Lining Leather, What Leather To Use, Dumb New Stuff, Etc.

[brianevans]

Guys this post might be a bit eclectic, but I'm not finding what I need to know otherwise from all my searching. I've done a bit of simple work and I'm ready to try something a bit more difficult/involved. I would like to make a basic messenger bag. Seams out, single gusset, single front buckle, pretty basic. I'm a medic by trade and I want to be able to replace my current nylon day bag that sits in the ambulance holding personal gear that I use to make my life easier, i.e. books, notebooks, protocols, stethoscope, extra pouches with odds and ends, etc. It would also be used for a day bag out and about. However I wouldn't be carrying it all that much. Mostly into and out of buildings for appointments and meetings or into and out of the car going places, but left in the car while I'm in the store or wherever. Basically a portable carrying device, not a purse/always on me thing. I am hoping I can get some overall advice. I make knives and I see brand new people post silly questions all the time in forums. Rest assured I'm planning on sticking around for a while. I'm good with my hands and I follow instructions well.

If you're still with me after all the back story, now the questions.

1. I only have experience with veg tan. Is there a better leather type to go with for a bag?

2. There is no such thing as paramedic/fireman/police officer proof, merely resistant. With this, and me being a big guy, I can handle a heavy bag. I want it bomb proof, so to speak. It seems like 5-6 oz would be too thin, but it's what I see some people advising. However, I basically only have experience with 8-10 oz leather from a Tandy special sale. It seems awfully thick for a bag. I think if I could see different sights of leather I could pick an appropriate weight. What do you think? Also, see next bullet point.

3. Lining. First, is unlined ok or am I going to wish I had a lined bag? I want to do this is a workman like manner, even if it takes twice as long. I don't cut corners. If lined, is it ok to use two pieces of 4-5 oz veg tan flesh side to flesh side, or is pig better? I like a lighter inside of bag so it's easier to find stuff in it. I like my sun tanned, oiled then waxed book covers, so that's how I want my bag to look. Probably wouldn't sun tan the inside off I used veg tan, just natural with a finish off some sort. Or should I use 6 oz for the outside and pig for the inside. What about deer?

4. What cut of leather? Shoulder, bend, etc? I'm coming from sheath and knife stuff so it seems everyone there uses shoulders, but I've not found a definitive answer. Brettuns Leather has a double shoulder in maple amber color which looks nice, but I'm not sure if it would work.

Whew, I think that's it. Thanks for helping me out. If anything is contradictory in my message, it's purely unintentional. Only ignorance, not on purpose. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say.

My latest knife, in case anyone was wondering.

[brianevans]

And sorry for the messed up spelling. My phone hates me.

[billybopp]

Good questions all!

1. Chrome tanned leathers are most always pre-colored(drum dyed), but may be a bit too floppy for what you want to do.

Veg tan tooling leather would work just fine, but you'll most likely want to dye it which is a bit of extra work, and CAN be difficult to get right on bigger pieces of leather, particularly if you have a little experience. That said, you can also get exactly the color that you want that way. If you want natural leather finish, this is the way to go.

Veg tan can also be drum dyed, along with other treatments. I'm thinking of making a bag, and will probably use English Bridle leather in about the 6oz range. There are a ton of options! Take a look here for some options with a pretty good explanation of what they are: http://www.wickett-craig.com/ . Also, be sure to look at the colors that they have available. Most seem to have good luck buying from them, but there are also other places to buy more or less the same leathers. Other may also have different colors.

2. As stated above, 6oz seems about right for such a bag to me. But, if you line it you may want to go a little thinner. How thin depends on the lining! If you live near a vendor such as Tandy, go in and take a look and feel of their leathers. Even if you don't buy from them, it will give you some ideas.

3. For a heavier use bag, I'm not sure I'd line it, and leave it natural color if it's un-dyed veg-tan, or a lighter drum dyed leather. Lining is good too, and the options are about endless. I think I'd go for pig in, as you like, a lighter color. The only potential problem is that lining pig tends to be pretty thin. It's also pretty strong, tho ... So .. sort of of two minds about that.

Natural veg tan is also an option in say 3/4oz. Oiled and finished with whatever works for you prefer .. From carnauba cream to tan kote to resolene to oil and wax. Again, endless options.

Deer/elk/moose is probably not a good choice for a bag or bag lining. It's terribly "spongy" and a bit stretchy. However, if you wanted to line a shoulder strap with it, you can't find anything more comfy!

4. Double should would work OK for what you want, but might be hard to get the piece sizes that you want, depending on the size of the bag that you are making! Back would be the better choice for size, and may be slightly stronger stuff. The only part of the beast to avoid is the belly, which can be too stretchy.

Check out the messenger bag making video by Nigel Armitage on Youtube. It's excellent. He will also sell you the pattern, which can be modified to suit your needs with relative ease. Or, if you're good at back-engineering things, check out the video and make your own similar pattern. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEwbvfsZfBw

I'm currently working on one of the above-mentioned bags. I'll be using 6/7oz veg tan ... Because it's what I have on-hand! Mine won't be lined, and I'll finish it with a sort of sunburst dye job. I can't quite decide on what finish to put atop that. I want it to be reasonably water resistant, but not quite as shiny as resolene. As an added challenge, I thinking of modifying it a little and using no metal hardware. Just leather, and associated dyes, etc. and thread. Should be fun!

Hope that helps

Bill

[DavidL]

vegtan/bridle is stiffest, next is combination tan of veg and chrome, pull-up leather then chrome. It depends on the tannery as to how the leather will come out.

kangaroo veg and horween horse front are stronger than regular veg, so is goat vegtan too.

[billybopp]

BTW .. Nice knife!

Bill

[silverwingit]

Yup, he's a knifemaker. Look at the cut and blistered fingers.

Michelle

[MonicaJacobson]

I use 8-9 oz chrome tanned for bags, and I really like it. But it's not bridle leather, so it's soft enough to give the idea of a thinner leather, but thick enough to hold its shape. However, it is unlined - if I line a bag, I'd probably use 4-5 and pig skin to line.

I'm interested to see what you come up with.

[Treed]

I would recommend a 4/5 0z oil tanned leather.....Leather is soft and supple and will hold up to the riggers that you will experience. This is the leather that I use to make working chaps and chinks for real working cowboys and gives them years of use and abuse. The leather can be stiffened in areas that you want with the use of veg tan overlays that are tooled or decorated. This is the same leather that I use for riggin bags for rodeo cowboys. The bags that all there gear goes in from car to plane to car to behind the chutes back to car. There is nothing more abusive to a bag than being a riggin bag.

[brianevans]

I would recommend a 4/5 0z oil tanned leather.....Leather is soft and supple and will hold up to the riggers that you will experience. This is the leather that I use to make working chaps and chinks for real working cowboys and gives them years of use and abuse. The leather can be stiffened in areas that you want with the use of veg tan overlays that are tooled or decorated. This is the same leather that I use for riggin bags for rodeo cowboys. The bags that all there gear goes in from car to plane to car to behind the chutes back to car. There is nothing more abusive to a bag than being a riggin bag.

Treed, do you have a website or pictures of those bags. Interested to see what they look like.

I would recommend a 4/5 0z oil tanned leather.....Leather is soft and supple and will hold up to the riggers that you will experience. This is the leather that I use to make working chaps and chinks for real working cowboys and gives them years of use and abuse. The leather can be stiffened in areas that you want with the use of veg tan overlays that are tooled or decorated. This is the same leather that I use for riggin bags for rodeo cowboys. The bags that all there gear goes in from car to plane to car to behind the chutes back to car. There is nothing more abusive to a bag than being a riggin bag.

Treed, do you have a website or pictures of those bags. Interested to see what they look like.

[Treed]

I don't have them on the web site.....I do them as a custom order for friends.... I am away from home for next 3 weeks at rodeos and will see if someone can find some pictures and email them to me so I can post or send them to you....

[MonicaJacobson]

I'd like to see them too.