barra

Apparently no pic

here is what i like about keith's set up in no particular order. 1. He has said he has workstations, ie: there are dedicated benches for different tasks, stamping, cutting out etc 2. Great natural lighting 3. Place for everything and everything in it's place 4. tools can be had from the tool boards and when using the draw down he can place the tool down either side within arms reach 5. Draw down central 6. Benches look like they are a good height (benches should suit the individual so as to minimise bending) 7. Benches look solid 8. power tools handy 9. stamping bench built so you can sit or stand to stretch your legs/back 10. workshop is segregated from his retail. He still has the option to invite customers up or be left to work in peace. Segregating workshops from the general public can have health, safety and legal implications. 11. dedicated tool board that to me looks like the sides are on hinges to enable it to be closed. Over the years I used to think that in order to look like a saddler you needed lots of tools on backboards on your main bench. I now find that clutter is avoided if only the tools you religiously go for are out. Others can stay on tool boards like Keith's or in tool boxes. You still know where it is on the one day of the year it is needed. I made canvas tool rolls and categorised the tools. awls, edge tools etc. Only my everyday favourites are out permanently. the tools are still easily accessable and protected from damage and rust causing humidity. In summer the tool rolls go in a box and I throw in some toilet rolls which absorb any moisture. Eventually I would like a tool board like Keith's. When made I can press stud/turn button the tool rolls in place. I have one tool roll inside a grab and go tool box. that has the must have tools for any job. Generally speaking this one tool roll is permanantly open on the bench till I want to go somewhere. Attached is a pic of a canvas magazine holder I made. The categorised tool rolls are the same principal.

A passable dauber can be had by substituting the thick engineering felt with thick carpet underlay (free offcuts from the carpet store). Cut the long straight section out of a wire coat hanger. Spear it through the thickness of the underlay, bend over the wire and squash it in a vice. To fashion a handle you can just bend over the other end to give yourself something to grip or semi sharpen the end and twist on a cork. Barra

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Wor...rkshopHome.aspx I was once in a newsagent and saw a wood working magazine that had the most amazing workshop. I think you would glean many an idea from similar magazines. I'd have natural lighting that could be changed via windows or skylights opening or closing depending on outside conditions. I like a place for everything and everything in it's place (to a point, it is a workshop). For years I went with the traditional backboard and tools mounted with leather straps. Now I have a shelf at the back, still within arms reach and I have drilled various holes with auger bits. The smaller tools are at the front and the longer ones at the back. Similar tools are still in groups together. I also have my hand sewing threads in jars with plastic lids. Each lid has an SP1 eylet to feed the thread out of. I like peg board and plastic maxi bins for storage. On the front of my bench I have an adhesive 1 metre /36" ruler I obtained from my sewing machine mechanic. This is the type they stick on sewing machine tables. My bench top has a false top and slide out draws are installed like the pull out cutting boards you see in kitchens. If it were me and space was not a major concern I would have my bench mounted tools on a seperate bench to my main cutting or sewing bench. I like being able to have a completely flat surface with no bumps in the way. As a compromise I have mounted my splitter and rounder via clamps and can still have them firmly on the bench but removed in seconds. IMHO the best thing in the workshop is adhesive velcro. All my round and head knife pouches are stuck where I can get to them easily with a strip of pile on the wall or bench and hook on the pouch. This makes it very easy to move if I change my mind. I also have stuff stuck on my draw down stand with velcro. You can even use an old blanket stuck to a wall (this is in effect a huge peice of pile velcro) and attach items to it with the hook. If you are in a store that installs kitchen cabinets or just other businesses in general you will get many ideas from how things are made and or set up. If you have a phone camera, take a snap.

Not my actual bench Roo, just an example of what I use as the basic framework. My bench is up and/or down in 5 min and I'm away. I do home brew though. Not that hard core that I Keg or use a mash tun. Just plain Coopers kits. Barra

It would depend on how much the item is outside Nylon is more water resistant but sunlight degredation is it's enemy. didn't we all drive a poo box as our first car and the seat belts (if fitted at all) were hard and brittle. That's Nylon and sunlight degredation. ever had a kids trampoline outside and the stitches gave up the ghost or had a tonneau cover with rotted stitching. again more than likely nylon and sunlight degredation. Let me see what hard core government documentation I can tap into when I'm on shift tonight EG ASTM Barra

Hilly. Your one up on me. Took me forever to get used to hand stitching without putting the awl down. well done. Barra

I use this type of shelving as my basic bench framework. One set of shelves assembled in 2 halves are used with the narrow ends facing me. I then place a wooden top between the 2. With this type of unit you can mix and match. You can have shelves or benches and they can be set up to suit all sorts of workshops. i have then set up tool storage on the back and sides. you can then bolt ply sheets all over it to add hooks, more shelves, plastic maxi bin storage etc. With the holes every inch or so you can also attach drawer runners inside. this stuff is strong and while I find it stable as it is, you can add more support beams or bolt the whole frame to a stable wall. Space permitting I would use more and make a cutting bench in the middle of a workshop. You can get it from the large chain hardware stores Bunnings - Aust Home depot/Lowes - US I went with this option as I move regularly and I can knock the bench down and reassemble easily. I need to be able to sit at the bench and have my knees under as I sew with Clams 50 per cent of the time and If shelves or drawers are on the front face I am too far from being within arms reach of most of my tools. Barra

You should be able to get just the bare vest with no pockets or attachments. People then add whatever pockets depending on what job they have and need to carry. Leave it with me and I will do some research and try and find more links. Barra

Bruce. Ummmmm yeah I went to oakdalecowboymuseum.org and went thru the links. There are so many puns and there ALL wrong on so many levels. Make sure all these youtube segments are saved. I can not watch them from here. Last time I watched the miller saddlery video segments I nearly faced the firing squad for blowing some download quoto thru the roof. Andrew

Hi David. I just went to your website and here is my opinion for what it is worth. It is clear, concise and to the point. In a nutshell is shows who you are, what you do and what you are capable of. All to often you come across websites that you need a science degree to navigate. You are then left with the they lost me and what were they on about running thru your mind. Yours does not do that and just cuts to the chase. I think websites need to be created to the market. If your selling hi tech computer gadgetry then chuck in all the bells and whistles. If your selling bike seats, show me bike seats not your computer prowess. I like the font chosen for David Theobald, simple yet eye catching. I LOVE how leatherworker.net gets pride of place on the favourite links list. Well done. Barra

TM. I couldn't resist. Can everyone tell that I have entered the ground hog day phase of this deployment. Barra

Metho is short for methylated spirits. You guys call it denatured alcohol. Barra

هبّي بيرثدي] إلى أنت. [هبّي بيرثدي] إلى أنت. [هبّي بيرثدي] إلى كلّ من من أنت. سعيدة [بيرهتدي] إلى أنت Happy Birthday guys. Do you realise that if you all dawdled a little bit entering the world $$hobby(47) would be 11.75 years old Don101(41) would be 10.25 years old Beaverslayer(51) would be 12.75 years old and moriver(54) would be 13.5 Barra

Caroline. I have in the past used Waproo spirit dye. I would get a lot of rub off from Raven oil so was more fond of the waproo. I believe it is now owned and or made by Joseph Lyddy (Aussie version of Fiebings). I too do much the same thing as Rod and make my own dyes. Metho (Methylated spirit) is denatured alcohol. Barra

JESUS, MARY and HOLY ST. JOSEPH.

I'm from Adelaide South Australia and learned from Ken howard. the pic is of the Coopers brewery clydesdales and Mike Keogh Barra

Without trying to hijack the thread, here is treeless saddles according to Barra. I in no way profess to be an expert and i welcome anyone to prove me wrong. Now while it is stating the obvious that the horse and human sceletal system is different. i don't feel it is that vastly different. I too know what it is like to be a beast of burden just like a horse. I have been an Infantry soldier in my younger days. I have carried huge weights in Packs with no frame (tree) and carried the same weights in a pack with a frame (tree). I know which I preferred. P.S. Don't restrict my shoulders, I needed them to function in my task. Barra

Jim. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Hand rolled hemp threads rolled on a thread apron made from an old sweat flap and old belt. As an apprentice i was the sewing machine and knife sharpener and can honestly say I have fond memories of stitching gig traces. When you can stitch 4' an hour at 8 SPI (neat and NO dead sailors) then you can hand stitch BOY. I used to look at the clock and go like the wind for an hour and then measure the distance and keep trying to better it. I'd have all my threads pre made and just have to put on the needles. He could stitch accurately and consistantly with no prick marks (just by eye). Something to aim for BOY Now while I did not make the actual set in the attached pic. When I was an apprentice we made some of the original harness for the this teamster Barra

Only on weekends mate. During the week we fly in Aircraft. However being an inventive lot (We Aussies invented the black box before some one else coloured it orange) we have discovered a way to fly in aircraft and ride kangaroos at the same time.

Well were over the great flood of 2008 where everything leaked like a sieve. I am sure I had more water inside than out so had to drill drain holes in the floor. Now it is warm, not yet 50 degrees C but won't be far off. Now it is just dry and dusty. From somewhere in the Sandy place. Barra

yes the link does not work but I get the idea. I am in military aviation and specialise in safety and survival equipment. this also entails manufacturing components out of numerous materials including canvas. Now thinking just outside the square, picture an item similar to the one in the link but minus all the pockets and other extranious hung on crap. It would just be a bare shell, would not restrict movement and be washable. http://www.opsgear.com/MOLLE-Heavy-Assault...st-p/cn-mvp.htm Barra

well it sounds like it is going off because you can roll it off the item you put it on and it has adhered other items. Sounds like the smooth grain side of the leather needs to be roughed up to give you good adhesion. you can use a knife point, broken glass, course sandpaper, wire welders brush etc to rough it up Barra

Rayban. I'm not sure what you mean by "ID" eyelet but may I suggest you also search under the name grommet. Some sellers call them eyelets, some grommets. Also try under motor trimmer/canvas work suppliers and fasteners. Barra

there are many varieties of 3m spray adhesive. Some stick like poo to an Army blanket instantly. we use a fair amount of 3m adhesives trimming aircraft panels and without going through the adhesive storage locker, I think from memory 75 allows you to reposition before it goes off/cures Barra <---------------- Ya don't think a teeny tiny company like 3M has a website http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_U...SbeSC2785KN7Pgl