spacers for a scandi

[heath]

I'm about to start making a scandi/saami type knife for the first time and was wondering whether anyone could give me some advice. I know that traditionally leather and birch bark have both been used as spacers. I have some Vulcanised fibre but would prefer a traditional option. The question is can I use any kind of leather and is the thin birch bark you get over here suitable? Has anyone here used local bark and can they show me pictures of examples? Any other spacer advice would also be appreciated. I'm planning on using reindeer antler, tin and some curly birch.
Thanks
Heath

 

[sam_acw]

I'd guess you can just use more birch bark to compensate for it being thinner. It shouldn't hev to be that strong as it is layered and glued to give it strength. If you get the grain running at right angles on each layer you could make a sort of birch bark laminate!

 

[heath]

just to clarify, i'm not planning on doing a stacked leather/bark handle, just a few spacers to seperate horn,wood,tin etc

 

[Jedadiah]

I would have thought the thin birch bark would have been too thin to show, but thats just a guess. I have used leather off cut's from a sheath project as spacers. Just normal 2.5-3mm thick stuff from Le Prevo. Used it as a spacer, it absorbed the oil i used to treat the wood it is between, then after the oil treatment it was a little 'proud' of the wood surface, but it cut back lovely when i sanded it before waxing.

 

[heath]

I would have thought the thin birch bark would have been too thin to show, but thats just a guess. I have used leather off cut's from a sheath project as spacers. Just normal 2.5-3mm thick stuff from Le Prevo. Used it as a spacer, it absorbed the oil i used to treat the wood it is between, then after the oil treatment it was a little 'proud' of the wood surface, but it cut back lovely when i sanded it before waxing.

Any chance of a picture?

 

[Jedadiah]

I hope these pictures are OK (still don't know how to turn off the flash ). It's nothing special as it was my first attempt at this. John Fenna showed me one of his knives at a recent meet which inspired me toward this project. I got hold of a Mora with a wooden handle. Took the handle off and used some firesteel blank blocks (leopard wood i think). Drilled them through and put this piece of leather between them. It's just under 3mm thick so it's not compacted too much.




As you can see, it's darkened due to the boiled linseed oil and turps treatment, but i don't think that's a bad thing. Hopefully it's going to make it's new owner very happy (when they get it ) Hope this helps.

 

[heath]

Thanks Jedadiah
I can't view the pictures yet as I'm at work and the stupid filter won't display pictures from photobucket but I'll have a look when I get home tonight.
Heath

 

[brancho]

I have used leather from a furniture sample book from the loacl furniture shop it works wll a bit thinner.

The fibre will work as will the birch you just have to stack it (though I hve not done it myself)

 

[markheolddu]

Hey Jedadiha, that handle looks great it that fitted to one of the knives we traded?

 

[Jedadiah]

Yup, the orange handled Mora. I stripped the paint back and had a go at oiling the wood, but it looked (and felt) tacky. I was inspired by JohnFenna's neck knife, very nice, and after chatting around the fire, decided i'd give it a go, voila!

 

[heath]

Thanks Jedediah that looks great, I'll have to have an experiment with some different types of leather.
Heath