idlewilder

So, I'm finishing a very large leather messenger bag, and I'd like to line it with some pigskin, but I'm really waffling on what color to use. I'm using a pretty dark brown color for the leather, and I was initially thinking of using a light, natural color for the lining. But my local Tandy doesn't have one piece that could line all the pieces. Alternatively, they do have a large piece of black pigskin that would line all the pieces. But I'm not sure it's gonna look good. Does anyone have pictures of a dark brown bag lined with black? Frankly, I could probably get an idea even if it isn't leather.

I've had good luck with hand-stitching consistency by using a stitching groover, or whatever that thing is called. It's the one that lets you drag it along the edge of the leather, and it carves out a groove for stitching. I have to be careful at the corners, so I don't overcut the groove, but I use it before I punch the holes for stitching. I like the look of the diamond hole stitching, but I happened to have purchased the lacing hole punchers that are straight, so all the thread (I don't actually use lacing) lines up nicely into the groove and looks really even.

I know I'm going to sound like a salesman, but a friend of mine recommended K & J Magnetics for magnets, and they claim the magnets don't loose strength unless they are heated.

Definitely check out K & J Magnetics

Sjohnsone, could you talk a little about how you did that? I'm working on a messenger bag, and I'd love to hear about how you did the pockets. I'm sort of putting off pockets. It doesn't seem like inside pockets could be done without a lining, unless the stitching was gonna show on the outside.

I live in Memphis and I'm working on a shop attached to my garage, so the garage is hot and stuffy during the summer and cold, dry and stale during the winter. Do I need to store my unworked leather inside in the air conditioning? Congrats, by the way. I know I'm excited about my shop.

I .. feel awkward because I forgot that Dwight posted his recipe in this thread.

awkward...

One of the old-timers (i think) has actually recommended the formula of 1:1 beeswax to neetsfoot oil (by weight, not volume). No tallow. I can't remember who it was, tho. It might have been posted in a different forum. I either found it while looking through the "how do i do that" forum or when I searched for "bag".

I'm not an experienced leatherworker, but from what I've seen and read, I was under the impression that it's a pretty normal workflow to dye, sew, trim, and then touch-up the edges. I'm currently planning a messenger bag, and I'm still debating on whether I want to dye it, but this is what I was planning to do if I ended up dying it.

So, what is the best way (or some supporting techniques) to getting that first edge to be straight? I've got plenty of 12" rulers, and even an 18" square, but even a yard stick isn't long enough to cut a 50" strap. Should I get some of those small 38 lb (2 in) clamps from home depot, and clamp 2 yard sticks to the leather and the table?

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