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Good advice, JLS, but probably wasted - nearly 2 months and the OP hasn't returned?

I would say no, it's not what you need. This is basically a high-speed lockstitch garment machine, not an upholstery machine (I can't see it being much use in saddle making). How thick is the leather you want to sew? I forgot to add read the sticky above about what machines you need to sew leather, it's probably the definitive article on the subject.

The 144 or145 series are great machines. When my 206 craped out on 7 layers I went to T-Rex my 144w103

Hi does anyone know much about this machine? I’ve been offered one at a relatively attractive price and am considering taking it if it’s what I need. I’d like to sew thick leather and maybe a bit of cordura too. According to the internet an upholstery machine is my best bet for doing both? lady selling it says it was used for upholstery and saddle making but obviously can’t verify that on the good ol’ internet so hoping someone here knows something about it?

Yes you can get all kinds of studs at blinginthering.com the metal thickness is at 0.50 mm thick. If you need extra strong, then purchase the stainless steel ones. https://blinginthering.com/collections/decorative-metal-spots

Yes you can get them at Blinginthering.com https://blinginthering.com/collections/ring-spots

Hi everyone, I wanted to share that the Standard Rivet Company has officially closed after 136 years in business. They were a longstanding supplier of rivets, dome spots, and nailheads used in Western-style belts, holsters, tack, and leathercraft. We wrote a brief article reflecting on their history and what this means for the industry. [https://blinginthering.com/blogs/news/standard-rivet-company-closes-after-136-years](https://blinginthering.com/blogs/news/standard-rivet-company-closes-after-136-years) We’d love to hear your thoughts — did you use their nailheads or other products? Are you seeing changes in sourcing options already? Thanks for letting us share this important moment with fellow leatherworkers.

Hello and thanks for having me! I am excited to immerse myself into carving leather, which I'd done a little of years ago. Moving back to leather craft allows me to operate (on some level) with less space for all the machines I had to have for making Native American-style flutes, like two lathes end-to-end with a rifle boring drill modified for cutting wooden bores for woodwinds, etc... it may require a couple years practice before I'm comfortable selling anything, all over again (like it was with my better flutes), but I always did want to get back into tooling leather, so now's the time, since the plan to build a wood shop has fallen through (long story, it wound up costing twice what was expected to build the new shop on the new property... when I'd originally priced it, before selling my home and moving, two outbuilding/shed builders both lied about being licensed or insured). I didn't want to get set up to be sued, didn't have time to DIY being a contractor, and so I'm caving in and adapting to a smaller space, but still doing something I do love on the side (leather, now, again...not that I got really far with it before like I did flutes). At least I made a splash in the flute world while I was there, and I will love the larger niche of leather tooling, esp. since I have unique spins in mind for the designs, which I hope someone will want (like Florida imagery for cowboys and cowgirls, here, instead of us all showing out-of-state flora and fauna on our leather in FL). Or a premium, hand-tooled leather patch on a trucker hat instead of the ubiquitous $4.90 laser patch or one-giant-stamp-smush. The cheap leather patch hats are popular (like Hat Bars mix and match tables at certain shows) and so I thought if someone is wearing a $450 tooled belt and expensive boots, mightn't they get a trucker hat to match that's got a hand-tooled leather patch instead of the $5 one? Just a thought. And I have flute bags and other things in mind, maybe belts one day with lesser-common, FL imagery like hibiscus and manatees in between the acanthus leaves etc.) Thanks again. Jeff in FL Stuff I was making before I moved (all out of stock indefinitely, nothing for sale): https://otterlakeflutes.com/shop/ (you might have to dismiss a wordy farewell-for-now notice to the NAF community to view the page)

to make good leather goods, you need good leather. that's the first and the last of that. For holsters specifically, I would recommend a good utility knife, and something to cut curves (I use x-acto, works great). round punches - they're great for PUNCHING out tight curves instead of trying to cut them. GOOD quality awl and thread. a wooden or acrylic "slicker" for finishing edges. and of course dyes and applicators to suit your preference. That will get you started, and you can swap/change as you grow to suit your own style. To be clear, GOOD leather. Plus, one more thing... GOOD leather.

Thanks for the replies, guys! AlZilla -- I don't have much stitching experience at all with leather. I've either glued and/or run leather lace through big, punched holes up one side of an easy, folded-over holster build. Just that kind of stuff so far. Lots of crafting and shop experience in other ways, so I'm no noob at craftsmanship in general. I pick up on stuff fast. How do you like to stitch without a pony? Are you using the two-handed saddle stitch method or a Speedy Stitch or some other method? I do think about maybe stitching a premium, hand-tooled hat patch directly to a trucker hat (not a $5 laser engraved one, or one stamped with one big stamp) instead of just gluing it (esp. when you want at least decorative stitch anyway) and am trying to learn the different options out there. The book I got is pretty much one method, I think (saddle stitch with pony). The Speedy Stitch thing gets looked at as unprofessional, it seems, but I want to know my options. And I guess you can do the same thing as a Speedy Stitch just with an awl and needles, just a different stitch(?). I know people often advise not over-equipping oneself as a "beginner" at any one thing (like stitching leather), but I also go through long, dry periods of not having the money to buy much of anything but food and meds, so I want to get most of whatever I might need for the next long while (while I have a little bit of cash now, left) so I don't need something new when I'm broke, lol. Right now I'm looking at stitching supplies like awls, forks, needles...holder, etc. Thanks for your input! (that goes for everybody)

Thanks very much for all the replies. I got the .020" thick file and love it for some stuff... but yes, indeed, I'd forgotten how some of the needle files even at HF, while not super thin like this $23 file, do come with triangular ones and stuff to help get in tight spaces, thanks! I actually have some, somewhere, for fine-tuning Native American-style flute parts and stuff I was doing before I moved to a smaller space with no machine shop. I know I saved them, somewhere...

The method I described is to make 'Chicken oil' which is used as a flavoring agent in far-Eastern cuisine. There are several ways to make it but this seemed to me to be the most suitable for our purpose. Cleaned chicken skin heated in a clean pan until the fats are rendered. Only fried skin remains so I presume the oil will be pure.

Wow! Does your daughter have diverticulitis or some other intestinal problem? That's a LOT of things that needed fixing, though I'm sure the appendix was probably just 'preventative medicine' !

If you can read the serial number that was stamped into the casing on the right side, you can look up the year of production on ISMACS.

Didn't know you and your daughter were having such trouble, glad it's going well. Long drives can add stress to even the smaller medical issues. I just got back from driving my sweetheart to a medical check. First, we drove 5.5 hours away. There we placed the camper. Next day, we drove the remaining 11 or 12 hours south to Edmonton, then back a day later. All went well for her, and I got to stop in Tandy, and Buckskin. Honestly that might have stung more than the drive lol Good for you getting your own oil changed.

Probably not a bad idea to delete. I never went so far, mainly not trusting it. Seems to be a few of these online as well outside of this forum.

Or get a hand embossing machine, they use them to make belts, straps, and also for stuff like this. buy a roller with your logo, buy your leather cut into straps, and go to town emboss a strap, then cut out each logo with minimal waste. If you want your logo with a particular shape, get a clicker die made to cut out the logos, a press will be needed for the dies. Two manual machines max, and a very small learning curve. Good luck to whoever takes this job, you could make hundreds of tags a day by hand and make easy money!!!

Pretty much what you said!! put leather on the jaws and remember it is meant to hold as an extra hand would, not squish the life out of it. You're not intending to do anything but hold it in place while you work, so don't over-tighten it. Also, most times, you can find areas on your project that have no tooling to apply the clamp. Most important to remember is you're the brain part of the tool, just don't put it where it will ruin your work.

Thank you!! and yes, it went very well, 6 hours,scar tissue was a big problem, it took two surgeons and they reversed the ostomy, found and repaired a fistula, two hernias, and removed the appendix. Hopefully, she can get her normal life back now, and I won't have to pack that open wound for the rest of her life.

Forgot to add: I'm using undiluted Fiebings Pro Black brushed with a wool dauber.

Hi everyone, I’m Jazz. I’ve been a designer for years, always playing around with different materials and creative ideas. For a long time, I mostly focused on digital design—but everything shifted when I picked up leatherworking. In the summer of 2024, I lost my beloved 9-year-old bulldog, Fenrir. In trying to hold on to his memory, I handcrafted my first AirTag holder in his likeness. That simple project sparked something deep—LLKworks was born. Since then, I’ve been making small leather goods like AirTag holders, guitar- and violin-inspired key pouches, and pencil sleeves—functional items with a personal story behind each one. I love mixing thoughtful design with tactile leather, and I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft. I joined this forum to learn, share, and connect with fellow makers. Grateful to be here—thanks for having me! More of my work here: llkworks.com

@Cumberland Highpower I can get to the site but it has a Cloudflare challenge. Not sure what you're seeing but all 4 of those downloads are 404. The poster hasn't been here in 4 years. Maybe we should consider deleting the post.

I’m starting to gather up a small collection of machines. Today I found a 145W103 for a price I couldn’t pass. I was wondering what years were these produced and what was their main purpose? The own said it was used in an old school for teaching sewing.

Are these patterns for real or are they a Trojan Horse? I clicked on one out of curiosity and I got a popup wanting me to "click allow" to prove I'm human....Sounds awfully suspect to me?

When you get the Singer 15-90 freed up be aware it is an old domestic drop feed sewing machine. Nether the Singer 15-90 or the Singer 29-k2 are meant to do tack work. The Singer 29K2 was last made around 100 years ago finding parts could be difficult or near impossible to find so you may windup with a boat anchor. I would suggest you read this article about what sewing machine you should be looking at for your needs. Buy Once, Cry Once kgg