jcuk

Don't know but you may want to try this, you never know that's why it might be called smart water. https://www.aqua-amore.com/shop/glaceau-smartwater-plastic-bottle-24x600ml/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIoIblwbaJ7QIVmp3VCh1s9wkxEAQYAiABEgKSifD_BwE JCUK

Is it the flesh side you are concerned about, most of the time you can judge the quality of the leather by the finish on the on the flesh side. JCUK

No worries think they are made bye former workers from Dixons could be wrong, i have 4 that are real Dixons 3 to 6, 2 that i got from Abbey last year 1 and 2 but work as well. JCUK

Really used Abbey for 25 years here and abroad good company for me, and to be honest don't know what the saddlery industry would do without them in this country also i know they have saved a few other companies here as well . Anyway you can can the edge shave here too but more expensive though. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SADDLERS-LEATHER-WORKERS-PROFESSIONAL-HOLLOW-EDGE-SHAVE-MADE-IN-ENGLAND/232937597891?hash=item363c29abc3:g:U2UAAOSwnRZbpopW JCUK

Any of these will do it, pricey i know but worth their weight in gold, check Osborne leather tools your side of the pond. There are other makes out there cheaper ones made in the far east don't know how good they are, i have these two happy with both of them. https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/osborne-86-leather-splitting-machine/ https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/leather-splitting-machine/ Never used this one but seems pretty good to me also check the videos out first because they may not be for you. https://hwebber.co.uk/shop/c-s-osborne-leather-working-tools/leather-splitting-machines/leather-splitting-machine-skiver/ Also American made plus they are cheaper your side of the pond as i said to me worth their weight in gold. Hope this helps JCUK

I use MDF when using my round knife no drag does not dull your blade but you must remember only to use it as a cutting board once it has become cut up with use, it will mark and scratch your work, once one side is to worn just turn it over its cheap too. Hope this helps JCUK

These will give you a more of a round edge, don't know what weight of leather you will need it for most of the straps i use these for are 3mm + Bridle or harness leather. https://www.abbeyengland.com/economy-hollow-edge-shave-3005.html Hope this helps JCUK

Not sure if you can get these that side of the pond easy to maintain and sharpen. https://www.abbeyengland.com/abbey-american-race-486.html I have this one got it off EBAY works good, i know they are adjustable but you can go back to your gouge to take a bit more out if needed. https://www.abbeyengland.com/american-race-economy-1002.html Hope this helps JCUK

Again point of this forum share our knowledge i hope

I would like think this is the point of this forum, we come here for advice and give advice, when i finished my first piece of training i was given the option of buying some of the basic tools i would need to start out on my journey into saddlery work and repair, and there are no name tools amongst them 25 years later they still serve me well. There was a post here on Tandys tools compared to what you can buy from Abbey, it upset a member here when member here said they laughed at Tandys site at the tools that were on offer have to confess i did the same 25 years ago apart from the Osborne tools they sold at that time, (my tutor asked what i was laughing at did not tell him even from the pictures of the tools i could tell that they were not on the quality that we were using on our training) on that same member who it upset they give some good advice at times to people on here. I know this site is not just for the saddlery industry but i do know to do this well, it's better to have tools that are fit to do the task at hand. Also i like to think i have never tried to steer people WRONG also I like to think that can be said of fellow members here. My thing for good tools started with my first job when i left school, in a traditional ironmongers where they sold top quality tools and lesser quality tools, all were better than the tools that Tandy were passing as good tools, even tools like a screw driver that someone might use once in two tears to change a plug. JCUK

Cant resist Nice work looks like your earning bigger bucks this days judging the increase in the size of your new wallet. do like your old wallet too. JCUK

Sorry can't resist you need to cut down on the pies mate. But does sound like you'd not allowed for the buckle turn. Use this as a learning experience we have all done similar things along the way. When i started we were taught to work from two sizes (c/s) cut size (m/u) made up size even now i still write this down even for a customer belts even though its work i can do standing on my head not so very long ago i did not write both sizes down guess what yes i did make that mistake. JCUK

They also closed the shop in Manchester about a year after the one in Northampton making UK customers order from Spain, again about another year later closed that one. I use go to one in Northampton very rarely if i was up that way, the staff were always good to talk to only really use go to if they had any offers, would not pay full price way over priced. I have brought tools from them many moons ago when they sold Osborne tools. The problem i have /had with some their own tools were of average quality to say the least but seemed to cost more than far better made tools from Abbey, their edge shaves compared to Abbeys is a classic example to me. Have purchased leather from them too only when on offer and i was there to select it myself even then i had to spend what seemed ages trying to find something good enough as i only used their leather for the odd job they were used to for practice pieces. Again you can get far better natural veg-tan from other places in the UK cheaper too. The other gripe i had about them here in the UK they were charging people here like for like in Dollars against the Pound so if something cost $100 in the USA we were ask to pay a £100 no consideration to the exchange rate very naughty in my book. To be fair their new line of tools seem/look better quality than the previous tools but the thing to remember about them they are not exclusive to Tandy so again check for cheaper else where, but have to say Tandy seem to be trying to clean up their act, for a lot of people this was and is their first introduction into the leather world not a bad thing so understand loyalty to them but not blind loyalty which they seemed to trade on at times in past hopefully they have changed that train of thought too. Will say they have lost me a as customer when they when they closed their shops over here not that i got much from them anyway but for some over here it could be a blessing in disguise making them look else where for supplies in some cases far better products and better quality at cheaper prices. Having said all this hope this is enough to them keep around and continue to help people in their leather working journey. As for some advice on newcomers buying new tools i know this sound odd to some but buy the best quality you afford even if this means buying less tools at first and save for more tools later good quality tools will always sell not so easy for cheap tools. JCUK

I did the same searched Since leather tools got that link and a facebook page not on facebook so could not go any further there. https://www.facebook.com/sinceleather/ May get some feed back there. Hope this helps JCUK

Start just before the right angle of the area you want to edge, holding the edge shave steeply it will take you round the angle then level off only edge to of the centre of that area. Stop, turn your work around - do the same from the opposite angle edge shave up to where you you have already edge shaved to, (it will feel a cack handed so may take some practice on some scrap leather at first to get comfortable with even now if i have done it for a while still feels odd. Being left handed some my tools are for for right handed people so i get used to using tools feeling cack handed). Hope this helps JCUK

Sorry should have put this link. Go to the site a chat bot will appear with you can ask for advise. https://www.abbeyengland.com/441-contact-adhesive-490.html JCUK

I use this for my saddlery work and most other things works for me. Does say used in the shoe industry. Give Abbey a ring ask if it would work for you. Hope this helps JCUK

yes you know I also can't Adam and Eve = believe there's no demand too

I will have Butchers to see if i can find some.

I believe these will split for you, have some nice leather too.We are just about still in Europe at the moment. http://www.metropolitanleather.com Hope this helps JCUK

yes sorry for that too

Are but do you know what Courgette is.

Sorry can't resist. Hands that do dishes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G4OiYGQAyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvqLoEyofQ JCUK

Is it lined

What kind of thread are you using. I go back three and a half stitches. JCUK