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Very nice work Strudell. I have a feeling I'm only over the border from you..

Sorry, I don't have anything in that small an spi at all, we start at 8 as a minimum and generally stitch at 10 or higher Charlie

I own some of nearly everything ;-) Modern Barnsley running up to their closing down is crude and built to a price. Modern Dixons less so. They went through a really bad spell and are getting better. Blanchard are more or less the last supplier of good pricking irons where your more or less guaranteed to get something good each time you buy. I have all three brands and use Blanchard more or less exclusively in production Charlie

They might be ok if old, modern Barnsley tools aren't in the Blanchard or Doxons league though Charlie They might be ok if old, modern Barnsley tools aren't in the Blanchard or Doxons league though IMO Charlie

Not at all, happy to help Charlie

Given leather thick enough for the strap to feel substantial enough in the hand it's definitly not vital to have the central layer, and I do make straps without as well. The raised effect you get with it is attractive though and that's its point so I'd only use a thin piece, never the whole width of the strap Hope that helps! Charlie

They are quite slow and often make to order. Give them a ring and they'll be happy to help I'm sure Charlie

Hi, Glad to have been of help! If you have an area that can't be got at when the stitching has been done, like the area around the keeper I finish the edges of that area before the stitching. Its difficult to merge the two areas latter but theres no way I know of dying/finishing the bit around the keeper after you've sewn it in so its the way it has to be done I think, in the same way as the keeper itself is finished before its sewn in. I hope that helps, Charlie

Mart, I wouldn't mind some red. Not a colour a use a lot of so a little would be useful Charlie

Watch buckles? We get the from watch obsession in the uk, there are quite a few sources though Charlie

I have some and like them. My experience is their stuff tends to be as it should be when you get it Charlie

Thanks for the kind words We use bridle leather that we thin down more than anything else, but there are photos of French Calf and Goatskin as well in this thread. Theres never anything wrong with asking questions. This forum is an excellent resource, keep looking at photos of the type of thing you want to make and reading threads from those making that kind of stuff, theres a huge amount of info here if you piece it together. The thing that all the true craftspeople have in common (and there are many better than me here) is attention to detail, patience, and the desire to make the next thong you make better than the last thing you made. If you want to make beautiful things and you have the patience to learn and take the time to make something properly its not beyond anyone capable of operating the tools IMHO. HTH Charlie

That strap used 532 Lin Cable in Marron I think Charlie

Depends which leather, but generally direct from the tannery. We also buy via Abbey in the uk

Thanks John - seen your work as well which is all good stuff. The company is Equus Leather Charlie

These are lovely - very interested to see the making of photos when you have time :-)

Fair enough, you can only speak as you find! I know one of the girls who works for us had to send a 1" 10 spi back 3 times to get a good one, but the good one is really rather nice. Ive always been a Dixons man but their oval hole punches of late have been so awful Im wondering wether to go the Blanchard route as well..

The quality of the Dixons stuff hasn't been great of late - I don't know if you have a recent Dixons iron there Macca but I haven't been impressed with their output recently..

Another one, this time in Gold Barenia Charlie

Exactly that

For use with a filiteuse and soft leather you want something like the edge finish from Beraud - its very effective but rather difficult and very time consuming in use. In England we still commonly use both glass for edges and a lot of the trade mixes their own edge finishes with powder dye and pearl glue still. I personally glass for multi layers of thick leather and its very effective. Charlie

Nice stuff - like them. Hand stitched? Charlie

Thank you - I work hard on making each one of something better than the last one I made and my own philosophy is that perfection is an unatainable goal, you always can and should do better. I am not a patient person so I struggle with not rushing! Charlie

Another quick photo, similar to the last I guess Oak bark tanned bridle leather, light brown Lin Cable, the edge finishing technique thats been discussed recently with the finish from Beraud Charlie

Hi Todd All hand cut. I think even if you used a clicker for the strap you'd have to punch the holes when the strap is assembled anyway. The chape is punched pre stitching of course but the holes for adjustment are the last thing I do HTH Charlie