Nice video!! I actually think that oak tan leather is the same as vegetable tanned leather.... I could be wrong but I am pretty certain.... the term Oak Tan (like Herman-Oak) is used for marketing purposes but the tanning method is still vegetable tanning using tannin... usually from the oak tree. This is not to say that some veg tan leather is not better than other veg tan leather. Herman Oak is great leather, especially when it is to be tooled. You definitely don't want chrome tan leather. It doesn't work well for this type of use. Mineral tanning (chrome) tanning was pretty new during the Civil War. I think it was something that was starting to be used around 1858. Most of all leather during the 1860's would have been veg/oak tanned. Thank you for your fine videos!! I love watching them.
I recently bought a forage cap and I was wondering what enamel paint I should use, I've tried researching and I've found out that the period correct enamel paints include volatile compounds that shouldn't be inhaled.
That, and they usually had various types of lead in them. We did video on painted cloth that might shed some more light on the subject. We don't make forage caps yet, but I think they just use modern rustoleum type brush paints or black latex paint. You might try reaching out to one of the hat makers.
Good question. After the revolution, axe handles pretty much standardized into what we see today. So, in most cases, a good hickory handle from a hardware store would work fine. Just be sure to scrape any varnish off of hardware store handles. There are a few handle makers on the internet that could help with more variety. Say, you wanted to recreate a hatchet with a hammer-style handle based on a photo or documentation that said a soldier made a handle out of oak or ash, you could either search around or make one. The other mod may include thinning the handle. Early 20th and 19th century axe handles were much thinner than the chunky ones they sell today. You'll notice next time you're at an antique store. Hope this helps.
I've needed this video thanks.
Nice video!! I actually think that oak tan leather is the same as vegetable tanned leather.... I could be wrong but I am pretty certain.... the term Oak Tan (like Herman-Oak) is used for marketing purposes but the tanning method is still vegetable tanning using tannin... usually from the oak tree. This is not to say that some veg tan leather is not better than other veg tan leather. Herman Oak is great leather, especially when it is to be tooled. You definitely don't want chrome tan leather. It doesn't work well for this type of use. Mineral tanning (chrome) tanning was pretty new during the Civil War. I think it was something that was starting to be used around 1858. Most of all leather during the 1860's would have been veg/oak tanned. Thank you for your fine videos!! I love watching them.
Maybe you could do a video on how to sharpen a hatchet very sharp.
I recently bought a forage cap and I was wondering what enamel paint I should use, I've tried researching and I've found out that the period correct enamel paints include volatile compounds that shouldn't be inhaled.
That, and they usually had various types of lead in them. We did video on painted cloth that might shed some more light on the subject. We don't make forage caps yet, but I think they just use modern rustoleum type brush paints or black latex paint. You might try reaching out to one of the hat makers.
Rustoleum paint is my go to.
Would a cover for a hatchet with a sewn on belt or strap loop be historically accurate military wise or was that never done
Sewn on would be fine. You'd just want to stay away from modern stuff like snaps, Chicago screws, or those two piece rivets.
where would one find replacement axe or hatchet handles that are period correct?
Good question. After the revolution, axe handles pretty much standardized into what we see today. So, in most cases, a good hickory handle from a hardware store would work fine. Just be sure to scrape any varnish off of hardware store handles. There are a few handle makers on the internet that could help with more variety. Say, you wanted to recreate a hatchet with a hammer-style handle based on a photo or documentation that said a soldier made a handle out of oak or ash, you could either search around or make one. The other mod may include thinning the handle. Early 20th and 19th century axe handles were much thinner than the chunky ones they sell today. You'll notice next time you're at an antique store. Hope this helps.