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I found it easier & more efficient for me, to have my most used tools hanging on a tool board or in tool holders/racks on the back side of the bench. I keep the stuff i use the least amount in the drawers.

Or send the new user a DM after we reply to their new topic. (New users do get email notifications for direct messages.)

You are right about needing a plan to keep you going thru retirement. You need to stay mentally and physically sharp. If you plan on sticking with leather work, think about trying out a local market to get your feet wet and then move on to craft shows, if it floats your boat. Please keep us up to date on your journey. Welcome to the forum , we are glad you are here!

This time at home, one of my customers asked if I could repair the saddle flap of an Equipe saddle, where the outer layer of leather had been worn through. She had bought the saddle second hand since it fit both her and her horse perfectly, so she is not the one who has managed to wear the saddle flap to this extent. Actually I am kind of puzzled as to why it was only worn through on the right hand side of the saddle, but the left side had just a bit of normal wear, so either the previous owner must have had used her right leg more, or perhaps have used some abrasive things on her right leg, like an unprotected zipper? For once I have managed to take pictures through the process, to help giving an idea of how I did the repair job. In total the job took 8 hours, so it is not a super fast job, but I never expected it to be. The value of the saddle still makes it worth making a repair like this, and difficult work holding/handling and hand sewing is the main reason for the time consumption. If I had a cylinder arm walking foot sewing machine, I might have been able to pull it off a bit faster, but I am only guessing. A saddle is fairly awkward to move around, and It only takes one slip to make the stitch line look bad and making matters worse, so I think that I would probably still go with hand sewing in this case. 1) outer layer of thin leather on the saddle flap is worn through. 2) A pleasing curve shape was cut on some paper. The inspiration for the curve came from the sides of the seat, and I wanted the ends to correspond to the angles of the lower reinforcement piece. 3)The curve is lowered to show the corresponding ends of the lower reinforcement piece. 4) A piece of thin leather (approx 2 mm thick) is cut out in the correct shape. It is deliberately made so that the lower part leaves a 3/8" gap towards the lower part of the saddle flap. (This is similar to how the original worn piece was made, to give a nice smooth transition for the lower reinforcement piece) 5) The repair piece is skived along all edges. approximately 5/8" wide. 6) The stitching for the lower part of the saddle flap is cut plus the lower part of the decorative stitches. The lower reinforcement piece is carefully removed and put aside to be used again. The worn piece of the saddle is cut of, following a curve matching the repair piece. Leaving approximately 5/8" overlap. 7) The repair piece is glued on using contact cement and hand sewn along the upper part. The decorative stitching is continued as well. (I sew over the first and last 3 original stitches to lock them in place) 8 ) The lower reinforcement piece is sewn in place again. Hand sewing since I don't have a sewing machine that could do it easily and allow me to maneuver the saddle easily around. I tried my best to use the existing holes in the heavy part of the flap. 9) The completed repair job.

Any other places?

I have been dabbling in leatherwork for years, but never took it seriously or to the next level. Recently, I've found I have more time on my hands, and I want to get serious about improving my skills. Years ago, my father built me a great workbench to put in my tack room, but I just had tools randomly stored in the drawers. I've taken the time to sort things out and grouped my tools into "categories" (for a lack of a better term). Here's my question to all of you... How would you arrange these "categories" in your bench drawers? Sharpening Measure Cutting Skiving End Punches Press Punches Hole Punches Tooling Dying Gluing Zipper Setters Stitching (Hand) Thread (both hand & machine) Edger's & Groover's Burnishing Hardware Setting Miscellaneous (like a thread spool holder, belt trimmer, etc.) Stitching Pony's (small item only, not my large one) Keep in mind that I have hardware and stamping tools in dedicated spots on top of my bench. Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!

Hey, I have some advice straight from a saddler’s workshop Apply edge paint in the direction of the cut, using light pressure, so loose fibers are pushed flat before the paint sets. You’re smoothing mechanically, not burnishing. Use a sponge; for very thin edges, an old awl or a small brush works well. Both give you more control. Wipe off excess with a cotton cloth (e.g old t-shirt), again in the same direction, to avoid lifting fibers. Work in thin layers and let each one dry properly. No burnishing beforehand. Sanding isn’t needed if the edge is clean and even, but lightly sanding helps a lot if layers meet or the edge is rough. Some people use an edge filler where two layers meet to level the edge before painting—that can help get a very clean result. I can't tell you more about this, but also want to try it out in the future. Hope this helps Best Tove

I think dyes, stains, etc is the right place for edge paint questions. Moved it.

Beautiful job, thanks for showing it.

Wow, beautiful job, like all of your work.

nice

So to start, outside of a few coasters that I made months ago, I’ve never used edge paint, so I have some basic questions… Do I still slick the edge with gum trag before applying (I also spit shine after the gum trag)? Will I need to buff to a shine again, or will the neutral/clear paint (EcoFlo Edge Flex) let the shine through? If I have to to buff again, do I need to worry about accidentally damaging/cracking/removing the paint? Do I use my slicker or something else? Sorry, it’s my first rodeo with edge paint. Thanks for any and all advice and wisdom, and may you never burn your bacon, AZR

I always keep an eye out for any old purses, belts, or other things like that. Take it home, and keep the hardware in a box (well, an old Butter Cookie tin), and then I make bracelets out of the leather if it is a belt, or a card holder, or a key chain if it is a purse. There is just so much potential in old stuff.

Just wanted to show off a card holder that I made, and of course, ask for any feedback. This is a two-pocket card wallet that began life as someones couch. As this is chrome-tanned leather i am not able to get a classical finish on the edges, but some black dye makes it look nice all the same.

When others talk to me about leather, often they are asking about upholstring. Skidoos, boats and even some furniture have all been subjects of interest. Our local upholsterer moved his business away too, so maybe I'm hearing about it more than you would. In any case welcome, and I hope you not only find something particular and satisfying, but that you share it here.

This is exactly what I am trying to do. I just do not know what to do in the future, and to be honest, retirement scares me. I know too many people who retire and then waste away because they have no plan, no direction, and nothing to do. I do not want to do that, and so I am trying to find something that will give me a purpose to get out of bed in the morning.

Good work May God bless, Dwight

Thank you for the idea... I had not thought about doing repairs, but that sounds like something I would enjoy. I find personal enjoyment in fixing things (not sure the reason), but I find myself going out of my way to try and find things to fix for no other reason than I enjoy it. My wife thinks I am crazy when I bring home another discarded stand fan or vacuum cleaner to see if I can give it a second chance. I then turn around and sell it on Facebook for a low price. It makes me happy because something isn't going to the landfill, and it makes the buyer happy because they get something they need at a reasonable price. I have fixed some bags and luggage in the past, and I guess I could expand this in the future.

This is a good thread for that: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/125148-replacement-pulley-for-tapered-shaft/

(At least some) Machines with a horizontal hook axis and a rotary hook (such as the Juki DDL-8700) don't have a latch opener. Yet the latch opens before the thread gets to it. I suspect maybe the thread dragging across/around the bobbin case is doing it, but I haven't studied it enough to be sure. Maybe that's why the hook moves the opposite way on those machines versus a lot of the machines I see with a horizontal hook axis + oscillating hook like the Singer 31-15.

Welcome!!! I retired about ten years ago, or more. I do what comes to mind at the moment. I have taken up just learning new stuff, so leather is not the world to me. Last year, for example i deciced i wanted to make clay pots out of local clay, so i did it, found clay, cleaned clay, built a raku kiln, and made pots both in a fire pit and the kiln. I forge and make tools, knives, and just about anything I need. I learn to make lol. Last winter i rebuilt two bamboo fly rods. I still need to make the cases, this fall, tanning leather hair on, and moccasins. I've got two staves of wood drying for making bows this spring, some staves for arrows, also i learned to make arrows a few years back. Just live, man!!!!

Welcome to the forum. Lots of inspiration to be found, no matter what you like 🙂 You mention that you would like to do leather work as a side hustle, I get that you don't like to deal to much with the public or run a business, but.. Unless you can use all the leather items that you create yourself or gift it off to families, you will end up having stuff all over. (Based on experience from my other hobby which is woodworking/cabinetmaking). A solution could be in doing leather repairs. I have a small company with my son, where I do the leather work part. I am not a trained saddle maker, but I can do most repair jobs on saddles except for restocking them with wool. A lot of people are daunted by the thought of sewing leather, and while it might be more fun to craft something new, there is also a satisfaction in repairing something so it works well again. An advantage (to me) is that repair jobs are very seldom exactly like, so I don't risk making 25 of the same thing in a row, but, one week I can repair a saddle flap, and the next week a stitching in a computer bag or a set of chaps etc. It is just a side hustle, but it is a really nice feeling to be able to immerse myself in a good leather repair project and being paid for sewing and sitting and listening to a podcast or the gentle snoring of our dog at the same time. Most of my customers know of me from word of mouth, as I don't do any advertising. Equestrians often need a lot of leather work to be repaired, people with vintage motorcycles (1950'ies and older) are also possible sources of potential customers, for saddle bags, seat repairs etc. I don't repair leather items exclusively, also horse blankets and replacement of zippers in riding boots etc. I do like to create new things as well, but selling new leather products is difficult in my area, so that is one of the reasons for the repair business. Brgds Jonas

cool !!! Bloodknots look pretty good on these as well.

A lesson a person only gets one chance to learn sometimes. Was working as a roustabout. We had snowed in the day before in a small town; it was Thanksgiving week, so in November. Luckily, one of us had a girlfriend there, so we had a warm floor to stay that night. Got up to drifted snow that totally packed into the engine bays of our trucks. Spent half the day getting them running, then the boss says our pump station was offline again, so buy as much food as you need and head out, the station was 30+ miles into the desert lol. No problem, got there, fired up the station just as the storm started, hopped in the truck happy and warm, put it in gear, and it died, wouldn't start... There we sat. A vehicle goes from warm to freezer in about 30 seconds. Then the compressor station died again, so there were no lights or heat even at the location. We just huddled up together and did everything we could to keep awake through the night. All three of us were local boys and friends and knew not to leave the truck, and not to go to sleep, so we just sat there in the dark watching snow blow across the windshield at 40 mph plus doing about anything to stay warm lol. Yeah, it got colder than hell, about two hours in we figured out that all the really good canned food we had bought was frozen solid as well as our water. Luckily, the storm died, and the sun came out. There was about 6 inches of frozen vapor in the truck just from our breath that we had to knock down because it was thawing on us. Anyway, as the sun warmed us up and we felt safe we fell asleep to be woken up about 2 in the afternoon by another crew sent out for us. It took two graders from sunup to blade the road to us out.

@tsunkasapa i am saddened reading about your loss , my condolences. I lost Mum few years back. I wish you and your family the very best . HS