jcuk

Nice work, are you going to reverse the colour scheme? if so i think the blue edge would work better, still think it look ok as it is. Hope this helps JCUK

Here another one with good info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYT9Rc2YRAk JCUK

Any idea what size the thread is, i mainly use JJ 004 harness needles for light weight bridles i use 3/18 for heavier bridles 4/18 linen thread using 004 the other size harness needle i have is JJ OO3 which i use for 5/18 i always try to get away with the smallest size needle for the thread i can get away makes for easier stitching. Useful info here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS8Vb6bkIjI Hope this helps JCUK

Agreed do not soak it for to long it will saturate the leather loosening the fibres, also heat the NFO UNTIL TEPID NOT TO HOT this will help it penetrate the fibres better. Maybe add a thin layer of leather on the flesh side to help strengthen the belt. Also feed the leather from time to time. Hope this helps JCUK

Hi I have been following this thread with interest. Why such a hard time if that is his process for working? I am old school with pencil and paper, but i have also recently downloaded some PDF templates for some items out of my comfort zone which were created with software. I can understand that some of the software is expensive but i am informed by my better half (who works in IT) that you don't have to use expensive Adobe software which is also not so easy to use. She says to look at Inscape https://inkcape.org which is free, and there is lots of help online with how to use it, and there are versions for all operating systems. Hope this helps JCUK

Not sure if this helps. JCUK

Sorry about that did not check where i got the quote from did not scroll up enough. JCUK

Try a single head knife a lot less daunting than a double head knife/round knife spend a day cutting shapes out of scrap leather also pratice skiving with it just remember to keep you're free hand behind the cutting edge, it is the right tool for the job. Be mindful of some of of the videos on youtube of people using a round knife, have to say some frighten me watching them. There is another knife that might be easier for you working with lighter weight of leather its called a clicker knife but it is a a pull cut type of knife. single head head knife https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/saddlers-head-knife clicker knife the curved blade, good for tight corners. https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/extension-clicker-handle Hope this helps JCUK

Wow you have a lot of Knives, some nice ones there, but a serious investment i think. I have 5 myself 2 round knives 1 single head knife a clicker knife and an English style skiving knife. Once you get the hang of using the round knife you will find its a good investment of time and money, i use mine for most things don't really use the others for to much at all unless i want to keep my eye i with the English skiving knife, by the way the single head knife will do everything a round knife will do, maybe a little more user friendly mine cost £13 a cracking knife. All the best JCUK

Try it through 3 layers of 4mm + then you will see. Yes you can do the 3 layers one layer at a time but on a bigger job very time consuming marking three layers to line up correctly, when you only need to do one layer if you can use awl. Oh my Awls all around a tenner each. JCUK

Glad hear your getting used to working with a awl, i brought some stitching chisels just to see what the fuss was they are ok but not for me, but can see the attraction to some who have been trying to learn to stitch with a awl from just watching Youtube videos, seeing peoples nice work posted here done with using said chisels looking for a easier method to achieve a better looking stitch i had the luxury of hands on teaching. The other thing you will find with using a awl is you get to feel the integrity of the leather you are working on very important for most of my work, saddlery would never advise anyone to use chisels for that kind of work and plus think chisels are ok for light to medium work not heavy work where safety is a issue. My awls are nothing fancy just good old working tools. JCUK

Yes everything must go, but does end on Sunday but it seems that Sunday never comes. JCUK

Maybe just a good strop and polish to to finish off. He says lifting a glass of wife sorry no cork where this wine came. JCUK

Glad to see its not just me that leaves the tip fairly pointed works for me too. And have say some things are being over thought at times or so it seems to me. Just learn to use and maintain your tools in a way that works for you if its seems to be working fine why change it. Yes i do know some people are new to this craft but before the age of the net that's what we had to do. A good book to have near your work bench, you may already have it if not its a good investment not just for beginners. https://tandyleather.world/collections/books-patterns/products/leathercraft-tools-book Hope this helps JCUK

Agreed Better to have that skill than not. A good way to learn to use an awl is to use your chisels on the top layer and practice to use the awl through the second layer of leather. And no that's not how i was taught i was taught how the double hand stitch/saddle stitch from scratch no chisels in them days. JCUK

Nothing, but once you learn how to use a awl you will know. JCUK

've been buying Doc Martens for 32 years It was not a rite of passage but it was a bit of a statement in Greece where i grew up. Just finished the look for all kids who wanted to be a little different. Competition is just better at the mo I do know that brand but they had to to be real thing there are lots of dare i say Air wear boots over here some others are a lot cheaper not all are not that bad at all the soles being impervious are also main factor in a stable block looking at tack that needs repairs. So now not just a fashion statement. The first three pairs i owned i never wore out just grew out of them. But time to get back on AWL MAKERS Cheers JCUK

Is this a new awl or one you have already been using, both my go to awls i have not sharpened in a long time no need to last time i had to resharpen one was when i dropped it had to re-profile the the blade about 20 years ago used a small diamond file and strop worked okay for me still does now. Have a newer one that i have had to work on to get it up to speed did the same but with a lot more stropping and polishing works good now don't need it now because both my main awls are fine but it there and ready just in case, nothing fancy cost around £10. Hope this helps JCUK

Look like you may have had Chinese made ones, your first pair of DMs over here was like a right of passage for a certain generation, graduated from monkey boots. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovair JCUK

Yes agree too. One thing though Dr Martins boots shut down their operation in Northampton laying pretty much all of their work force i think, relocating the the manufacturing to China to cut costs and not passing any of the saving onto the customers - lost me as a customer there and then and as with Hunter wellies formally handmade in Scotland which too were now getting made in China the quality dipped. There are was a rush to get any old D M s that were made in the UK why because better made. So you know what happened the people at Dr Martin must have had had the bright idea to reopen some of there operation back in Northampton on a small scale calling them the originals yes they were more expensive but had no trouble getting plenty of customers so much so had to expand the operation back in the UK and up until the you know what came upon the world, they were still hiring people because of demand, people were choosing the original's over the Chinese made ones and yes i did get a pair myself. I am not saying this could reverse all this but if the product is good enough in the first place, loyal people will support you that's why i like what Vergez Blanchand, Osborne and now George Barnsley are trying to do despite cheaper imports and yes i know its not all cheap and badly made. JCUK

Nor would i, never seen them cost much even over here, that's English clams have seen some rather expensive French clams. Pretty sure you could make your own. https://www.abbeyengland.com/saddlers-clams-best-7357.html £64..24 All the best JCUK

Nope most i have paid for an awl is around a tenner.

Fantastic work there thanks for posting. JCUK

Agreed to maybe there are more leatherworkers, so maybe not enough old tools to go around its just why can't we make these things closer to home keep our work force employed and i arm not just talking about leather tools either, we all got caught with our pants downs where PPE was concerned, it has to give everybody a kick up the rear end that we need to start manufacture more things closer to home again and not rely on others doing it for us. Agreed post has been somewhat highjacked, my awl blades and hafts got from Abbey England nothing fancy about blades or haft tend to abuse the haft so would not pay a high price for a exotic wood haft had them 20+ years still going strong maybe a little shorter now. JCUK

Have a look at this site they have a lot more than i have linked. https://www.pittards.com/shop/shop-leather/hides/saddlery Hope this helps JCUK