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Tapering the end of the thread works for heavy linen thread, but not for synthetics. For linen I wax the thread, ends and all, after making the tapered ends. The wax will help keep the thread from slipping through the eye of the needle. However, most of my hand sewing is done with bonded nylon thread from my sewing machine. For hand sewing I wax the nylon thread and rub the wax with heavy wrapping paper to smooth it out. I use waxed polyester thread (0.04" = 1 mm) from the Maine Thread Co for some heavier jobs like sewing billets on a saddle. For that task I double the thread, tie a knot in the end, and use a single needle backstitch instead of a saddle stitch.

I refill a Barge quart can from a gallon can, adding Barge thinner as needed. Made a funnel from a 16 oz plastic bottle. What is everyone's favorite glue pot?

yea, i have a smaller glass weldwood bottle with a brush that I transfer to. You can also replenish the acetone as needed if it starts drying up. i usually put a bit in the can after opening it or transferring.

I replace the lid after I finish gluing an item. I also tap the lid around the edges with a mallet. Used to do a lot of plastic laminate work. Bought the contact cement in five gallon buckets. Also: I used latex contact cement on laminate, only use solvent based on leather.

OK? So are you guys popping the lid on wildwood glue each time you use it or are you transferring the glue to a different container and using a different type of applicator? I've been using barge quart cans with the applicator and a pair of channel lock pliers to get it open every time I need it. Is their a different more convenient method?

Your first version of this post said the feed dog was bent. Have you decided it's not? Maybe drop the foot and lower the needle to evaluate the position of all 3 (foot , feed dog and needle) to get a better idea what's going on.

My general impression is that a single blade and a basic Craftool knife eventually trade hands for around $50. That is perfect with no chips. Sometimes you will find the right buyer who will give $60-$70. It looks like from the pictures one of the straight blades is chipped. If so, that makes it a part of the team but sitting at the end of the bench. Two good blades - I'd think expect $80-$100.

Oh so you need to build complete panels from scratch? maybe use fiberboard or whatever it was like antique and vintage vehicles used. Look up some vintage restoration stuff to study the process. Also some newer panel building techniques where they use and shape foam, Ive watched some of those on utube when doing my MGB.

Sweeeeeet! Nice work!

I don't think Fred meant you to seach for your exact truck. Those metal mounting brackets are pretty generic; I've encountered them before on cars from different makes. Just look for panels with this kind of mount, saw the plastic mounts out of the scrap panels (take at least an inch around the mounts so you have room for screws), glue/screw them to your MDF board in the right positions, and finally upholster the MDF in leather.

I'm partial to elk horn myself lol.

I've been using a heat gun to "activate" contact cement - just a brief warming of the glued pieces before assembly. Bonds well with less cement so I have fewer problems with the glue interfering with burnishing edges. For some shaped pieces I case the leather lightly and shape the leather before applying the glue, and the heat gun treatment results in a better bond when the leather is damp. I'm using Barge cement but will probably switch to Weldwood in the future.

I do that as well, but one thing I do differently is that I keep two jars of contact cement, one of which is slightly thinner than the other. The thinner is for the first coat. I also work in a good tooth on the leather. The first coat must be dry; then apply the second coat. then I press and hammer together. The only contact cement I use is Bardge cement and thinner. I have never had a separation. Bardge contact is as strong as it gets.

For the base (black) I would use a pro dye instead of paint. The dye penetrates the leather where the paint will sit on top of the leather. You can still use your paint gun for it too. I can't tell for sure, but it doesn't appear the edges have been burnished. This will also help protect the leather over time. By burnishing the edges, it will seal them to prevent moisture from intruding into the leather, and it gives the piece a nice finished look. Nice job on the shield. Especially like the concho.

I use Welwood contact cement. I also have this other glues but Weldwood is awesome

I started with Barge contact cement and have tried some other leather glues, but always come back to Barge. It is probably similar to weldwood, but I am gonna stay with Barge.

oh man, that sounds good, the wife took us off pork and i love the stuff lol. Really missing bbq ribs and bacon and cracklings mmmmmmm.

Ritza tiger thread is good stuff it works great on outdoor gear as well as indoor. Any thread will wear and fail if you don't set it into a groove; that's the key for dog collars and such especially.

That's what I use too

I think the machine was produced till late fifties. Similar knob was also used in 238 but not in later 438. Such parts are not available any more, if you are lucky you can find sometimes something on ebay. Otherwise, just glue it together. I did this with the one I stupidly broke when cleaning the machine.

Thank you, I have those also lol. I ike these over hatchets because they are so light and the thin blade cuts better. They are excellent for backpacking or foraging. I have a sweet little double-bit hatchet that I carry sometimes when hunting also. LOL ironically, today is opening day of the season.

Thanks, yeah I heard that, so just how many folks over there are doing bad things with machetes to get them banned? The reason i made this was that i have a couple of cheap machetes that I cut down and found they are better suited for me that way. The grip finally broke on one of them, and I wanted one made a bit better so i used it as a pattern.

thanks, it came out better than expected. I've had this bottle for years, so didn't even know if it was still good, and it was an experiment that worked out for a change lol.

lol They are like pets here, they run around all over town. Its great to watch the fawns grow up every year. These just got their winter coats.

thanks