Northmount

Most new sewing machine users have trouble with controlling speed on a clutch motor, so yes, a servo, and for their cost is the way to go. A VFD on a clutch motor does give you a range of speed control, but not nearly as convenient as a servo with speed control from the pedal. A VFD on an induction motor losses a lot of torque at low speeds, and tends to increase the running temperature of the motor. It's not a fix all! If you need low speed torque, get a servo with internal 3:1 gear reduction. You'll be much happier than with a clutch motor on a VFD for similar amount of money, or less. Toledo Industrial has servo with gear reduction. Tom

If you see the knot on the top side, you need to reduce the top tension a little so the knot is hidden between the top and bottom. (A little hard to do sometimes with thin material.) Tom

OK, who built it? Rod or Denise or both of you? I can only dream of doing such work! Tom

The right way to do business, respect for the customer, straight forward information and discussion, honesty, and the customer developed respect for you. This is what we should all be striving for. I'm impressed. Tom

Always keep your awl at the same angle, in two planes, the angle of the slit and perpendicular to the surface of the leather. If not always perpendicular, the backside will wander. Tom

WOW! That is a huge amount of work, awesome, Tom

Yup! That is the principle of a rotary converter. Good job. Tom

Great work, really nice. Tom

Really great job! Gives me an idea too about making something smaller than a 20 ton hydraulic press ... Gearbox, eccentric, ... Tom

Some so called carpal tunnel is actually nerve problems starting in the shoulder. I know people that have had the surgery a couple times, with no relief. There are clinics that can evaluate the causes and provide exercise and relief for those that are not truly carpal tunnel. Many repetitive strain injuries can be helped with proper exercise, and for those that aren't suffering from RSI yet, do some research to find the exercises and prevention methods to keep your arms and hands healthy. Tom

All this discussion below is with respect to AC induction motors. In a 3 phase electrical circuit, each of the phases is 120 degrees offset from the others. If 220 (normally 208) VAC is the phase to phase to phase voltage, and the circuit is "Y" connected, the centre point of the "Y" (which may or may not be grounded) is 120 VAC from the centre point to any phase terminal. Take the phase to phase voltage and divide by the square root of 3 (which is 1.732) to determine phase to neutral voltage. Delta connected 3 phase equipment has no neutral; "Y" connected has a neutral centre terminal, though it might not be visible or connected externally. Wikipedia probably has diagrams showing circuits and electrical wave forms if you want to delve further into 3 phase circuits. Normal North American 220 VAC household or residential circuits are single phase. The centre tap in the transformer is grounded neutral, so you have 110 to 0 to 110 VAC, or 220 VAC across the outside terminals. For single and three phase circuits, you should try to balance the loads across the system. And by the way, if power is lost on 1 phase of a 3 phase circuit, motors may continue to run, low on output power, and overheating. This is called single phasing. Not a good circumstance to be in. 3 phase motors will not start when single phased. But if you spin the shaft, it may continue to run, whichever direction you had spun it. 3 phase motors do not have a starting winding. Single phase motors require a starting winding. Tom

Ever try Skype to do some one on one? Might be worth a try. Tom

You can get aluminum foil tape, just pull off the backing and stick it on. I don't think bending is a problem. Foil just needs to be on both sides of the card. Cover the inside with thin lining leather. Should be able to do much the same as card slots, but deeper with just a small thumb notch. Tell the owner to always slide the card into the pocket chip end first. Tom

Saddle stitching threads keep alternating sides. Only on machines or sewing awls do you have a thread that's only on top and one that is only on the bottom. (Lock-stitch) On thin leather, just barely snug up the thread else it will cause wrinkles along the stitch line. Tom

Nice! Do you build your own trees too? Tom

Makes me think of Charlie Russel paintings. Very good to see. Tom

Nice job. Unique Tom

Yup! Use stationery store type rubber cement. Barges rubber cement won't pull off! Have to cut it off. Don't ask me how I know! Tom

Any tube that is bent either has to wrinkle on the inside of the bend, or stretch on the outside of the bend since the inside radius is less than outside. Depending on how the leather is finished, and what type of tannage it is, you can dampen the leather on the outside radius where the lacing and join is, then stretch and form the outside radius to make the handle curve the amount you want it to be. Then it needs to be held in that position till it dries. Depends to on the risk you are willing to take on an expensive bag. Tom

Add some red dye, or blue dye, see which gives the colour you a trying for. Tom

Dental X-rays are too small! Unless he had a patient with a huge mouth! Tom

I chucked mine in a 4 jaw chuck on a wood lathe. Lined it up and drilled the 1/2" hole running the lathe at a slow speed and adding a little cutting oil. (It was too big for my mini metal lathe). Worked out quite well. So if you know someone with a wood lathe, he might be willing to help. I laid out a couple old towels to catch the oil drips and cutting so there's no oil on my lathe. Tom

There have been a number of posts on this subject, one a few days ago. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=48815&hl=casing Hope this helps Tom

Remember that as high pressure air is reduced to low pressure, the expanding air cools. You notice that when you release air from your tires. So you need to find a balance between volume of air, and the pressure drop across the nozzle. Start with a small nozzle and maybe 10 bar air pressure. Depends on your compressor. If it is running about 3 bar, that is probably better cost wise since energy costs are higher when compressing air to a higher pressure. If the small nozzle doesn't provide enough cooling, then drill it out to the next size up and try it again. For people using English units, 1bar = 1 atmosphere (14.6954 psia). Tom There are also vortex air coolers if you want to get fancy!

You can form Kydex and fit it into your molded design for support. It's light weight and can be glued in with barge contact cement. Rough up the smooth surface with 80 grit sandpaper. The Kydex might even do for wet molding your leather. Tom