toxo

Just made a couple of small bags for my daughters. Can be over the shoulder (D rings) or on the belt (belt loops on the back). The question is, what do I put on the ends of the strap to make it serve both purposes without the need for a separate belt?

Wow! That's some sewing machine. Was that a coin it sewed through?

Good job. Love the fastener. Did you stamp the border after painting? Belay that. Just had a closer look and I can see you didn't. Well done.

I know 02, 002, and 2 are all the same cos I emailed them a while back. Not sure of the biggest in a #2. I've used 1.2mm waxed thread in mine. I recently bought some #1s and 1mm goes through those ok. even the 1.2mm went through but that was flat.

Excellent work all round Alex. You have a good eye for detail and design. One thing that puzzles me with the roll top backpack is the length of the strap. I always thought the roll top design was for extra capacity when needed yet the strap isn't long enough for the top to be unrolled and still fastened. Ive noticed this on a few roll top designs. I think, on the original designs they had tie strings for that very purpose.

Personally I've never got hung up on brand names but you seem to have a burning passion going on and that's rare so go to it. I wish you all the luck in the world.

If you live in London the place to go first is JT Leather in Balls Pond Road. More leather in there than you can shake a stick at. All the advice you need and you can feel it before you buy it. https://www.google.com/search?q=jt+batchelor&client=firefox-b-d&sa=X&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecSYyS3w8sc9YamESWtOXmOM4uIKzsgvd80rySypFPLhYoOyFLj4pbj10_UNyy3N0s3KszUYpHi5kAWkFJS4eCf575QTXZP6-b-WEOfVJPOVs2TKPAQN1Ey7gp4c3saziJUnq0QhKbEkOSM1J78IAF8TVYh9AAAA&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=NvtTp0b1ocuDYM%3A%2CSLbLoaM0-dbY9M%2C_&vet=1&usg=K_549bei5WrNHHVGIoEYPa4bBvoY0%3D&ved=2ahUKEwjF9pq67qrlAhUkVBUIHQ03CHoQuqIBMBN6BAgKEAY&biw=1280&bih=599#imgrc=NvtTp0b1ocuDYM:&vet=1

Spot on Mike. And you taught me a new word. Maroquinerie. Who'da thought it.

Stunning work as usual.

I'll have to make it up as I go. Never made anything as thin as 1.5mm before. Obviously I'll have to beef up the straps and the base but I want it to squash down so I'll play it by ear as regards a lining.

Another thing to think about is what you want to use it for. Most of the ones I've looked at start at 2mm. I'll ask at JT tomorrow and ask them what size it starts at and if the punches are replaceable.

You know what they say Heather! You must have a great mind also. What colour/leather? I have one concern. The straps that take the weight are relying on the one rivet at the top of the strap I would have preferred a keeper there so the weight is held by the bottom. (Might even do that but maybe on the next one)

Hi guys. just started on the Weekender, the patterns come with two sizes a big one and an identical smaller one. I'll see how the first one turns out before deciding to do the two. Here's the bag. I wanted a soft version and I had to have this when I was in JTs the other day, It's ony 1.5mm so will have to reinforce where necessary. Haven't decided on thread colour yet. Wish me luck.

Gotta love Tony Sees designs. Good job and welcome to the forum.

When I was in JT Leather the other day and I was sorely tempted to buy what looks like a forged one. It looked solid and was only £19. I passed cos the one I have already just suffers from the punches going through to the void. Could glue it but will want to sharpen/replace them at some time so will probably find/machine a circular piece to fit in the hole.

I think you must be an alien Brian. With everything else you have going on you find the time to do stuff like this! I wish I had half your drive. Fantastic stuff. Well done.

Excellent work. That handle looks like a great fit in the hand. In fact that knife is sliding nowhere, no matter how wet or bloody. Good job.

Really good work there Marietje. I've been thinking about a gym bag and that looks just right. Done a few of Tonys designs. Will look at the weekender again. On the backpack, another good build but I'm thinking you won't be able to use the extra space of the turnover at the top without making the straps a bit longer or am I seeing it wrong? Well done.

For centering those rulers look good. I just measure roughly and set my wing dividers to half that and mark from each side. Quicker to do than to write. As wizard mentioned sometimes you need a straight line for the strap cutter. I was lucky and found a galvanised wide angle iron that does that job but before I found that I used a "ping" line. Which is just a piece of string with chalk dust on it. Just pull it taut, pull up in the middle and let go. nice straight line as long as you want it. Here's the proper tool for the job but any piece of string will do.

I don't see anything wrong with it! Good job.

Good job! I quite fancy trying a couple of these just to see if I can do it and learn that box stitch on the bottom.

Good job. Love those handles.

Excellent work Alex. Sheridan style tooling isn't always my favourite when there's loads of it but when used like this it looks really good.

Got a few different calibers in there Frodo.

Here's my motley crew.I favour the 2lb weight. Not so far to lift and it goes back on the work to aid extraction. We don't hit hard enough to harm the implements so I'm guessing the textures on hammer faces are to avoid slipping. When I start doing some tooling I can always glue some thin leather on one face. Is the orange one what's called a deadblow? Seems to have a loose weight inside. Also pictured is my "anvil" . It's very heavy and gets into places other anvils can't reach.