TooManyHobbies

Thanks for all the replies. I'll admit I didn't quite follow all of the suggestions. So, let me consolidate my thoughts on what I took from the suggestions. 1. Trace top section, and cut out. Tool design. 2. Cut strap with about 3-4" of overhang. 3. Lace together sections of strap and top. 4. Attach whole thing to saddle wetting the sides, wet forming as I go. (Would you suggest Rivets or Staples?) Is that about right? What type of lace would you reccomend. I gather that Roo lace is best, but also pricey.

Hey all.. I'm not a biker, but I am really diggin some of the styles in this genre. So, after browsing 40 some odd pages of this subforum. I had an idea. I want to do a leather saddle with matching tool bag and handles on my beach cruiser. I am just not sure how to go about it. I've seen lots of the WIP and tutorial threads, so I have some ideas. But wondering if you experts have any thoughts. I am a relative begginer, but have many of the tools I think I need to do this, and a shoulder of HO 6/7 oz vegtan begging for a project. Seat: The saddle I have on there now is triangle shaped as shown below. Its just vinyl over some foam stappled into the plastic seat pan (if you can call it that?) Option 1: Tool my design in leather cut to a shape closely approximating the vinyl already there. Staple or rivet that piece as I wet from to the saddle. Option 2: Try a laced version like many of the solo seats shown in this forum. Looks to be more difficult, and not sure if it would work as well with such a 3D saddle shape. I've never laced before either. Option 3: Something cool that you forum members suggest to me..

US Plastics? Because I was curious I checked and it was just under $100 for 24x48x1/2 of HDPE shipped to CA. If there is a Westmarine around you I think they have sheets of HDPE as they are often used in boating. Also, maybe check out a Resturant Supply store for large cutting boards. Those are just High Density Polyethelene (HDPE). Hope that helps.

Dwight and Rayban, Thanks for the suggestion on th belt sander. Sadly, I am apartment bound at the moment, or believe me I would have a belt sander by now. A proper garage is in cards for the near future, and will most likely be adding the Craftsman 2x42 at some point for various other reasons on top of leather needs. One of the reasons I am liking working with leather, is that I can actually work on it in the living room! haha. Obviously there are limitations (and messes to clean up), but less so than woodworking, metalworking or some of the other interests I've been holding off on.

Thanks for the responses. I will try the sanding tricks, and see how it goes. Its not so much leather removal that I think it will be obvious that I sanded some off. Will post pics when done.

Hello, First post after lots of lurking. One of my first projects that I am attempting (after several practice attempts on scrap) is to make a simple belt. I ordered a blank from Springfield 1 1/2", but found out that the roller buckle I also ordered (1 1/2") is just a little to narrow for the belt blank. How would you go about narrowing the belt blank? I do not yet have a strap cuttter. We are talking no more than 1/16" or so. But it seems just enough to cause trouble. Would burnishing and edging take off enough? Should I risk slicing off the 1/16" or so I need? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks!