Matt S

Yes that's the original manual, and one for the Singer 45k. I'll see if he has the tub for the bobbin waxer. I read your thread a few times, don't think I'll going to strip mine as thoroughly as yours, I'll never get the thing in fettle again!

Haven't picked it up yet (have to figure how to get it into a hatchback... She'll be right if I take the head and feet off the stand I reckon) so the detailed photos have to wait till next week. The winder seems to be missing its inner wax pot, but otherwise intact, including the gas jet. There's a top wax box but no other waxing gear, flat table, a box of bobbins, needles and feet, and some various manuals.

Well I'm excited, just bought a BUSM/Pearson #6! Came with bobbin winder and round-rein attachment, as well as some feet (not sure if they're prickers or needle steadies yet). Probably have to sell the Adler to make space for it... (Anyone interested in an Adler 67?)

There is a seller on eBay who offers new-made tools, I suspect, made by the same oldboys that used work for Dixon's. I'll dig you out a link when I get home.

Sew or rivet the holster to the belt before sewing it closed is my guess. Lots of Australian knife sheaths/pouches done this way. Alternatively, so long as you have the holes punched before closing it, you might be able to reach inside the mouth with a rivet squeezer or anvil bick after the holster is closed but before it's moulded.

What sort of shotgun? SxS coachgun or 32" trap auto make for very different scabbards... Al Stohlman's third book has several sections on designing scabbards and cases to fit guns of various designs.

What sort of holsters and sheaths do you make? The thickness of each layer of leather is not so important as the total thickness. If you make sheaths out of three layers of 8oz that's going to be 3/8" of veg tan, which is substantial for a machine. There are many machines which can handle that thickness and more, but most will not. When looking for such a machine you can find inexpensive (under $1000), you can find machines that do what you want and you can find machines fast but you are not likely to find all of these in one.

As CW Knight said, most pick guards are shielded from electrical noise. Why not kill two birds with one stone and cement the leather blank to some aluminium sheet? Doesn't need to be very thick to provide some additional stiffness.

I have one of them 6" Cowboy pull skivers. With the blade well stropped I can usually split 4" without stretching, so long as the leather is on the firm side. That's enough for the occasional few wallets but if making more I find it better to buy it the right thickness to start with, or send it out to be split.

Forget the gum trag. Smooth your edges with fine sandpaper if it's not even, then moisten and allow to half-dry before burnishing. When burnishing apply minimal pressure and move as fast as you can. Moisten using plain water, spit, diluted PV glue, wallpaper paste or weak gum arabic solution.

I would use either the saddle stitch or the back stitch. 8 or more SPI. 18/3 linen or a similar-sized braided polyester (0.4 or 0.6mm). You don't tie off stitches, you back-stitch.

Constabulary and jimi I take your points concerning the age and unknown state of the machine. Yes I do like tinkering but I'm going to need this machine to work. As you say feed dogs and needle plates are really available. Reproduction needle clamps are available from China. The seller has some feet available for £30 each which is more reasonable but I wonder why he hasn't put one on this machine to increase its value. It has a shuttle and apparently the machine turns over without binding or sticking.

Aye jimi that's the one. Been on for a while so I'm trying to negotiate a price with the seller. Is it not a k5 then?

How about a stack of washers on a bolt with scalpel blades wedged between them?

Ah interesting point I hadn't considered -- would the presser bar be a different size or style to a foot-type machine? The parts list describes the K5 as identical to the K1, except for the roller assembly being substituted for the presser foot. No different presser bar or indeed any other part than those of the roller assembly are listed.

Looking at buying a 45K5 missing its presser foot. Generic industrial lockstitch feet look like they'll work, or could be fettled to work -- as I was advised by a technician. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

The front and back/top are 2.5-3mm shoulder, the gusset is 2mm belly. Makes each seam about 5mm thick so quite manageable. Yes bridle-finish was originally developed for use with horse gear, which is why it is firm, supple and water-resistant. These all make for great properties for general leather goods such as trouser belts, bags, cases, satchels... if you split it down it makes for great wallets and watch straps too. This stuff is from the last pit-tannery in the UK.

That's a nice looking bag, and a lot of stitches. Stitching in the gusset to one of these usually takes me about an hour. That's only 60" of stitching at 7 SPI. The whole lot is English bridle leather, the high tallow content makes for a beautiful and functional bag but glues don't hold it much and the corners are super-fun, what with having to bend 90 degrees in two planes. You can't quite see it in the photo but the gusset is one long piece. 1" per minute is usual for me unless the leather is thicker than 1/2". Awls are fast but they require some practice, they need to be sharp and they need to be smooth. Tandy awls are, apparently, absolute junk. Can't say I've ever had the pleasure. (Yes the upside-down buckle got corrected before the customer picked it up! :-p )

A messenger bag took you 28 hours of stitching? I'd better buy those Tandy irons cos single gusset satchels only take me an hour to stitch with an awl. Maybe, if I practice real hard I can get it up to 28 and become an expert like you.

I think 18/3 linen is around 0.6mm. if so, lots of choice available. I'll check when I get to the workshop in the morning.

Am I correct in thinking it's a mysterious grade of stainless? If so I wouldn't touch it. The one LePrevo list is, IIRC, a Woodware/Barnsely 5" for £24+VAT. Abbey do the same thing for £18+VAT.

Tried any Sedgwick's or Baker's?

Fiebing Tanners Bond? Can get it from the usual sources.

This pattern works very well for passports. Thanks, JLS!

I made a mate of mine a 3" ranger belt for his modern quickdraw holster. Next time I saw him in the pub he loved it so much he was holding up his jeans with it... Sans pistol of course. I never did ask where he found jeans with such big loops.