edge kote then when all this is done wax the collar or whatever you have made i use a old sadlers blend wax from unicorn leather just put a couple of coats on the wipe the rest off and the collar is done

[the big chief 3,099]

all the steps i have showed applies to all leather work so weather you make a collar or a knife sheath makes no difference the steps are the same.

 

will show you how to build a knife sheath if i have enough leather

[mud 2,044]

............

Edited November 17, 2014 by mud

[Tiercel 6,986]

then simply repeat it make the lines up to where you want the d ring but make sure there is a bit of gap or its a twat to sew lol use the priking iron like so

then sew again using the method of starting 3 holes back sew to the top then back stich

do all this on both sides

the strap is long now so you need to measure where the holes are and cut what you don't need off the pics a bit shit i was too close with the flash

all cut then finish off the end by dyeing it then burnesh then edge kote then when all this is done wax the collar or whatever you have made i use a old sadlers blend wax from unicorn leather just put a couple of coats on the wipe the rest off and the collar is done

I just love it when people share their hard won knowledge.

 

TC