Northmount

This story carries on from the previous one. Every 2 years after buying a new bull, granddad would trade bulls with the dairy farm 3 or 4 miles away on the opposite side of the city. They didn't have nice cattle haulers like today, so would walk the bulls through downtown between 4 and 5AM while all was quiet. As they were walking past the Eatons Department Store (Canadian competition to Sears Robuck in those days), the bull saw his reflection in the big plate glass windows and started pawing and snorting, ready to go after the bull in the window. Granddad got between the bull and the window, trying to hold the bull by the horns, trying to push him away. He was pressed up pretty tight against the window before his helpers could distract the bull and lead him away from the window. You know the old saying about a bull in a china shop; this came pretty close! Tom PS If you have some bull stories you wish to add to this thread, you are welcome to post them.

One story always leads to another. First story is part of this thread. So instead of continuing to hijack the OPs thread, new post to continue with more stories. My grand parents operated a dairy farm in Medicine Hat, Alberta, many years ago. It had to be wound up before I came along as granddad had a heart attack and they couldn't continue with hired hands. One day he was out in the corral, forking the manure into a wheelbarrow, and not paying much attention to the Holstein bull as he had not had problems with him before. All of a sudden, the bull charged and pinned him against the barn wall. The only thing that saved him was his dog heard the commotion and managed to distract the bull. School kids on the way to and from school had been teasing the bull, so that is probably the reason for the change in behavior. He decided it was time to get rid of the bull before anything else happened. Granddad and 2 of his brothers took the bull out into the field nearby and chained him to a railroad tie sunk 6 feet into the ground. All three had hunting rifles (single shot) and all shot the bull at the same time. He pulled the tie out of the ground and charged. one of his brothers managed to reload and fire the saving shot. They butchered the bull and took the meat into the local butcher to sell. A couple weeks later granddad was back to the butcher shop and the butcher asked, "You remember that beef you brought in here last time?" Granddad thought oh no, he's going to complain about the beef, so sort of cautiously said "Yes" expecting a complaint about tough strong tasting meat. The butcher then said "Have you got anymore like that"? "It was the most tender and great tasting beef. I want anymore you can bring in." Tom

Call the Texas Attorney Generals office and file a complaint. It would be covered under wire and mail fraud since the check was sent through the mail. Tom

It sure wouldn't go through very far as assembled in the photo. A young Holstein bull we had paid no attention to a chain on his nose ring. Would put his head under the fence, stand up, and pull the posts out of the ground. Bolted planks across his horns so he couldn't get under the fence. He still managed to get loose. Found him at a neighbours' a mile across from us, terrorizing the poor fellow. The fellow was trapped in his garage. He would go to the man door to make a run for the house, and the bull would be there. He'd go to the big door, and the bull would be there! So he couldn't get to a phone to call for help. My brother took the little Ford tractor over, hooked onto his chain and led him home. We didn't keep him much longer after that. I have a couple more bull stories from my grandfather's dairy farm if anyone is interested. Tom

The thinner the leather, the harder it is to pull the knot on larger diameter threads into the centre of the leather (especially single layer). The stitch groove gives you even less thickness to deal with. The knot basically becomes as thick as the leather, so will be seen on either one side or the other. So either smaller thread and needle, or thicker or double layer leather, or no stitch groove. Experiment and see which works for you. Tom

They were used to try to save bloated cows. Cows that get into a lot of fresh hay when they are not used to it. Stick them one hand width behind the last rib where the stomach is basically preening against the skin. When I was about 10 or 12, a cow got into a bunch of frozen potatoes and bloated up real big. Dad stuck her with a pocket knife. Then had to insert a plastic tube to keep it open. Foamed lots, yeast and potato grow well. Had to keep cleaning it out every few hours. It bubbled for about a month before it healed up. Would have been nice to have the trocar. Think it was the same cow that got into the hay yard a couple years later. Found her too late to do anything for her. Tom

You may use the pattern as many times as you wish to make items to give away or for sale. You do not have the right to make and sell or give away copies of the pattern to others. That is what is copyrighted. You will see some magazines that say you can make/build the items in magazines where patterns, drawings, instructions are given for your own personal use, but cannot sell the items. That is false, but they use it to try to reduce the quantity of goods in the same market as the original creator. Copyright does not limit the number of items constructed, given away, or sold that are based on that pattern. Tom

If it is listed as a strap or belt blank, I would expect to see the width and length. Else must be a chunk of leather suitable for making straps or belts. Tom

Prospective purchasers would like know where you are located. Tom

Put a piece of 1.5 inch pipe in a vise and use it as the anvil to set the rivets. Tom

A lot depends on the thickness of the leather, whether wet or dry, what allowance you wish to make for pulling the stitches up tight as to whether you leave a gap because it is too short, or a less than tight fit if its too long. Thin leather, I would not bother trying to cut angled. Experiment and find what works the best for you, then stick with it. Tom

Research how to books, including those on Tandy's website, buy a couple. Study out what you want to make, including the kind of tools required to make it. Then go look for just the tools needed and the leather you need. Research some more here as well, especially where hand sewing is involved. There are many approaches to use. Don't be pushed into more than you need for your current project. You can add a few things as you go along. You can find a lot of information here, but sometimes knowing the right terms to search for make it hard to find what you want. Here is some information on hand stitching using a minimal number of tools, using what you have on hand at home. Look at post 19. This is just an example of what you can do thinking outside the box and looking at the implements you have at hand. Working this way will save you some money at the start, and get you started. Then you can go get the better tools, etc. Tom

Cut the leather long, wrap around the pipe, hold tight, cut both layers together in place. The edges' angles should fit correctly. Tom

Recheck the top thread path for correct threading. Is the thread properly under the check spring. Replace the needle if you haven't already. Make sure the bobbin is installed correctly and the correct rotation. The machine is having trouble pulling the top thread back up. Try a larger needle. Tom

Glue with the journal folded half closed so the lining doesn't pucker when folded closed. And will stretch some when fully opened. Tom

Welcome. Looks like you are off to a good start. Tom

$120 USD plus $27 USD shipping. (Sep 30) Tom

Take a look at this thread as well, depending on your usage and work. Tom

Make sure you are using Vegetable Tanned leather. Other types of tannage will not behave for you, and will not in most cases retain the stamp impressions. Proper casing is necessary to both swivel knife cuts and for stamping. A couple other threads that may be of help to you are http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=64096&hl=+casing%20+carving&page=1 and http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=66536&hl Takes practice, looking at others work and examples, and more practice. Keep at it, it will get better. Tom

The 15 A plug is all that is needed. The 20 A plug is a twist lock, which don't pull apart as easily, so is nice to use. And as you can see, the 4th wire neutral wasn't used and does not need to be wired. Tom

Fixed the title for you, peace > piece Tom

Green/yellow wire is safety ground. Blue and brown are both hot. Your home service panel is 110-0-110. The 0 is neutral. Connecting to the two 110 v leads gives you 220 v. Your breakers for 220 are double or paired. So you basically connect to the double breaker, which is 220. And yes this is all single phase. A motor nameplate that says single phase is single phase (unless the nameplate was changed, and you can see if it has been tampered with). If you are unsure about doing this bit of wiring, hire an electrician to fab your extension cords / adapters and to do the hookup. Tom

Moved from Help Wanted to Wanted. Might get more action there and doesn't require moderator's approval to be seen. Tom

Hey, pretty nice! Welcome to the forum and the addiction. Tom

Yup, thinner thread in the same size needle makes it easier to pull the knot up, so would as you found require a decrease in top tension. Lots of playing and practice will go a long ways toward "making the machine" behave. Overcomes the operator error problem. Tom