jcuk

Better chance of hitting existing stitch marks on repairs it's not going to get away from you, i have three machines a singer 45k in storage somewhere never really got to grips with it lays down a nice stitch though. Also have a Tippmann Boss don't really use it much can be mare at times but once you have set up right it also lays down a nice stitch have used it for control of the above said hitting existing holes reason i don't use it much not a fan of bonded nylon thread believe some do run polyester thread through them not tried it myself. The third machine i have, i got from a member here Constabulary his great restoration of the DVSG/Pearson no6 this machine is the one i should have got years ago when i had the chance and yes i know all three machine are built to handle heavier work. Thats why when times times get a bit better for everyone the Tippmann Boss maybe for sale in the near future. As its not for sale just yet hope i have not broke rules of the site. And i am also a big fan of hand stitched work most of my work is hand stitched but a few jobs are tedious and you can't charge a the hourly rate for them because customers can just buy new cheaper hence the need for a machine for certain things. One job used to take me anything between 11/2 to 2 hours even with a manual its around a 1/3 of the time now and what the job is makes no sense doing it by hand nobody really would notice or care its hand stitch or not. Hope this helps JCUK

Try something along this line, mine was cheaper don't even know what make it is but a bonus for me its left handed https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/screw-crease Hope this helps JCUK

Depends of the quality of your creaser been using a blowtorch for 25 years until recently still good as new.

Have you ever had the misfortune to come across leather from India/Pakistan if you have then you will know what smelly leather is, tanned in urine and gods knows what else i will leave you to guess what the gods else is. JCUK

Yes it can but it does not matter what you use that can still happen, you get to know how long to keep it on the heat until recently i was using a blowtorch same deal just took less time to get it to the required heat i wanted, just get to know how long to keep under the flame if i think it is to hot I just wait around ten seconds and its fine. Hope this helps JCUK

Hi here's link as Gary has said try a chemist for surgical spirit. Myself i just use a camping gas burner. https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/spirit-lamp https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/spirit-lamp-spare-wick Hope this helps JCUK

No

Other half said she has not seen anymore jars is Tescos since, that's why i sent B&Q link. Do you know the show The Repair Shop, if you do there is a episode show a repair on a leather Pouffe you maybe interested in on the BBC player

My better half brought this from Tescos works for me and not to expensive https://www.diy.com/departments/lord-sheraton-leather-balsam-75-ml/258767_BQ.prd?rrec=true Hope this helps JCUK

Another vote for the Round Knife. They can be a little daunting to some people at first but they are the right tool for that kind of weight of leather. There are some good Youtube videos out there on how to use and hold them correctly. There is a a knife called a single head knife which will do everything a Round Knife will do but a lot less daunting to use and easier to sharpen. https://www.abbeyengland.com/barnsley-single-head-knife-552.html Hope this helps JCUK

Oh yes we had a lovely half day trying to find them in the wilds of Normandy and even using my best Del-Boy french did manage to purchase something. On my clams i have lined the jaws with vet wrap and masking tape can't seem to get round to do it right with a nice piece of leather only had them for 25 years maybe one day.

I have tried three methods, i was happy with the results having said that not something i do often as i mainly work leather finished both sides. First time i dyed the top side with oil based dye, with the flesh side i dyed with a water based dye once it dried i used Astral heel wax polish to seal it gave it going over with my rubbing stick. https://shoemakerstoolmakers.com/collection/astral-edge-amp-heel-wax The other method i used was quicker less fuss i used Fiebling's edge enamel done this in two practice pieces first one did not use the Astral wax to seal again happy with it, the other test piece i did use the Astral wax seemed ok to me too both again gave them a good going over with the rubbing stick. Hope this helps JCUK

This may be of interest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUV5-dOjVFA

Yes it is one of those repair or remake. Just read your first post again sorry about your tools being stolen, bet some of them you could not replace like for like. In better times like to go to antique fairs sometimes you can pick up some old tools( won't use the term vintage with nice patina ) its a old tool that can and will do the job if was made for, some of the sellers have not got clue what they have so good bargains can be had. On Blanchard yes expensive but will last you and someone elses lifetime, if i was starting they would be my go to place often people ask which tools for a beginner the way i look at it if you buy quality tools from the out set you will always have people wanting to buy quality tools if you decide you no longer want to do leather work anymore easier to sell good tools and maybe get a large chunk of your investment back hopefully.Plus the better the tool the easier your life is. Was lucky enough while on holiday in France last year Normandy, guess where i took my family for lovely a day out they loved it (not)

Yes rolled work is a acquired taste (time is money) don't get a lot of it but do some for myself just to keep my eye in. Oh the square el cheapo Chinese made would not buy it today kind of think that's why Dixons and other Leather tool makers went to the wall cheap imports from the far far east glad to see Blanchard still going strong i hope.

I have been using it 25 + years no problems but the weight of leather i work with in the main it does lie flat on, with lighter leathers i use the edge of my bench to make it lie flat mainly though its mainly used for setting my Plough Gauge and Strap Cutter widths don't trust the gauges on them if you use the same tool for all your measurements it helps to keep all your work in unison as far as the measurements are concerned.By the way i also use a engineers scribe for a lot of my marking. Hope this helps JCUK

The only real way you will know for sure if the tree is sound enough to use safely is to strip it down and have a good for yourself or get someone to have a look for you. Even if it is passed it's sell by date of being a saddle you can still use safely it may be ok as a project to rebuild as a show piece saddle to show case your work. Hope this helps JCUK

This should get a mention too, brought it in a tool souq in the middle east many years ago it is what all my strap widths buckle turns hole spacing are measured with and any other measurements under 6''

Mine is a old H Brindley martingale groover which i mostly use for my rolled work, its a lovely Tool to use or even just pick up and waste a bit of scrap leather.

If it was me i would do the cross stitch first and then finish off with the saddle using one single thread it would be neater and more secure to finish off on a saddle stitch going back 2.5 or 3.5 stitches.This is one of the few jobs where i would maybe pre prick the work before stitching so when you do the the cross stitch first you will be using and hitting the pre pricked saddle stitch holes to keep it neater. Hope this helps JCUK

Sorry can't resist we had something a lot more scary than ground rattlers to contend with this side of the pond called dog mess the polite way to put it. JCUK

Yes jumpers for goal posts or a cork cricket ball no pads because you could not afford them and did that ball hurt when it hit you fun days though. Again nice work JCUK

Don't do much dying myself but remember both edges have been cut so exposed no top grain finish so they will soak the dye up more. But could be wrong. Hope this helps JCUK

There are many makes and types of velcro/Hook and Loop on the market some are a lot better than others, i have made many weight cloths for jockeys in racing using this method it seems the safest way to me to keep the lead in the weight cloth have seen snaps fail at times. JCUK

Velcro or put a loop on the case so you slide the strap end into it. Hope this helps JCUK