from direct personal experience, boxcutters and other utility knives are sharper but they don’t give you the control and stability as the leather knives…they might be good for long straight cuts but angled or shaving cuts they’re dangerous or likely to go off to the direction or even snap the blace
@@bostonrailfan2427 you can use an angled straightedge like a miter if you need to make due with what you've got. also works on curved cuts, i like to use coffee cups and tin cans when i need a nice round piece
Hey, used to do the Renaissance faire circuit here. A tiny fraction of advice, if you'd be willing to hear it... During the forming process, use the wooden tool you have to pack the wet canteen with dry pearl barley, refill and pack more, as tightly as you can in your container. This will do a few things: such as give you more to push the wet leather out with, potentially providing a uniform stretch and more rigidity to the inside of your container as it dries. Also, you'll end up with a product that has the potential to hold significantly more liquid. Once completely dry, knock out the pearl barley with a large drill bit/stick/spoon as needed. I find a handful of nuts/bolts gets the stragglers of pearl barley out of the corners well, but I'm sure a few cleaned rocks would serve the purpose well, in a pinch. Once all the pearl barley is out, seal as usual. Hope this helps and possibly inspires a new living history/experimental project for you. :)
@@divchief07ut if you've done this enough times before, you know that sand is messy (and not really something I want to be drinking with my drinking water)... Use another grain if you can't find pearl barley, but for your sanity: don't use sand.
@@deemushroomguy, the pearl barley is a good idea. I've never used pine resin/pitch for sealing canteens, I have used beeswax to seal all leather water containers with no problems. And then rubbed a beeswax/flaxseed paste onto the outside for a bit of extra protection.
@@ericwilliams1659 As I'm sure you are already aware one of the great things about saddle stitch is how easy it is to start off a new thread. Something I learnt the hard way from making belts and bandoliers was you don't try to work with just one looong thread it's ok to run multiple threads I usually start in the middle of a long stitch line working outwards to a lead edge as it's easer to tie off the lose ends (sorry if I'm writting something you already know and good luck with your projects)
@@simonfreeman8233 You might be writing something someone might already know, but this is the internet and someone who doesn't know can come along and read it like me.
@@jf13579 Well.... and if there is a high enough demand for it. Plus, even if there is; you have to market yourself (advertise) and your products. If people don't know your business exists, they can't spend their money on your products.
@@NGMonocrom of course. I was saying is that if you are good enough at doing anything (drawing cartoons, making leather goods, singing, dancing, anything you can imagine) you can get paid. I should have added IF you are promoting yourself or being promoted correctly too but still doesn’t negate my point.
When I've made these, after wetting the sewn costrel I would fill it with lentils and beans and then use a dowel to keep stuffing down the dry goods to expand the shape outwards and get a more round base. Great tutorial, I would just advise anyone taking these steps to also expand the leather outwards to contain more volume using rice or lentils to stuff it while it dries. Great project!
I used sand to shape the canteen I made. Easy enough to force it in, to form the leather, but getting it all OUT was a major headache! Some of it seemed to set like concrete! I used parafin wax to seal it, because when I tried using pitch, the stuff cooled off almost immediately, losing its liquid state, and I couldn't get any of it into the canteen!
@@Reximusprimebeta Actually anything larger than lentils will give a pebbled appearence on the outside. Once the lentils (my grain of choice) are dry, they are easy to get out with a stick. Filling the inside gives you a LOT more volume.
I was taught that the best way to finish off a saddle stitch was to just backstitch about 4 more stitches and cut it off. I've done that on all the leathercraft I've made (just my personal gear) and after 20-years of service it's never come undone.
@@InsanelyMclean Not really. I've done it with 9 oz. leather. It's no different than the first stitches except the hole is a smaller. Still easy to do with saddle stitch needles because they don't have a sharp point to get stuck in the side of the hole you are trying to put it through. Don't try to do saddle stitching with sharp needles because they'll get caught in the edges of the holes.
@@chadcooperconsulting Yeah, I am NOT a fan of tying a knot and trying to hide it in the leather. Back-stitching 3 or 4 stitches works very well and is extremely secure. When I start to saddle stitch leather together, I will typically start 4 holes from the end; stitch back to the end; and then stitch forward over those back-stitches and continue on with the rest of the item to the end. Then I will back-stitch 3 or 4 holes on that end to finish, stretch the thread a bit and cut off with a razor if I have one nearby. A really sharp knife works OK too. That makes a very clean cut with no fraying on waxed linen thread (period correct for the 18th century) and the thread contracts a bit when the tension is released, burying the end of the thread into that last hole in the leather. So there are no frayed ends to worry about.
@@ericdee6802 Hahaha, the SG is the evil Gibson with those devil horns, right? I don't know too much about them other than the fact I had to do a bunch of research on which model of ES Gibson my brother wanted for his birthday. He just had a daughter, and since he's 35 and has house payments, the addition of a daughter means he can't splurge on guitars anymore. 😂
Leatherworking has always facinated me, I mean I've seen people work in the forge and handle metal but using hide to craft items that'll last for quite some time is just amazing to me!
The tanning process changes the chemical structure of the hide into something different than it was raw, that's the main reason leather lasts so long. Skillcult has a video about it. Very interesting stuff.
I think I just figured out why videos like this, the canoe-building episodes, and the cabin-building episodes are my favorites. I thought it was just that watching pleasant people work natural materials with their hands in a natural setting is exceptionally relaxing. But Aaron's (and probably others') camera work keeps the visuals interesting without losing the quiet focus that the person or people involved must have to complete the task, and Ryan's beautiful, wistful guitar really brings it all together and makes it even more quietly artful. While the artisan is creating something beautiful and tangible, you all work together to create an experience for the viewer that is immersive and emotionally satisfying. It's hard to just be present while watching lights flickering on a screen, but these videos make it easy to be here now, even if we aren't there then.
I used to make very similar canteens with my dad when we would go camping. A good way to while away the hours sitting by the fire. I still have one though I didn't maintain it well so the leather cracked and won't hold water anymore. I think this has motivated me to make a new one in his honor.
The diversity and incredible variety of information of this channel never fails to baffle me. I'm an amateur leathet crafter and I'm truly grateful for this idea. You rock!
Google leather costrel pattern and you can fond many different styles and sizes of patterns for these or design your own shape but use the things shown in this...
Makes you think of the tastes and smells that people were used to back then (besides the gross smells), John had brought up the fact that food had soot, dirt, char marks etc... Most things we don't have on our food today!
Making one of these about 10 or 12 years ago was how I found Townsends. I was searching for beeswax and brewers pitch to line a leather canteen and leather tankards that I was trying to make.
I just discovered this channel like 3 days ago. Ive been missing out on pure gold. I'm off to buy a mug to support you kind people. im thinking the white and blue mug with the ship on it. yea, that one
the past few years have really taught me to appreciate this stuff. nowadays all I hear is "just throw it away and get a new one". People have forgotten how to appreciate.
@@LiquidLuke they are more in the ballpark of $150 - $200, the materials alone are over $50 unless someone knows a better leather supplier than I do, lol It's been awhile, but I believe it took me at least 4+ hours to make a similar one.
As a historian and leather craftsman myself i LOVE to see traditional tools and means of making something historical like this.... this is gold. Support from Serbia!
Townsends... THE place to get pine pitch! When I make my bottels, instead of forming it with a tool I stuff it. I force as much dried popcorn kernels into it as I can. This stretches the leather and gives me some good volume. Making one of these was the first video I posted to UA-cam back in 2017.
I love these how to videos describing how to make items like this. Useful not just for historical reenactment, but for everyday life even today. One never knows when they can save money or need to make a lantern out of necessity.
I have one of these but it's not for water, it's a rifle ball bag! Neck is the perfect size to dispense single .54 cal balls right into your palm, no fiddling with an open top ball bag using potentially frozen fingers
@@bostonrailfan2427 This one he made in the video is about 4 or 5 times the size of mine haha! Mine is about the size you would make for a neck or belt flask, holds about 40 rifle balls or about 6 ounces of liquid
I made my first of these a few years ago. It's extremely satisfying. And that brewers' pitch sold at the store really is the best substance you can use. I literally bought some a decade ago; I keep it in a tiny dedicated cast-iron pan, it lasts forever, when I need it, I just melt it back down and pour it in. I see these things sold for over $100, when it's really closer to $20 in materials plus knowledge of saddle-stitching, which you can do while zoned out watching UA-cam vids.
Thanks for the video, it was informative and a joy to watch. Brandon is a good teacher. This is a project that I would like to try and I am a beginner who has never picked up a piece of leather but I quickly found myself feeling like I was missing steps in the process you taught. To make the a little more beginner friendly would it be possible to put in the description box a list of all the ingredients, materials, and tools used to make the canteen? In the video you briefly showed the basic items you would need, but I felt like along the way you kept bring out new ones for example to two different tools you used to make the holes. Also please add the quantities, lengths, diameter & amounts needed to create the same exact canteen as you are making. Also, if there are links to the pattern/materials/tools (18th century or modern versions) that you used and talk about the different kinds to use, like pine resin what grade to use or stay away from. Or a link if there is a Townsend project kit, or materials to make getting the items for the project easier. To me obtaining and making the pattern is the most important part and without it I would have no clue where to start. Also, some parts where seemed to be edited or unclear like the first saddle stich, I would have liked to seen the first 5 or 6 stiches to make sure I was doing it correctly. Also, since we were not using one long thread for the job, it would be nice for you to show how to tie off the ends when the string is used up and how you start the new thread so it is seamless. I also had questions on why you ran the thread through the beeswax and who you twisted the ends of the thread. All and all a great video and something I would love to try.
Nice video…. With the saddle stitch a knot is usually formed on each stitch which prevents unraveling. I take it is not necessary for this type of item. I also back stitch about 2 stitches at the beginning and end to include high stress points as needed. Thanks for posting!!!
Love it! Watched from start to finish, wished my dad could have been here to watch this channel and see youtube; all these wonderful resources for how people lived in times before now that was a major part of his love/passion in life, getting back to ancestral ways, natural workings with our surroundings, we're missing so much basic things that would make life easier/cheaper nowadays that our ancestors knew as throwaway knowledge.
oh yeah that'd work. I find it interesting that in most of history their water containers (made of skins and stomachs and bladders and such) weren't perfectly waterproof, because slightly sweating water helped keep it cool.. and if life or death hinged on that LITTLE loss, you were probably boned anyway.
Sewing is a lot easier than many understand. Ive only just started hand sewing, i did machine for a bit. Once you hand sew you understand its not magic. The thread is like a rope, which you are weaving through the fabric to secure or tie it in place. It is the same as tying shoelaces. By tying the thread over and over again youre basically locking each piece of fabric to eachother. It can be done very sloppily or very industriously, just like any knot, some are tighter and harder to create, others are simpler. Picture a clothing as a couple pieces of cloth that have been tied to eachother, using a needle to create the holes the thread goes through. Its the same as how modern shoe eyelets allow the shoelace to go back and forth through them and stay in place, binding each side of the shoe to eachother to make it fit tightly. Sewing is pretty much the same as lacing a shoe, but you have to use a needle to poke the holes.
Thank you for providing a channel for everyone but especially the craftier end of things that were very much the pride _and the commonplace_ of our collective past.
The whole time I was like “how does this work if water and leather = bad” then he added the pitch to seal the leather from the water and it all made sense haha
Funny you said "patience" - every time in my life I hurried something it didn't turn out well. I learned fairly early that speed is something not very desirable in most cases and that's not even limited to crafting something. I learned a lot of things in my life from metal working to computer programming and nothing I learned benefits from being in a hurry. Even cooking is better done organized so you're not in a hurry when putting a dish together. So yes, take your time, be deliberate and the end result will be much better.
I watch a lot of Townsends and love the history, information, food, and music. That said I was rewatching some older movies with one of them being Gangs of New York. The wholesomeness from this channel definitely rubbed off whenever I heard a violin from that movie.
Fascinating! Lifelong crafter, but leather work is not something I've ever thought to try. You may have inspired me! As skilled seamstress of many decades, some of the processes and techniques of this are familiar.
Lovely little project indeed! And well presented, Brandon. I'll add this to my list of things to try. After doing some leatherwork for knife sheaths, I think this would be a fun and useful item to tackle. Thank you for the inspiration!
Love this! I used to make leather purses way back when I was young. Used to be a catalog called Tandy. I wish it was still around today. They also had moccasin kits. Made those too.
@@nessamillikan6247 it puts a unique twist on the water but while it may taste bad its still "clean" water and will hydrate and it will probably last longer since you wont like the taste but thirst is thirst.
@asdrubale bisanzio you CAN, if you are skilled enough to do so and know what youre doing, but that adds an hour or more of planning if youre not, even more if youre OCD, when a printable pattern is fool proof and at least gets you something and gets you making, which is the hardest step. if youve made one and want a bigger/smaller one you can upscale/downscale it with ease, making a new template from scratch? that takes a lot more work.
Question for The Assembled: how does one clean this? I'm assuming hot water is a bad idea. Mild soap seems logical. But, what kind? Other suggestions? I'm making one currently for a young man I know who's getting into re-enactments. A good lad; I'd like him to live a long and happy life, unmarred by nasty germs in something I made for him....thanks!
If you only keep water in it for short periods of time, and dry it out nicely when not in use, you shouldn't really need to clean it. this sort of thing isn't meant to store water in it for weeks at a time. if it does eventually get gross, i'd clean it with warm water and a clean scrub, and then reseal it with more brewer's pitch.
You can't carry strong spirits in one (trust my gagging experience), wine is ok for a day or so in cool weather, water is fine. I just rinse mine and let dry with teh stopple out.
Thank you for the fine demonstration! I have a tip for you…. After you wet your leather, pack it tightly with dry sand. This way you can shape it and get all the wrinkles and bumps out. When the leather dries out, dump the sand and bang around lightly on the inside with a stick, and you’re ready for your resin.🤗🐝🌹
@@friedrichjaeger367 dude your Name is Jäger, that is german and means hunter lol yea theres no more leather so i have to wait for monday :(((( in my country all shops are closed on sunday
I just had a drink with my dinner, and I can't help but wonder how beer/whisky would taste if you stored it in that thing. Bad right? Maybe good, but probably bad.
Cool I always thought it was glass or metal inside to keep the shape and water in, I personally like when you guys post videos of other people doing things keep the channel fresh. Great video as always
I read something that said to only use brewers pitch for cold liquids and not for long term storage. Important to know for anyone considering making this.
@@EphemeralTao That sounds a lot safer to drink from to me 😁 I was skeptical because I know pune pitch is flammable and used to be used to waterproof boats. Didnt sound like something I wanted to be drinking from if I could help it.
@@Luckingsworth Pine resin like this -- which is pitch with all the volatiles (turpentine) cooked out -- is perfectly safe to eat. It was commonly used in sealing wine casks, and gives the Greek wine _retsina_ it's characteristic flavour. Fun fact, you can also eat the young pine shoots in the spring, they're kind of tart like citrus.
Him. "An easy project that the average, common person can make" Me: watches video also Me: realistically pictures The ugly, leaky, misshapen atrocity of a leather "canteen" that would result if I tried to make this.
The only leatherworking project I've ever made was an axe sheath I designed. It's not pretty but I learned how not to do things... and it is functional.
A tip, if you need to take 10hours to do it, take 10hours, if you need to cut your stuff in several goes, cut it in several goes, if youre doing something for fun, take. your. time. working fast is fine, but never rush.
I have learned things about leatherworking today that I wish I had known months ago, when I first started toying around with waterproofing and hardening leather. My soft leather waterproofing is a mix of tallow and beeswax, and it's wonderful for soft leather projects, but pitch is something that's been used on curraghs here in Ireland since long long ago, and somehow I just never connected the dots. I guess this'll be my next project. For anyone wondering, the reason why the pitch works is because pine resin is high in oleic acid, which hardens and waterproofs the leather, all the more so when heated, and it won't shrink the leather as long as it doesn't reach the plasticisation temperature.
If you don't have high quality hand made knives, a $2 box cutter with disposable blades works just fine, too
Always use a fresh blade
I use a utility knife and you can sharpen the blades too!
from direct personal experience, boxcutters and other utility knives are sharper but they don’t give you the control and stability as the leather knives…they might be good for long straight cuts but angled or shaving cuts they’re dangerous or likely to go off to the direction or even snap the blace
@@bostonrailfan2427 you can use an angled straightedge like a miter if you need to make due with what you've got. also works on curved cuts, i like to use coffee cups and tin cans when i need a nice round piece
Just buy a scalpel. There cheaper than cheap and sharper than sharp
Hey, used to do the Renaissance faire circuit here.
A tiny fraction of advice, if you'd be willing to hear it...
During the forming process, use the wooden tool you have to pack the wet canteen with dry pearl barley, refill and pack more, as tightly as you can in your container. This will do a few things: such as give you more to push the wet leather out with, potentially providing a uniform stretch and more rigidity to the inside of your container as it dries. Also, you'll end up with a product that has the potential to hold significantly more liquid. Once completely dry, knock out the pearl barley with a large drill bit/stick/spoon as needed. I find a handful of nuts/bolts gets the stragglers of pearl barley out of the corners well, but I'm sure a few cleaned rocks would serve the purpose well, in a pinch. Once all the pearl barley is out, seal as usual. Hope this helps and possibly inspires a new living history/experimental project for you. :)
Clean, damp sand works too
@@divchief07ut if you've done this enough times before, you know that sand is messy (and not really something I want to be drinking with my drinking water)... Use another grain if you can't find pearl barley, but for your sanity: don't use sand.
@@deemushroomguy, the pearl barley is a good idea. I've never used pine resin/pitch for sealing canteens, I have used beeswax to seal all leather water containers with no problems. And then rubbed a beeswax/flaxseed paste onto the outside for a bit of extra protection.
Is there any rescuing a slightly caved in mug do to heat exposure? Normally I wouldn't care but its my mug from the Faire 30 years ago.
Tip that was missed on thread length with a saddle stitch is 4 times the length of thread of how far you want to stitch.
Great tip. I always underestimate the amount of thread I need to use on a project.
@@ericwilliams1659 As I'm sure you are already aware one of the great things about saddle stitch is how easy it is to start off a new thread. Something I learnt the hard way from making belts and bandoliers was you don't try to work with just one looong thread it's ok to run multiple threads I usually start in the middle of a long stitch line working outwards to a lead edge as it's easer to tie off the lose ends (sorry if I'm writting something you already know and good luck with your projects)
@@simonfreeman8233 its also easier to repair when and if the threads get warn and damaged depending on what your making.
@@simonfreeman8233 You might be writing something someone might already know, but this is the internet and someone who doesn't know can come along and read it like me.
Depends on the thickness of leather and if your using a lock sadele stich.
It would be really cool if you had a kit for this on your website!
^ what this guy said.
Agreed! I no longer have a Tandy Leather or anyplace to buy leather. A kit with templates would be great!
Tribal spirit drums has leather, all sourced from hunters who didn't need the hides.
A kit and or patterns. I would love it!
@@outdoorfreedom9778 Tandy sells it's stuff onli6
Must admit, I do like handcrafted leather goods. That is an impressive looking leather canteen.
Im inclined to agree, nothing beats the aromatic character of fresh leather goods
I’m think about learning and making leather good is there money to be made if the passion and willingness to fail is there
@@frostyss9840 you can make money at anything if you are good enough at it.
@@jf13579
Well.... and if there is a high enough demand for it. Plus, even if there is; you have to market yourself (advertise) and your products. If people don't know your business exists, they can't spend their money on your products.
@@NGMonocrom of course. I was saying is that if you are good enough at doing anything (drawing cartoons, making leather goods, singing, dancing, anything you can imagine) you can get paid. I should have added IF you are promoting yourself or being promoted correctly too but still doesn’t negate my point.
When I've made these, after wetting the sewn costrel I would fill it with lentils and beans and then use a dowel to keep stuffing down the dry goods to expand the shape outwards and get a more round base. Great tutorial, I would just advise anyone taking these steps to also expand the leather outwards to contain more volume using rice or lentils to stuff it while it dries. Great project!
Beads or small clean pebbles might be a better choice. The grains might introduce or breed mold depending on how long it takes to dry.
I used sand to shape the canteen I made.
Easy enough to force it in, to form the leather, but getting it all OUT was a major headache! Some of it seemed to set like concrete!
I used parafin wax to seal it, because when I tried using pitch, the stuff cooled off almost immediately, losing its liquid state, and I couldn't get any of it into the canteen!
@@Reximusprimebeta Actually anything larger than lentils will give a pebbled appearence on the outside. Once the lentils (my grain of choice) are dry, they are easy to get out with a stick. Filling the inside gives you a LOT more volume.
So, to be clear, the needle goes *through* my hand right?
Only once. So make it count 😉🪡🩸🩹
Yes, then you will never lose it, and you will always have it to hand.
Why have it on hand when you can have it in hand.
It's hand stitched 😂
Okay, someone go check on this guy to make sure they're okay.
The classic Bota is very much like this. What a fine group of skills this young fellow has.
Wholesome peaceful content like usual, bless you.
I was taught that the best way to finish off a saddle stitch was to just backstitch about 4 more stitches and cut it off. I've done that on all the leathercraft I've made (just my personal gear) and after 20-years of service it's never come undone.
When you're dealing with leather this thick, backstitching is really tough to do.
You could double stitch over the last stitch. My experience with trying to hid the knot in between the layers has not worked.
Slicking the edges was not mentioned. I wonder when you would do this, maybe after the pine tar?
@@InsanelyMclean Not really. I've done it with 9 oz. leather. It's no different than the first stitches except the hole is a smaller. Still easy to do with saddle stitch needles because they don't have a sharp point to get stuck in the side of the hole you are trying to put it through. Don't try to do saddle stitching with sharp needles because they'll get caught in the edges of the holes.
@@chadcooperconsulting Yeah, I am NOT a fan of tying a knot and trying to hide it in the leather. Back-stitching 3 or 4 stitches works very well and is extremely secure. When I start to saddle stitch leather together, I will typically start 4 holes from the end; stitch back to the end; and then stitch forward over those back-stitches and continue on with the rest of the item to the end.
Then I will back-stitch 3 or 4 holes on that end to finish, stretch the thread a bit and cut off with a razor if I have one nearby. A really sharp knife works OK too. That makes a very clean cut with no fraying on waxed linen thread (period correct for the 18th century) and the thread contracts a bit when the tension is released, burying the end of the thread into that last hole in the leather. So there are no frayed ends to worry about.
"The leather ones were not only easy to make, but, *BAM BAM BAM* they were quiet."
it was one of the loudest sounds in the whole video lol
The fact it's shaped like a Gibson is pretty cool, too. Hahaha
My Gibson isn't anything like this, then again my Gibson is a 65' SG 🤣
@@ericdee6802
Hahaha, the SG is the evil Gibson with those devil horns, right? I don't know too much about them other than the fact I had to do a bunch of research on which model of ES Gibson my brother wanted for his birthday. He just had a daughter, and since he's 35 and has house payments, the addition of a daughter means he can't splurge on guitars anymore. 😂
Looks nothing like my Les Paul, lol.
Though to be fair, I recently got a stratocaster that I've been playing on more.
@@KC-bg1th I think that particular model was originally supposed to be a Les Paul, but something happened and it got renamed.
the guitar or the girl? either one is fine with me 😉
Leatherworking has always facinated me, I mean I've seen people work in the forge and handle metal but using hide to craft items that'll last for quite some time is just amazing to me!
The tanning process changes the chemical structure of the hide into something different than it was raw, that's the main reason leather lasts so long. Skillcult has a video about it. Very interesting stuff.
I think I just figured out why videos like this, the canoe-building episodes, and the cabin-building episodes are my favorites. I thought it was just that watching pleasant people work natural materials with their hands in a natural setting is exceptionally relaxing. But Aaron's (and probably others') camera work keeps the visuals interesting without losing the quiet focus that the person or people involved must have to complete the task, and Ryan's beautiful, wistful guitar really brings it all together and makes it even more quietly artful. While the artisan is creating something beautiful and tangible, you all work together to create an experience for the viewer that is immersive and emotionally satisfying. It's hard to just be present while watching lights flickering on a screen, but these videos make it easy to be here now, even if we aren't there then.
I used to make very similar canteens with my dad when we would go camping. A good way to while away the hours sitting by the fire. I still have one though I didn't maintain it well so the leather cracked and won't hold water anymore. I think this has motivated me to make a new one in his honor.
Sounds like you had an amazing childhood. ❤
@@aconcernedcitizen8011 that I did. Unfortunately, like my canteen, I've developed some cracks since but haven't we all.
Best channel on UA-cam. I’d consider this to be Indiana’s best export next to corn and soybeans ;)
There's more than corn in Indiana!
@@finnmacky7106 to anyone not from Indiana the only things we know about it are corn, farming, Notre Dame, the Colts, and the Indianapolis 500 🥺
@@bostonrailfan2427 i think those were the other things he was referring too 😉
@@crispy9175, yes, but you're not really exporting the last three things, are you?
Most whiskey in America not from Kentucky is made in Indiana lol
I enjoyed this episode much, much more than I expected.
The diversity and incredible variety of information of this channel never fails to baffle me. I'm an amateur leathet crafter and I'm truly grateful for this idea. You rock!
I'm with many others who have commented on this: I'd love to see a kit or at least a pdf pattern of this!
You could likely design your own with all the principles shown in the video.
@@Paralytixc Yeah, making your own after watching it done is way more fun and authentic to the maker
Google leather costrel pattern and you can fond many different styles and sizes of patterns for these or design your own shape but use the things shown in this...
Definitely needed.
you're defeating the purpose of this video by asking for that
I had a cheap leather canteen when I was a kid. I still remember the overwhelming taste of the leather.
That's why you coat the inside with wax or pitch
Makes you think of the tastes and smells that people were used to back then (besides the gross smells), John had brought up the fact that food had soot, dirt, char marks etc... Most things we don't have on our food today!
Making one of these about 10 or 12 years ago was how I found Townsends. I was searching for beeswax and brewers pitch to line a leather canteen and leather tankards that I was trying to make.
The circle of life
I was thinking the pine resin was going to be gross but I looked it up and it turns out it actually has antibacterial properties. Neat!
I just discovered this channel like 3 days ago. Ive been missing out on pure gold. I'm off to buy a mug to support you kind people. im thinking the white and blue mug with the ship on it. yea, that one
"You take a sip from your trusty Townsend leather canteen."
This is wonderful! I've passed this along to a leatherworking friend of mine. Thank you!
the past few years have really taught me to appreciate this stuff. nowadays all I hear is "just throw it away and get a new one". People have forgotten how to appreciate.
Will leather canteens be sold on your store in the future?
Or canteen leather kits
@@jeffreycoulter4095
That works too
That's a $50.00 item, right?
@@LiquidLuke they are more in the ballpark of $150 - $200, the materials alone are over $50 unless someone knows a better leather supplier than I do, lol
It's been awhile, but I believe it took me at least 4+ hours to make a similar one.
@@teddylchasejr You're right. You have to pay at least 100 bucks for a legit leather belt.
Nice when Brandon hosts! He’s a very centered and thoughtful teacher
You make it look so easy. I would love to try this. Thank you for such a good video instruction. Also, it's so stress reducing with that gentle music
As a historian and leather craftsman myself i LOVE to see traditional tools and means of making something historical like this.... this is gold. Support from Serbia!
Invite me to your place. I wanna know easter Europe.
@@sirlorial Come to Novi Sad when ever you want and I will give you a tour
I’ve made a few of these for medieval re-enactment. I used bees wax instead of pitch, but the process is the same.
Thanks for the tip!
Do either affect the taste of the water?
@@Tremmor500 Yes, both of them change the taste. If it's raw beeswax, it'll add a slight honey or sweet taste. Pine pitch will taste like a pine tree.
Do you melt the bees wax as well?
@@themodernninja8074 yes, I use a double boiler to melt it.
Townsends... THE place to get pine pitch!
When I make my bottels, instead of forming it with a tool I stuff it. I force as much dried popcorn kernels into it as I can. This stretches the leather and gives me some good volume. Making one of these was the first video I posted to UA-cam back in 2017.
Crafternoon with a craftsman and teacher. Brandon seems a very supportive gentleman.
Thank you, Brandon. You are an excellent instructor. Nice work. This was a nice Saturday surprise.
this was very soothing to watch. I wish I could smell that leather!
I love these how to videos describing how to make items like this. Useful not just for historical reenactment, but for everyday life even today. One never knows when they can save money or need to make a lantern out of necessity.
I have one of these but it's not for water, it's a rifle ball bag! Neck is the perfect size to dispense single .54 cal balls right into your palm, no fiddling with an open top ball bag using potentially frozen fingers
sounds to me like a nice use after it can’t be used for water or liquid haulage!
@@bostonrailfan2427
This one he made in the video is about 4 or 5 times the size of mine haha! Mine is about the size you would make for a neck or belt flask, holds about 40 rifle balls or about 6 ounces of liquid
I made my first of these a few years ago. It's extremely satisfying. And that brewers' pitch sold at the store really is the best substance you can use. I literally bought some a decade ago; I keep it in a tiny dedicated cast-iron pan, it lasts forever, when I need it, I just melt it back down and pour it in.
I see these things sold for over $100, when it's really closer to $20 in materials plus knowledge of saddle-stitching, which you can do while zoned out watching UA-cam vids.
Thanks for the video, it was informative and a joy to watch. Brandon is a good teacher. This is a project that I would like to try and I am a beginner who has never picked up a piece of leather but I quickly found myself feeling like I was missing steps in the process you taught. To make the a little more beginner friendly would it be possible to put in the description box a list of all the ingredients, materials, and tools used to make the canteen? In the video you briefly showed the basic items you would need, but I felt like along the way you kept bring out new ones for example to two different tools you used to make the holes. Also please add the quantities, lengths, diameter & amounts needed to create the same exact canteen as you are making.
Also, if there are links to the pattern/materials/tools (18th century or modern versions) that you used and talk about the different kinds to use, like pine resin what grade to use or stay away from. Or a link if there is a Townsend project kit, or materials to make getting the items for the project easier. To me obtaining and making the pattern is the most important part and without it I would have no clue where to start.
Also, some parts where seemed to be edited or unclear like the first saddle stich, I would have liked to seen the first 5 or 6 stiches to make sure I was doing it correctly. Also, since we were not using one long thread for the job, it would be nice for you to show how to tie off the ends when the string is used up and how you start the new thread so it is seamless. I also had questions on why you ran the thread through the beeswax and who you twisted the ends of the thread.
All and all a great video and something I would love to try.
I really want to make one now! This is all my childhood adventurer dreams in one fancy water bottle!
I really like the design of the leather canteen. Is there any way to get a hold of the plans? In a pdf form to print, cut out and use as a template?
Would be nice. They share the video and encourage the craft but don't share the secrets. Why! 😑
@@JKinder313, designing something like that takes some skills that are hard to demonstrate in a video.
what's a PDF? this is 1840. What's these words like print and cut out and template?
@@UtahSustainGardening Would be nice to know the cutouts.
@@earthknight60, I didn't find a lot on my search.
Nice video…. With the saddle stitch a knot is usually formed on each stitch which prevents unraveling. I take it is not necessary for this type of item. I also back stitch about 2 stitches at the beginning and end to include high stress points as needed. Thanks for posting!!!
I would love to see some other designs of leather canteens and how to make them. Like maybe a wine skin.
good morning and have a great beautiful weekend Townsends
Providing access to a simple pattern would have been an awesome addition
Love it! Watched from start to finish, wished my dad could have been here to watch this channel and see youtube; all these wonderful resources for how people lived in times before now that was a major part of his love/passion in life, getting back to ancestral ways, natural workings with our surroundings, we're missing so much basic things that would make life easier/cheaper nowadays that our ancestors knew as throwaway knowledge.
*Yeah, I could absolutely watch a multiple hour long livestream of this kind of content!!!* 😱❤️
i also made a canteen some time ago. i stuffed it with sand while it was wet and let it dry. that way it gets an even more round shape. :)
Ive seen this done with beeswax coating and formed into shape by packing it with sand.
oh yeah that'd work. I find it interesting that in most of history their water containers (made of skins and stomachs and bladders and such) weren't perfectly waterproof, because slightly sweating water helped keep it cool.. and if life or death hinged on that LITTLE loss, you were probably boned anyway.
Sounds like something a Mexican leather artist would don😬
But then how would you get all of the sand out?
@@bodeine454 you use wet sand and then use water to flush out the sand
@@azoe6764 That makes sense, I just saw a video where someone used popcorn kernels instead...
Sewing is a lot easier than many understand. Ive only just started hand sewing, i did machine for a bit. Once you hand sew you understand its not magic. The thread is like a rope, which you are weaving through the fabric to secure or tie it in place. It is the same as tying shoelaces. By tying the thread over and over again youre basically locking each piece of fabric to eachother. It can be done very sloppily or very industriously, just like any knot, some are tighter and harder to create, others are simpler. Picture a clothing as a couple pieces of cloth that have been tied to eachother, using a needle to create the holes the thread goes through. Its the same as how modern shoe eyelets allow the shoelace to go back and forth through them and stay in place, binding each side of the shoe to eachother to make it fit tightly. Sewing is pretty much the same as lacing a shoe, but you have to use a needle to poke the holes.
Very cool! I'd like to see more of Brandon!
Thank you for providing a channel for everyone but especially the craftier end of things that were very much the pride _and the commonplace_ of our collective past.
Now that's interesting. I just learned something new today
I think being calm and personable is almost as important as being highly skilled when it comes to teaching crafts like this, and this fella has both!
The whole time I was like “how does this work if water and leather = bad” then he added the pitch to seal the leather from the water and it all made sense haha
also veg tanned leather deals with water better than most modern tanning methods
Man that's amazing look just how far we've come from with technology and ingenuity.
"Your Leatherworking skill has increased to 2"
Funny you said "patience" - every time in my life I hurried something it didn't turn out well. I learned fairly early that speed is something not very desirable in most cases and that's not even limited to crafting something. I learned a lot of things in my life from metal working to computer programming and nothing I learned benefits from being in a hurry. Even cooking is better done organized so you're not in a hurry when putting a dish together. So yes, take your time, be deliberate and the end result will be much better.
Reject modernity, embrace tradition. Learn the old ways.
yep screw cars im walking everywhere
return to monke
Yes, that is the millenial motto.
I watch a lot of Townsends and love the history, information, food, and music. That said I was rewatching some older movies with one of them being Gangs of New York. The wholesomeness from this channel definitely rubbed off whenever I heard a violin from that movie.
Saturday Townsend's awesome
Fascinating! Lifelong crafter, but leather work is not something I've ever thought to try. You may have inspired me! As skilled seamstress of many decades, some of the processes and techniques of this are familiar.
That was a very cool project. I like how it turned out. Cheers!
Thank you for what you do! Best (and most useful) content on UA-cam!
Lovely little project indeed! And well presented, Brandon. I'll add this to my list of things to try. After doing some leatherwork for knife sheaths, I think this would be a fun and useful item to tackle. Thank you for the inspiration!
This was really well done and super entertaining to watch! I would love to see more featured content like this on the channel!
Thank you for sharing a outstanding information teaching video
Love this! I used to make leather purses way back when I was young. Used to be a catalog called Tandy. I wish it was still around today. They also had moccasin kits. Made those too.
Tandy leather still exists. There's a store in the next town over from me. And they are online too
Excellent rainy day content :D This man needs a spot on A&E and Nat Geo! ^w^
What a beautiful item. I love the way the pitch stained the leather.
And here I thought those had a glass bottle inside. Lol
Some can since after an hour or two the water really takes on the leather taste.
??
@trikami I was just thinking that, and the pine resin can’t taste very good, either.
@@nessamillikan6247 it puts a unique twist on the water but while it may taste bad its still "clean" water and will hydrate and it will probably last longer since you wont like the taste but thirst is thirst.
the chemicals that are used in tanning leather are definitely not good to ingest. I would use a heavy glass bottle inside.
Oooh how cool! I'm not a big fan of leather nowadays, but historical leatherwork is so awesome!!! Thanks for the tutorial Brandon!
Why not?
tis is cool~ a printable pattern would have been nice too~
@asdrubale bisanzio you CAN, if you are skilled enough to do so and know what youre doing, but that adds an hour or more of planning if youre not, even more if youre OCD, when a printable pattern is fool proof and at least gets you something and gets you making, which is the hardest step. if youve made one and want a bigger/smaller one you can upscale/downscale it with ease, making a new template from scratch? that takes a lot more work.
@asdrubale bisanzio seriously, that dude is freaking out over a leather oval to hold water….
Do the best you can and take your time
Wonderful. There is so much talent working at Townsends.
"Patrolling The Mojave, makes me wish for a Townsend Leather Canteen."
All you need is a Nuka bottle and a cork..
"you take a sip from your trusty Townsend Leather Canteen"
@@Eli-ts3ge 😂👍
A nuclear winter helps to keep the water nice and cold
All the leather canteen needs is a number 13 slapped on there and it'll be perfect
That is some beautiful handiwork. Thanks, Brandon.
Question for The Assembled: how does one clean this? I'm assuming hot water is a bad idea. Mild soap seems logical. But, what kind? Other suggestions? I'm making one currently for a young man I know who's getting into re-enactments. A good lad; I'd like him to live a long and happy life, unmarred by nasty germs in something I made for him....thanks!
If you only keep water in it for short periods of time, and dry it out nicely when not in use, you shouldn't really need to clean it. this sort of thing isn't meant to store water in it for weeks at a time. if it does eventually get gross, i'd clean it with warm water and a clean scrub, and then reseal it with more brewer's pitch.
You can't carry strong spirits in one (trust my gagging experience), wine is ok for a day or so in cool weather, water is fine. I just rinse mine and let dry with teh stopple out.
Thank you for the fine demonstration! I have a tip for you…. After you wet your leather, pack it tightly with dry sand. This way you can shape it and get all the wrinkles and bumps out. When the leather dries out, dump the sand and bang around lightly on the inside with a stick, and you’re ready for your resin.🤗🐝🌹
i am literally going to do this right now
How did it go mister?
Maybe send a pic to Townsend so that he can show it on the next live? It would be so cool to see the end result!
Good luck!
Tell us how it went and good luck!
@@friedrichjaeger367 dude your Name is Jäger, that is german and means hunter lol yea theres no more leather so i have to wait for monday :(((( in my country all shops are closed on sunday
@@rudivomschauerberg6344 alter ik hab nur jetzt deinen namen gesehn haha
You make the best quality content on this platform, keep up the amazing work!
I bought one of these a long time ago at a Ren faire. But I can just make them!
Now there's a familiar face; I knew this face very well once upon a time, long ago. Brandon, thanks for sharing your talent with us all! 👏
I have made a smaller version of this, coated it with paraffin wax and use it to hold my 45 cal. shot balls, works great for that as well.
@Jonathan SG lol
That was pretty incredible to watch. You guys never cease to entertain and educate. Great work.
I’m adding my comment for Townsends to make a pattern for this!
An in depth tutorial with how to do all the stitching and a supply list would be amazing for this. I'd love to try and make one.
I just had a drink with my dinner, and I can't help but wonder how beer/whisky would taste if you stored it in that thing. Bad right? Maybe good, but probably bad.
You need a low percentage wine.
Maybe that's how retsina was invented. Greek wine infused with pine resin.
Please define “bad whiskey“. Never heard of that....😜
@@just-dl That's true, but storing it in rawhide might make it... Less good.
@AzuriteT3 well said...😎I am curious what impact brewers pitch has on changing/preserving flavor.
It's really awesome to see other members of the team hosting videos!!
Do you sell this kit? Also, what type of oil do you use at the end to clean up?
Probably not WD40 though...
@Taylor Chesal linseed oil gets real tacky
Neetsfoot oil is good for leather.
I'm in recovery and leather crafting is a new hobby I'd like to pick up. There's a leather shop near me that offers classes. Thanks for this video
That is so cool! Do you have a printable pattern ?
Yeah that would be really great. Would make it much easier to make
Add me to the pattern request too
Add me, too
Cool I always thought it was glass or metal inside to keep the shape and water in, I personally like when you guys post videos of other people doing things keep the channel fresh. Great video as always
2:10 after starting leather work at 11 years old he moved onto making lampshades out of neighborhood children
I read something that said to only use brewers pitch for cold liquids and not for long term storage. Important to know for anyone considering making this.
Yeah, when I see these sorts of things, they typically use beeswax to seal and waterproof.
@@EphemeralTao That sounds a lot safer to drink from to me 😁
I was skeptical because I know pune pitch is flammable and used to be used to waterproof boats. Didnt sound like something I wanted to be drinking from if I could help it.
@@Luckingsworth Pine resin like this -- which is pitch with all the volatiles (turpentine) cooked out -- is perfectly safe to eat. It was commonly used in sealing wine casks, and gives the Greek wine _retsina_ it's characteristic flavour. Fun fact, you can also eat the young pine shoots in the spring, they're kind of tart like citrus.
> Basic tools
> Pulls out a tool no one has ever seen before
Yes, but it looks basic. I mean, it's not really complex, is it?
I know all of those tools
This would be an awesome project for our boy scout patrol. Would be something pretty neat to do over a weekend campout.
Him. "An easy project that the average, common person can make"
Me: watches video
also Me: realistically pictures The ugly, leaky, misshapen atrocity of a leather "canteen" that would result if I tried to make this.
I know right!...I can't even cut open a box in a strait line.
The only leatherworking project I've ever made was an axe sheath I designed. It's not pretty but I learned how not to do things... and it is functional.
A tip, if you need to take 10hours to do it, take 10hours, if you need to cut your stuff in several goes, cut it in several goes, if youre doing something for fun, take. your. time. working fast is fine, but never rush.
I have learned things about leatherworking today that I wish I had known months ago, when I first started toying around with waterproofing and hardening leather. My soft leather waterproofing is a mix of tallow and beeswax, and it's wonderful for soft leather projects, but pitch is something that's been used on curraghs here in Ireland since long long ago, and somehow I just never connected the dots. I guess this'll be my next project. For anyone wondering, the reason why the pitch works is because pine resin is high in oleic acid, which hardens and waterproofs the leather, all the more so when heated, and it won't shrink the leather as long as it doesn't reach the plasticisation temperature.
What a great little project; that's some beautiful leather, too...
Would love over, maybe one day I'll make one. Makes me appreciate my metal one that keeps my water cold!