jimmybaby

Instructions for making standing single seam knife sheaths, CD, DVD, VHS, text, or any other form. Plus any patterns for same. HALP! jimmybaby@peoplepc.com

The first thing to do is to determine how long your strap has to be from button to button. If your customer has an old one you can measure, you're ahead of the game. If not, get him, his guitar, and yourself together with a piece of twine, rope, an old belt, or a piece of scrap, and see where it hangs to be comfortable for your customer. If your design is to be one piece, you're off to a flying start and just have to figure how to decorate it, if at all. You need to leave either 3/4 or a full inch of leather beyond the button hole and you might want to think about reinforcing the hole, depending on the weight of your leather. If you're going to put a buckle on it, find out before you cut anything just how wide the buckle is going to be. Then you can allow for turn-back to hold the buckle (and keeper?) and how much of an over-lap for the tongue. Keep in mind that you don't have to make it the same width for the full length: you can taper the ends like on a belt. Some of my most popular straps have been two or two and a half inches wide tapered to a real fancy buckle set. Engraved silver (plate or over-lay or solid) really sparkles under stage lights. Heel bar or center bar will work. Don't even consider a plaque type (trophy) buckle. They have a tendency to come un-hooked during performance. I hope this helps. Have fun. JimB

Can anyone help me with a pattern or visual instruction on how do make a standing single seam knife sheath with frog and drag? I think I got the first part okay but the frog and drag have me stumped. Help, please. JimB

Wish I had thought of the heavier plates but, in ignorance of what I was doing, I had no idea there would be a problem in that area. My 12T press came from Harbor Freight, the plates from Weaver for their 6T press. In cutting canteen covers with circular dies, both top and bottom plates are sway-backed. If I had had this place to look to, I might have avoided this particular problem. JimB

I found a little LED light that has a magnet on the back. I put it on my sewing machine and point it at the presser foot. Jess' rite. JimB

Hey, Noah. I've seen a couple of postings of yours and thought I'd get in touch with you. I don't know how to get in touch directly with you or how to tell you to get in touch with me but, I have a small leather operation and can possibly help you both your quests. And I'm in AZ.

I had the same idea. I really soaked the holster, then sprayed WD-40 all over the piece, then wrapped it in plastic wrap, then forced it into the holster, watching the main seam for placement. If the piece is set in a sunny window, it will dry rapidly, but I don't know if that's a good idea. If it's just set where it will receive an air current of any kind, it will eventually dry. One has to watch it closely and,as it starts getting drier, to pull the piece and replace a couple of times, then leave it some more. One will help the process by turning the piece over every so often. One thing I didn't care for was the imprint the bottom of the plastic would leave on the holster. And I couldn't keep the machine going. When my 3rd Foodsaver quit, I quit trying to use it.

Last night I was cruising around on the inter-net when I came across the name of this site. I clicked on it and it was like Aladdin and his "Open Sesame". I've seen other sites for the leather worker but none like this one. After going through the forum far about 2 or 3 hours, finding good info and good sources, I had to register. I've been doing leather since high school, 195@#*$^, and I know I have a lot of info that others may be able to use. But, not denying self interest, I saw a lot of stuff that I have wanted to know about for a long time and felt I had no where to go to find it. So, up front, I'm going to ask your tolerance and forebearance ' cause I know I'm going to make a pest of myself. Yee Haah, and happy tooling !