jcuk

Ok here is a video with a method and yes its is hard to see what's going on, i was going to reply last night but a glass or three of wine put paid to that, as it is would be easy to show you in person but hard to explain without the help of a video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfpT4Tkq6gM Notice how she gets to end of where needs to be stitched around 10 06 she back stitches one but only she angles the needle up between the turn being stitched so the needles can be put through the join pulled under the turn to the opposite side that has to be stitched prick your strap now put your needle through the prick mark from the inside of the turn one stitch mark up and do another back stitch to match both sides up hope this is making sense. (It maybe better for you to leave the last stitch a little loose until you have threaded the needles to the other side leave enough thread pull tight on the first side being stitched once the needles are through and once they are it should be easy enough to those stitches tight enough) Hope this helps JCUK

Just a thought why don't you print out a leather conversion chart fold it up put it in your pocket next to the gauge are already using. Hope this helps JCUK

Skirt Shave (french Edger) you decide. You decide who understands how to use one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKwoGWddOro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dej8BH1DFgs Hope this helps JCUK

Word of warning on using a skirt Shave (French Edger) there is a learning curve to use one safely, as i was told when i did my training its a tool many saddlers have a lot of respect for. And will say don't think its a tool that can easily be used light weight chrome tanned leather, i certainly know that it would not be my go to tool for the weights of leather you mentioned. But it is a great tool for the right kind of job just make sure its good and sharp and had a good strop best thing i can say to you make sure you keep your free hand and fingers behind the cutting edge because in inexperienced users they can be hard to control especially if they are starting to go dull they can have tendency to not cut how you want and suddenly slip and if your free hand is in front of the cutting edge ouch. Hope this helps JCUK

Have look at this how he is using a Number 6 Edger then a Skirt Shave (French Edger) i know its a belt but this method can be used for anything raised. https://www.youtube.com/c/UKSaddlerytrainingcoursesuk/videos Hope this helps JCUK

Where the Awl blade has come out of the haft take used match stick sand the used end down to a bit of a point tap it into the hole where the blade has come out of the haft as far as it can which will probably mean it will break trim level to haft then using to coins to protect your awl blade put the blade into a vice straight up then tap the haft gently and straight as you can and as far down onto the blade as you dare or as far as you think it will hold. Hope this helps JCUK.

I have a copy of the said book. What are you using to skive.

Yes it will be and that why sometimes its easier for me just to use the old unimproved wooden strap cutter which has served me for years, I do own a Plough Gauge, but just might treat myself to new George Barnsley left handed version in the near future being a southpaw. https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/plough-gauge Hope this helps JCUK

This may be of some use. https://www.abbeyengland.com/basil-hide-nappa-e1k1 Hope this helps JCUK

Sorry should have said i have the Stockton one used it for thirty years paid for its self and then some. Funny enough i got from a Australian company while i was working in the middle east (STC) they don't carry it now just checked. JCUK

I have noticed this with different brands hand stitching thread too. Some of the threads look like they are weight down from what they should be. Hope this helps JCUK

I have both wood and metal versions much prefer the wooden one i find the metal one tends to slip more meaning it is set at inch and a half you find its starts out ok then by the end it may have slipped slightly to a inch and five eights funny thing even before i have finish cutting i can already see its has started to cut the strap wider. I know this happens to some with the wooden version too but i just tighten the thumb with my hand and then one half turn with pliers it never slips. Hope this helps JCUK

Every now and then i sharpen my kitchen knives using my stone, strops i use for my leather knives and other leather cutting tools i just make sure i give them a good wash after and i am still here so it works for me. Hope this helps JCUK

This maybe of use. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwnN_b01_M8 Hope this helps JCUK

Not sure where you located but these may have something for you or give you an idea of what to look for. https://www.aacrack.co.uk https://www.metropolitanleather.com Hope this helps JCUK

You sure you did not go back after the roofer had gone for some more

Now i thought you were going to say you got it from a church roof or maybe more than one.

You want to have a whiff of leather tanned in India or Pakistan and i am not going to into what it may have been tanned in as i have said in another post, when i have had the misfortune to have work with it, i make sure i give my hands a good wash after i have finished.

I have used both methods both work ok i prefer the blade on top for of the roller if pushed for preference think it works better for lap skives for me anyway. Hope this helps JCUK

Yes they can fiddly or a pain in the rear end if have not done one in while that narrow, this is my method once i have fitted buckle the buckle end is tacked with one tack in the second from last stitch mark and one in the stitch mark just after the width of your fixed loop (i never tack my loops in place) i hold the fixed loop be stitched against the stitch marks about half half thickness of the strap and with my awl i put a slight mark there so i know it will not go in to far therefore knowing you left enough room for the other end of the loop to fit in. Once i have done my cross stitch not pulling it tight i place the loop in down to the mark i have made i prick the second stitch through the loop and hole and buckle turn and when i push the needle through from the opposite side of my work i stop leaving the needle half way though then i give a little pull on the loop to make sure it has been caught then stitch all the way back up to where the other end of the loop is to be stitched in place. I put a little fold in the loop put in place i slightly angle my awl up a bit into the loop and then pull it back straight with loop now being pulled into the buckle turn - hope that makes sense and then do the same in the next stitch mark so it will pull the loop level all this can be done by angling your work in your clam or the way i do it put it the full width of your on strap in your clam but with enough of your work sticking either end of your clam depending which side you are stitching ie being left handed at the start it will on the front end of my clams and then the rear of my clams at the finish. The other thing i have just noticed is your buckle turn is the opposite way round to the way i was taught, i stitch mark on the flesh side of my work and split down the grain side that way you are not trying to find your stitch marks under the loop.(I do not pre prick any of this.) Here a link on how the hold your work in the clams better than how i have tried to describe it i think yes the strap is wider than yours but it out over the edge at the start and finish and angled at other times. Around 18 min mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuj6ObdTjjs Sorry for the long winded reply but hope this helps JCUK

Sorry just seen i did not add the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uUvErBUG68 Hope this helps JCUK

No worries just added two more.

Yes looking good i think

Its a old compass race use for cutting a slight channel for stitching think most use a stitching groover these days https://www.fenlandtools.com/product-page/saddler-s-compass-race https://www.abbeyengland.com/economy-screw-race-g--race--screw Another kind of race https://www.abbeyengland.com/economy-double-race-g--race--dbl https://www.abbeyengland.com/economy-single-race-g--race--sng Hope this helps JCUK

Nice work there