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It's like the old time infomercials in the middle of the night. "But wait! We can sell you a new magic database tool for a gazillion dollars, that may or may not work any better than what you've got! Call Ronco now and save 15%!" Follow Tom's advice to search the site by Google.

I always get that same feeling around old tools. It makes me feel privileged, that today, many of us are able to do something for a hobby, that was once the bread and butter for a family. Genuine wear adds a certain beauty to many things. Brgds Jonas

Looks pretty good I'd say. I am signing off the ship Wednesday, When I get home I'll take a look to see if I can make a drawing of the missing stitch length regulator for you. Brgds Jonas

Nicely done. I like the steel toed sandles too!! Love my Landis Nr.1. God bless.

Some databases don't index 3 letter words. Easy way to not index the and many other articles reducing the amount of space or keys required by non0essential words. Some DBs allow you to specify what gets dropped and what to keep.

I think very detailed boning is partly aesthetics, partly to enhance retention. I continue to work toward the level Mr. Ingles demonstrates, though I've a long way to go. Larry

I just searched "awl" and got nothing. I wonder if there is a setting somewhere for the online search function? Friquant has me off to the races again. Thanks for the heads up.

I still don't have the correct parts but I made it work(to a point) I manually adjusted the stitch length by hand and I ran it through the tensioner of my Singer 51w54. The top tension is a bit off but considering how I have it rigged up, I think it's alright.

That’s some pretty spiffy tooling work right there…very nice job!

Often times it is better not to tag onto an 8 year old post. Find the same forum and make a new thread with your post. Some pictures may be of great help too. Need to be able to see what you are describing. Our ESP doesn't reach that far

Use a Google search. Their indexing is better, and the servers are very fast. Use the following format: site: leatherworker.net vfd The site parameter restricts the search to a specific site. The search parameters like "VFD" follow the site parameter.

There it is, at the bottom of the homepage 😀

Is there something preventing small search queries from running? I'm trying to search for the word "VFD", but it's coming back with no results. I tried adding a filter for "posts only by one particular member" but still no results. I'm also having trouble searching for "tig"

go to the homepage leatherworker.net

Yes that sounds good! I'm not seeing the "donate" box. Here's a screenshot of the lower right of my screen.

Thank you!

Locked and moved to old and sold archive for non-compliance.

Very Nice...

Something else that makes edging the flesh side easier is slicking your leather. I know, I'm old school. Basically for vegtan you case or at least dampen the surface then run a glass or wooden slicker over it a few times. I slicked flesh and grain side. On a cosmetic note slicking makes the bottom side appearance smoother and more pleasing. Functionally - slicking will compress the fibers, smooth the grain a bit, take some stretch out. it helps to prevent paired straps from stretching unevenly. It will also make your bottom edging feel almost like grain side edging. For chrome tan leathers like latigo, you can use something like saddles soap, BlackRock, gum trag or Tokonole on the flesh side and then slick to lay down fibers and allow some compression. Slicking will also let you use some of that leather you all are throwing or giving away. Cut the flanks out of the bellies and save the bellies. Case them and slick the snot of them. They will compress and make a nice piece for things like card cases or leather that molds easier for sheaths depending on thickness. You can work at it and slick a belly up to almost resemble shell cordovan.

Thanks!

I got the old girl sewing like a champ. I had a CB4500 but really wanted a Landis 16 needle and awl machine. Eli really dialed her in I called him to get some pointers on how to sew with this machine. Still learning but this machine really sews a beautiful stitch on both sides of the leather. I us the machine for the sides and corners of my tote bags the leather is 5 to 6 OZ. The little Consew 206RB-5 I bought from Bob over at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machines and the CB4500 I sold that to a saddle maker in the Columbia SC area. I use the Consew for the Marine Canvas and boat upholstery work. I have a booth at the Cottage in Georgetown SC for all my leather works make a lot of ladies purses. I needed another heavy leather stitcher for my leather work. I just love these old machines..

Life is good, my friend 🍺 On both sides of the planet. It's been a ride, though, and not one I care to repeat for a while. I am slowly catching up to my chores and starting to relax a bit. Went shooting the other day just for kicks and picked up some more clay. Ive processed about 30 lbs so now i have enough to play with if my kids don't use it all up. A great thing is taking place here now, folks are buying more and more US-made products and more and more small family businesses are making a comeback, finally. I can see my kids actually being able to work for themselves and make a living if they want to go that route in the future. Anyway have a great day and say hi to pops for me!!

"They be more what you call guidelines than say actual rules" Since the fibers on the flesh side are a little looser and harder to cut cleanly, I tend to cut it first. The presence of the full width of the leather supporting the cut makes it easier. I can push down slightly as well as forward and the fibers don't tend to smush down as I run the line since they're fully supported.

What a grand old lady . The machine i mean .lol Did anyone else notice the wear on the outer foot pedal in photo 5 ? That probably took 30-40 years to get it like that . When i look at old machines like that i can't help wonder . Some one has made a living using it , bought a house and raised a family sent their kids to college and retired . The machine gets passed to a new worthy owner and the cycle starts again . I am sure the old girl has heard laughter and felt tears and no doubt being a Landis many a curse word has been spoken to it and in its presence . Still going though and by the looks of it still loved. makes me smile

@acem77 Below is a link to an English shoe making tool manufacturer called George Barnsley The catalogue is from the 1920's . Barnsley tools were probably the best in their field at the time and still used today . I still use vintage Barnsleys's everyday . I think the catalogue with help you identify what you have . But we still want to see photos . https://archive.org/details/barnsley-and-sons-shoe-tools-catalogue-1927/page/n1/mode/2up?view=theater Click the link and download . On the bottom right you will see left and right arrows .click the arrows to turn the pages . In there you will find a version of just about every shoe making tool and what they are called . Other makers have variations of the same tool but are generally named the same . I use the catalogue as a reference source but i am pretty familiar with most of it . I think i may even have a bout 70% of what is pictured , not because i use them but because i collect them . For those that a wondering what a welt mill looks like ,below is a photo . The teeth on the mill correspond to a height or thickness of leather . A skiving knife is held across the chosen teeth and the leather strip pulled through cutting it at the desired thickness . Essentially it is a leather splitter . Its not a big tool