barra

Now, Now. That will be enough of the disparaging comments directed at 6' tall bananas. I went to school with a guy who grew up to be a 6' tall banana called B2. True story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bananas_In_Pyjamas

This is the main style of stitch groover I use. I also have a tool that I was taught was called an American racer. From what I can gather it is like the Ron's tools style of stitch groover and I use it to groove free hand scrolls etc

Happy Birthday Beezachopper. I won't sing, it will make everyones ears bleed. Oh yeah, 63 was an exceptional year. Barra

Ok, pics I think. I stained the handle in a cup of tea and then oiled it with Ration pack butter. I then burnished the handle with a plastic dental floss pack. Came up OK I think. I have already worked out ways to make the blade easier next time. If Jimsaddler reads this. Are the motor bike spokes strong enough to use as seat awls. Don't they bend if you use them to lever some item in place. I can see how they would make good seat awls for shifting the stuffling in a serge lined saddle panel. Barra

After Jimsaddler's post about the non existant awl blades for finer bridlework and his mention of making his own blades. As I read it I vaguely remember the ol boss mentioning the same method as Jim. Anyhoo, today I decided to give one a go. I found an old wreck of a bicycle and cut off a spoke I then found an old broomstick and whittled an awl handle and then got some emery cloth and tidied it up a bit I then needed a ferrule and I went on the hunt for some scrap tubing. It then dawned on me where I could find some tubing for a ferrule. I then went back to the wrecked bicycle and cut out a bit of the frame and tidied that up with the emery cloth. I then fashioned the spoke into a diamond blade with a file and the emery cloth. I still think the blade needs a little polishing but it does punch out a rough diamond shape. I'll try a pic when I get back to my humble abode tonight.

Tempusfugit. The link I have attached is for an Australian company and is for illustration purposes. I am sure someone will be able to direct you to a local company that deals with the same sort of stuff. http://www.dmfasteners.com/ProductRange.htm Go to the hand tools link at the bottom. Product 708A is the hand die to make the holes to attach the clinch plate Product 952 is for the post/stud and Product 895 is to then attach the clinch plate for the post. All of these are whacked with a mallet. I have both versions of the kick press but to be honest IMO it is just easier to use the hand dollies. Barra

Good point about the neutralising Chuck. I will add just a slight word of caution. Now I realise that most are not going to use huge amounts of acetone but now that we are into the OHSA days we refer to this stuff as killa you dead chit. same as MEK we used to bath in the stuff. A lot of leather dye has acetone in it. I can not even enter one of those nail salons for the smell these days. Barra

The milk carton was almost the correct shape to start with and the plastic just the right weight. I did not worry too much on the neatness of the stitching on the holster as it was a prototype to test designs and theories here are a couple more pics. Sorry I have to be careful with any pic i take. I will try and get a neutral pic of the whole set up including chest rig being worn when it is all done. I might do a dive bag and a rifle carry bag too. Barra

Steve. I am going to try and get there. I e-mailed the LCSJ for a release of the workshops. no reply yet. Barra

http://www.lorenentz.com/images/artwork/saddlemaker250.jpg I should have said google image search

I found this under a google search for saddlemakers. I thought it pretty cool. Barra

I will endorse Troys' method as that is also the method I use. I just use the cheapest steel wool I can find. Jam a heap in a glass coffee jar and cover with the vinegar. I did have a very nasty accident when I knocked over the jar. The black blotch annoyed me so much I just took the rest and painted the whole bench top. Wood workers also use this formular on timber. The most common term I have heard it called is Ebonising. Barra.

Doug. I may be way off track and reading your post wrong. When trying to stitch around tight curves, you can walk the job around ie: form one stitch at a time by hand winding the balance wheel. Form one stitch, slightly lift the foot and re-align for next stitch by hand, form another and so on til around and on the straight again. Does your machine have the foot lifting pedal or a knee kicker. It can take a bit of getting used to, stitching where both feet have a job to do (kinda like driving a manual car after many years). Make sure the previous stitch is formed by ensuring that the needle is on the way up before making any turns. Another thing you might try is on the tight curves, stitch over a peice of reasonably firm "clear" plastic so you can see your stitch line thru. This helps with foot marring. When done, rip the plastic off. Barra

Tina. whatever you use it can be no worse than using an English inlet buckle or Pelham hook. my point being no matter what you use, if a horse is gonna break it, Its gonna break it. On a side note. I was taught that one of the beauties of good leather tack is that in an emergency, it is meant to break unlike nylon webbing getting used today with mega tensile strength. the biggest culprit to broken bridles/headstalls is people tying up via the reins

Ok. The drop leg holster rig. The whole thing is made from scrounged materials. I cut up a plastic milk carton for the stiffener. I then covered it in canvas and the Molle esq straps are from old packs/webbing. It is then mounted on a drop leg carrier, again made from canvas and old pack straps. I then made a dump pouch from the material from an old pack and the nylon draw string bag from a fold up chair. I then made a 2 magazine holder pouch. The only thing I did not make is the thumb break. The strap to attach the drop leg set up to the belt is made from an old aircraft shoulder harness. Then I made a 4 magazine drop leg holder for an MP5. I could not find a suitable material to bind the raw edges of the canvas so it is bound in inside out pile velcro. I cut 2" strips in half. Now the velcro binding does not like rounded corners/edges (no give), hence the MP5 mag holder is very square which was not my original idea. . Next is the chest webbing. It too will be canvas which is not ideal but I have no Reychelle mesh altho I have been looking at the mesh in that chair with love in my eyes. hmmmmmm.. Barra

Steve. I'm glad you posted the pics. Their cool. I love the oldies and history behind the old shops. Barra. I bought most of my tools from a man who did his saddlery and harness making apprenticeship with a little Adelaide (South Australian) firm called holden and frost. The first pic was taken about 1885 and he started in the early 1900's. The second and third pic is what they make now.

Now the stupid camera is being temperamental. They are on the camera but will not load to the computer.I then had to take pics with the inbuilt webcam. I'm not sure how they will turn out. I'll try and post them tonight. Barra

Experiment with bricklayers oxide powders, obtainable from the hardware mixed with alcohol as well as the barks etc. Barra

Daryl has been promptly replying to my e-mails and I'm in the Middle east with internet run by 2 hamsters named Eric and Marvin who run on fly wheels and live on scrap MRE's. Barra

Pictures. There lie eth my next criminal offence. Barra

I personally would find an alternative to the wing nut. every second stitch and the thread will find that wing nut as sure as my butt points to the ground. At the very least make some sort of leather flap to cover the nut. Barra

In Sydney there was a little stand that sold focaccia. the store was called HOW THE FOCACCIA

I too use the hexagonal cutter. Barra

the creative aquisitioning and material location re-alignment process is nearly complete. Special thanks go to an un named foreign Government. (un named so as to protect the guilty) Barra

A sign up in your shop saying Free leathergoods to the value of $1000 given away tomorrow (The sign is always up). Barra