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With some snaps hitting the center piece harder will make it harder to pull apart.

Many years ago when I was starting out as an engineer a friend recounted an episode in his workplace where a large grindstone exploded at high speed and spat out pieces and some of the were still spinning at high speed when they hit pretty much everything in the workshop. This was a time when the foreman wore a white or a brown coat and tie. Me having a vivid imagination pondered how quickly these machines would take to grind your face away if a loose tie were to be grabbed by one of them. This image is why I don't underestimate any of these machines.

Nice bracer Chuck. That you worked on it together makes it special and ensures it will never end up in the bin in 30 years time.

Remember to dilute it 50/50 with water. You can apply 2/3 coats letting it dry in between. It will put a shine on it.

Buying a sewing machine can't be just about money. If on a really strict budget you must think about something to get you by until you can afford the right machine for you. If you can spend some money that's when the headache starts because there are so many points to consider. If sewing leather you really want a walking foot machine. Maybe a cylinder arm with a flatbed attachment, maybe one with a narrow bed if doing tight gussets. servo motor for slower speeds. Reverse? If sewing thick leather the size of thread/needle/power could be important. Auto oiling could be very nice but probably won't find it on cheaper machines. type of presser foot should be thought about because some brands use PF that are cheapish and some that are expensive. When we have some idea about what you want to sew this information will be refined and targeted toward a more practical machine. Good luck.

Yes, speed thinking again. Didn't think about sealing the inside apart from overall Resolene. So after the microwave it sticks sometimes. Don't know if it's the res or the tea dribbles. It will wear in but it's doing it's job and it was fun doing it.

LOL. Probably. Mind you, that is a different world to me having hole punches, stitching chisels and a lot of hammers and three sewing machines. I think the awl thing got old with bags having a lot more holes than a holster.

Good job. I was about to ask about the closing until I watched that video.

From an ex fabricator/welder, great job, well done.

Wasgoinon? You're all supposed to be using blunt harness needles?

Without proper tools, what I would do is take a piece of wood or maybe a 2ft ruler and two pieces of wood maybe 5 inches long. Put ruler on top of head on edge, clamp the two short pieces front and back and clamp when they're touching the head. Do one measurement for front to back and another side to side. Measure the circumference of the head with a soft tape measure and draw it on paper making sure the circumference touches the measured front/back and side to side. Add a seam allowance for stitching.

On veg tan Fred?

Been asked for a pink dog collar. Got red fiebings, got white acrylic, they don't mix. Any ideas peeps?

ThanksTom, although no longer puppies by some way. Although there's no danger of them running off I don't want to risk it. People ask why I'm not worried about them running off? Not a chance. If I'm sitting on the loo the three of them will lay at my feet. Teddy looks good. Terriers have so much character.

Here's a little gadget that I use for cutting circles. It's plastic but if handled gently will do the job. I've had this one for at least two years and I love it. If you don't want the hole a small piece of leather stuck in the center with double sided tape will do the trick. Here's a small video.

Well that's the point isn't it. We can all find the center but these gadgets just make it easier and maybe quicker.

This thread should be gold for those that come after. A couple small ones to start. How often do we need to find the center to place a tag or line up stitching? I might be slow on the uptake because I've only just stumbled across these centering rulers. One is stuck to the bench and the other is a plastic ruler that is see through with a metal edge for cutting. This next one I've ordered but not here till tomorrow. I needed one of these the other day and didn't have one so like a lot of things I improvised. Flexible Ruler 16 Inch 40cm Curve Ruler for Engineering Drawing, Design Graphics | eBay More to follow.

I daresay there are but my point was that there is no standardisation so if you intend getting into foiling you'd best buy your three sets of letters from the same company at the same time. If you look closely at my original set, the shoulders are bigger below the number. if you turn one around they won't line up. This latest set do appear to be more equal top/bottom so the "9"s and "6"s probably will match but they're no good to me because they're bigger overall and in the shoulders and won't fit in any of my three letter holders.

Not sure why you're asking but this is the 1st set I bought after some searching because of the extra letters. The second pic shows the extra set I bought to get the 2nd "9". The two on the left are "6"s and the bit that set's them apart from the "9"s is the shoulders. If you turn them around they won't fit in the holder. The ones on the right come from the second set and are completely different. They would be fine if all your letters were the same but this is what you get when ordering from different companies at different times. I had to file down one of the second "9"s to alter not only the the shoulders but the overall fit in the holder.

Thanks guys but it would've looked better without the flat simulated sinew. Only went with it for the colour. Still - one of my favourite sayings - Don't let perfect be the enemy of the good.

I'm not complaining. Had the good stuff, 4 bed house in London. Horses in the garden. Acorse that went to the ex wife and kids. Happy enough now with the little bungalow and small garden for me and the three dogs. Have a massive park and woods fifty yards away. Have a library/media center 70yds away, a great shop 100 yds away for groceries. A nice drinking club 2 mins in the car or a longish walk. All I'm missing is a good woman to put me in my place now and then.

Oh my heart bleeds for you Chuck. Try doing it in the bedroom.

Maybe not. Depends on how much thread is sticking out past the securing nut. The aluminium boss that the nps slides onto is hollow. Don't have a lathe anymore but I'll give it a try.

I think I'm gonna try to fit the normal NPS onto the motor pulley. The machine is perfectly usable and will get better as I get used to it but I do like my NPSs.

Thanks for that 1hp. I'd kinda figured out that much but was thinking was there more to the first part where it talks about needle up/down. Is it saying the motor can do this or only in conjunction with a traditional NPS? Here's what mine looks like.