lightningad

just a quick query.....has the way images are uploaded to personal galleries been changed. I just tried uploading three images and was greeted with a message saying they needed to be approved before they could be seen. I am certain i have never seen that before, and just wanted to see if this is normal? thanks Adam

how did i miss this posting? really nice looking bag. Very impressed with the stitching. Hopefully the ones i'm making at the moment will look as good!

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=47365 you need to watch this video, and also the earlier ones Nigel did (the very first pinned post on this forum). They are by far the best videos i have seen explaining the saddle stitch. adam

worked out nicely.

the hard bit comes when attaching that gusset to the second side! Then you have it bending in three ways - the curve of the pocket plus the curves to the main pockets, etc. It can be awkward but i found it really rewarding too.

on the one i just finished (and the three i'm currently working on), I did not use any glue - just stitching. I attached the gusset to the pocket front by stitching the edges back to back. Before stitching, i marked the edge of the gusset that would be joined to the body of the bag - NOT the edge joining the pocket front. As you say - that would be backwards! I measured the centrepoint of both the gusset and the pocket stitch line and worked out from the centre in both directions so i would be guaranteed the same overlap at each side . The only marking was done on the front of the pocket. To ensure it was all lined up, i had traced the outline of the pocket onto the gusset with a light scribe and used this as a guide to hold the gusset against as i punched and stitched each hole with the awl. Clips just got in the way for me, and the parts too bulky to use a clam so this was all hand held whilst the stitching was completed. Going around the bends was just a case of ensure the two edges were aligned before pushing the awl through, and only making one hole at a time and finishing the stitch before moving on. For me, it made much more sense to attach the gusset to the pocket BEFORE attaching it to the main bag front, before fitting the bag front to its own gusset. Essentially you want to avoid stitching into an enclosed bag as your hands and needles will find it much harder to do anything, especially if you have chunky hands! The main bag gusset was the final part i attached. What i'm thinking might work even better - although its untested until this weekend - is to mark the stitches on the pocket front panel, and before attaching the gusset, use those holes to mark the stitch positions onto main bag front with awl , then when you have attached the pocket and gusset and come to attach the gusset to the main front, the holes marked on the gusset edge should line up with the holes made from the pocket front template. good luck.

maybe its time i took the plunge and tried an airbrush! Got an old Badger knocking around somewhere...

thanks Dwight, for this job the leather is a pre-dyed butt so i dont have to worry about the colouring this time around....but you're spot on - i definitely need to have a little practice before slopping it onto the finished work. adam

thanks - at least it will last longer that way!

I am making a couple of satchels that i want to apply a waterproof finish to, and so have bought Resolene. I have never used it before, and the instructions are pretty vague, so wanted to ask my questions here... When is the best time in the fabrication process to apply the Resolene? should i apply it before stitching the leather together or as the very last step? Would Resolene be the last goo to apply or would you apply other waxes after its dried? I've read that it can be watered down - whats a reasonable dilution to use? thanks Adam

I have found that my cuts have improved by vast amounts now that i use a saddlers round knife. Its kept honed and kept razor sharp, which is essential to stop the blade dragging through the leather. I also firmly believe that using the round knife to push cut rather than pull cut helps keep the cut accurate. Pull cuts seem to stretch the leather (but that could just be me!)

Greetings!!

like the flask. story remonds me of the time I had my front door off its hinges whilst i was installing a brand new one, ladders up as my wife was painting the window frames...a guy comes into the garden and asks me if i'm interested in buying replacement doors and windows!! He didn't even figure it out when i asked if he was being serious!

might as well add my job to the list - i'm work in tv post-production, making ads for a toy manufacturer. Difficult to say what i do because i do pretty much everything! Editing, 3d graphic design, animation, audio mixing, some directing, and i've even done the music for a couple of ads. Also make a damn fine cappuccino! Before that i was video editor on "Bob the Builder", and before that i worked in regional tv news. adam

the Armour looked great, and a good amount of screentime too... but speaking as someone who edits commercials for a living, i found myself wondering what the heck was being advertised for 95% of the running time!

you read my mind Paul - i was intending to do just as you suggest and get some shorter reels from Ian. How have you found it to work with? I think the google ad failed a little - my friend mentioned it when she placed the order for the satchels - said mine reminded her of the imitation leather satchels she'd seen on googles ad !! I think it was the gaudy colours made her think they were plastic.

Thanks Chancey - appreciate that! weirdly, i actually got to quite enjoy the stitching!

Thanks Renee, Much as i like really bright things, i probably would not have picked red myself. It was my wife who pulled it out of the pile saying it would be ideal...And i think shes right! I think i might see if i can find some of that braided thread for the next ones, as the linen thread did seem to fray a bit after it had been through so many holes!

Thanks Cheryl

Big smug grin time! Just been asked to make two identical satchels for a pair of twins! How cool...

sorry in advance - i just can't resist asking...how do you know your bee is a virgin?

Looking really nice Andy. One question - when you say cash pocket - do you mean for paper money? cos i was wondering how you stop coins from falling out?

They deliver as well as letting you visit. I visited as i wanted to rummage through the offcuts! http://www.jwoodleathers.co.uk/offcuts.html this page has the opening times (its not the best designed website on the planet!) Thanks for the link...i'll check Nick out.

trivia time - denshaw is most remote village in saddleworth! thanks for the compliment - its first time i tried chrome tan also. I liked the fact i didnt need to do any dyeing! At the same time I bought a huge cowside in a rustic waxed finished - really nice looking with all its knocks and scratches. I'm planning a big bag that i can use when travelling - big enough to use as carry-on luggage but hold all i need. Don't know if you've been, i got the leathers from J Woods at Cononley nr Skipton. Huge selection of leathers...i got mine off the scrap pile. over 40sqft for just over £80. Mind me asking where you got your makerstamp done?