Northmount

I assume that is the bottom side you are showing. Loops on the bottom mean not enough tension on the top. You need to adjust the tension so the knot is pulled into the middle of the leather. If it is coming through to the top side, yo have too much top tension. If it is on the bottom side, there is not enough top tension. There are many posts here about how to set the tension. Do a search and read them. Proper threading of the machine makes a huge difference. Make sure it is threaded correctly. That includes how the thread comes off the top of the spool. Any binding as the thread comes off the spool increases the top tension. So until you get the thread stand issue fixed, you won't be fully successful at setting the tension. You can re-arrange the thread stand you have to place the spool platform much lower near the table. Then take a coat hanger and fashion it to fit the pole and form an eye directly over the centre of the spool. Tom

Cut your blank a little narrower so it doesn't rub on the buckle. Skive the buckle end, dampen, then form the belt around the buckle. Then do the painting and finishing. Paint doesn't stretch when the belt is bent sharply. Nice belts! Tom

Don't hit it really hard. You will get a lot farther with soft taps. Hitting it hard will likely produce a bend that messes it all up. Learned this from my Dad when I was about 12 years old. That is a long time ago! Before we had all these fancy tools. Just a cutters and a ball peen hammer. Tom

If it is in a plastic bag, sealed, and kept cool, it shouldn't dry out (where would the moisture go?). Make sure it is cool enough that it doesn't go moldy. Tom

Do an experiment, hold the iPad in different positions to figure out which way makes the photos post right. Apple products and some other cameras store XIF data with the photos and some software reads that and will display the photo the direction you took it. Most webpages ignore the XIF data. And, great note pad cover! Tom

Make sure the leather is cased properly, then apply a little more pressure. Some lines you may want to bevel with a figure carving stamp / beveller like the crafftool F895 (there are smaller and larger versions). Tom

Looks like your adjustment is roughly centred. For the simple math part, draw a sketch to scale and reread the instruction. Tom

Mounting the bobbin winder is the last thing to do. Ignore the bobbin winder when sizing and installing your drive belt. Your belt length should be 2 x the centre to centre distance of the pulleys, plus 1/2 the circumference of the 2 pulleys. Position your motor about halfway in the adjustment range so you have space to install and adjust. The pulley size is the outside diameter of the pulley. Tom

I use Photoshop Elements 10. Has batch processing capabilities. I'm sure there are a lot of others that will do the same. I see that irfanview has watermark capabilities using an overlay. Have used it many times for batch conversions. Tom

A rubber hammer is too soft. Much of the impact is absorbed by the rubber. Need a good solid mallet or maul to use larger punches. A deadblow hammer works even though most have some rubber on the face. Tom

"Canadian Freightways are a bunch of idiots". I had no problems with them. And it was a residential delivery, set on the curb. It probably depends on the "nut" behind the wheel. Tom

I have some that is well over 50 years old. Was stored for years in a shed that was subject to hot summer days and -40 winter days. Still good. Tom

Looks like a number of suppliers no longer carry the machines or rolls. Tandy - discontinued, Tippman - discontinued Look for rolls at Bunkhouse tools Hand cranked embosser Tom

Have had a similar problem with veg tan. Scrubbed it with saddle soap, bleached with oxalic acid, smell is gone. Surface colour was inconsistent so that was why I bleached it, but it does help with the smell too. Tom

Even if the gears aren't marked for a mating position, shifting worn (even very slightly worn) will increase the noise level because the wear pattern has been disrupted. The higher the speed, the more noise. Tom

Cut a strip of leather about 1" (25 mm) wide, wrap it around a core, such as cord, plastic, etc. Stitch it together. There are special sewing machine presser feet available to help make a neat job. Can do it without, but is a little more difficult. Then assemble the bag inside out with the corded piece between the two pieces you are joining. You can take some scrap and try it out before you do the real thing. Experiment, get a feel for it. Practice. If you do a search you should be able to find some pictures to help understand the process. Often used in upholstery. Don't limit your search to leather. Tom

Increases outside presser foot pressure when you screw it down. It goes right thru the body and presses down on a long "leaf type spring". The left end of the spring rides on the outside presser foot inside the left end of the head. Open the end cover and trace the linkages. You can see where it goes. Tom

I had the freight company put the pallet with the machine on the curb in front of my house, then unpacked and carted the table, motor, head, etc. and moved them each with a 2 wheel cart into the house, and downstairs (6 steps) where I assembled it. Delivery was via a 40 ft. semi trailer with a lift. There was no extra charge. Hopefully, the machine your are receiving is packed similarly. If they can't place it on the curb for no extra charge, see if you can get 15 minutes and some help to un-crate quickly and place in a truck or on the curb and move components inside piece by piece. My back doesn't like me very well either, but I managed. My machine does have a lighter head than yours. I'm sure you can get a couple friends to hang around for a few hours if they know your needs. Tom

Called filligree Tom

Free shipping, or there is a fee for shipping? I assume it's a typo, but just want to clarify. Tom

Please read this link and post pictures http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=70 Tom

I've had some really smelly veg tan hides from Tandy. Had to scrub them with saddle soap and bleach with oxalic acid to eliminate the smell. They were cheap hides with lots of range marks. Good for doing prototypes, but the smell was sickening. Tom

Several months ago there was a thread here looking for rectangular slot punch for watch straps. Seems to me they found one. So it looks like a search is in order for you to find it. Tom

Very nice, even if you don't feel like making more right now, I'm sure you will later. But I agree, after making the same sort of thing several times, it is nice to move on to something else for a time. Tom

If the article is kept dry, not allowed to become sweaty or other moisture causes, very little verdigris should occur. I have some leather harness that is many years old. The copper rivets don't show any verdigris. Yet other work has been moist enough to begin "growing" the green stuff! Tom