toxo

Very nice work Andy. You've definitely got the attention grabbing down to a fine art. Well done.

Yes My old Durkopp has a 12mm shaft which I found out when I replaced the handwheel with a 170mm pulley and a 45mm on the clutch motor. Now I've fitted a servo which has I think a 50mm so I'm wondering if i might try a 40mm on there but there isn't a lot of room on the shaft.

Postage may be steep but these people are so cheap it probably evens out. Couldn't want more helpful people either. I ordered a needle positioning system yesterday and it came this morning. https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/accessories/motors-accessories/motor-pulleys

Thank you Amigo. Appreciate it.

Just found this pic of the inside. The sides are reinforced with thick hard chrome tanned leather but I didn't want it too dark so used thick veg tan on the bottom. I guess this reinforcing helps maintain the shape. As you can see I used the same leather for the pockets (full length on the front panel). These could have been much thinner.

Thanks Silver. Don't think the thickness is the problem. I think maybe it's the antique/pull up process that makes it softer. It's good for the panels but a sod for edges. Think normal veg tan would be easier. This has been quite a journey, Apart from the hand stitching it's taken months to get my old Durkopp working properly and I needed it for the strap. This is the first time it's done more than about a foot of stitching before something went wrong. I was praying with every stitch on that strap but the old girl didn't let me down, in fact I let her down because with only five stitches to go I didn't realise the end of the steel cable had wandered and bang. finished it by hand. She did really well. The strap ends were challenging. I didn't want just one layer of this leather holding everything so I inserted another shorter piece which meant that my longest normal rivets weren't long enough to go through five layers. The rivets in this picture (the bottom two) were taken out and replaced with copper rivets and roves which were brilliant for the job. Also, looking at this picture reminds me that I intended to add a rivet to each end of the handle but forgot to do it. It's not far away if I do need to do it. And my daughter absolutely loves it which makes it all worthwhile :)

Thanks Seagrove. A couple of ideas I would do over. I think a rolled over handle would look/feel better. An extra rivet or two at the top of the buckle strap . An extra row of stitches where the front attaches to the back would be wise I think and the two inside full length pockets could've bee thinner leather.

This is my first leather project of any kind. As part of her job my daughter did a weeks course out at Heathrow and I wanted to do something nice to reward her good work. I chose Motoko because it uses minimal techniques/tools and no skiving. I used 2.4mm pull up antique leather which proved problematical at times because it was quite soft.This has taken quite a while because I questioned my ability at every stage and so would test on scrap before I did the deed. I made mistakes and learned from them. In one respect the build was shortened because I knew the strap length and so I didn't have to do an adjustable strap. In another respect it took longer because I incorporated a security measure that took longer than normally necessary. Because she's out quite a lot of the time with her laptop and work files I wanted her to be safe from the scrotes on mopeds who would slice through the strap so I incorporated a 2mm stainless steel cable in the middle of the strap. Took a bit of fiddling but I got it done. Can't seem to be able to load a pic with the strap in place. Try again later.

Nice job munky. Know what you mean about the leather. Edges etc. Am just finishing a bag for my daughter. Should be ready for pics later (at last).

Thank you for taking the time. All downloaded. It never occurred to me that building up layers of leather was a thing. I will love the learning.

Subscribe to "niteKore" on youtube. He also has a channel on Etsy under "DieselpunkRo". Minimal tools needed on a lot of Tonys designs.

Beyond beautiful. How do you learn to do something like that?

I know exactly how you feel. I keep looking at Tonys hats and thinking that I want one but I don't wear hats. Good job!

Thanks guys. Let's hope the little mistakes here and there don't detract from it. Getting excited now, nearly finished. So many holes, so many stitches.

Coming to the end of my daughters Motoko3 from Dieselpunk.Ro. I know pull up leather is supposed to mark easily but I keep wondering if I should try to protect it. I guess that would take away from what it's supposed to do. I guess I'll leave it and watch it wear. At least that way I'll know for next time. What have you guys done with pull up? It's antique pull up.

Everyone will know who's riding that bike. Well done sir.

The one thing that's not been mentioned is "what market is there for what I'm making". Most people could find a small market for a niche product say for example an archery arm brace but it's no good spending big money on the right tools to make 1000 arm braces a week if you're only selling 3/4. Now if your contacts were big enough to be able to say "invest in the equipment and I will guarantee to take what you don't sell at minimal markup", that's win win.

Being a newbie I don't know how common magnets are on tables but I do know that I love the magnet just under the veneer surface on my old Durkopp. The Singer doesn't have it. It's just so handy knowing you can almost throw the snips/needles or whatever on the table knowing they're not going anywhere. Whatever table you end up with, just give a thought to a magnet.

I need to make something like this for my Pard 007 spotter. Don't know whether it'll be this type or the wrap under style. I'll defo try to find something I can do on the machine though :)

For most people working with leather, profitability is a mysterious dim light at the end of a very long tunnel. As a retiree leather work appealed to my constructive nature as something that I can do as I slow down. Even as a newbie I've already laid out more money than I'm gonna get back any time soon and as much as I'd like to I can't justify spending what would be substantial outlay for a say a skiving machine. Don't get me wrong, I like profit as much as the next man but I also like to work at my own pace. There should be lots of younger guys with drive that will benefit from what your trying to do but they'll have to have the space and the money to invest in stock and machinery.

Fantastic restore job Folker. Would frighten the life out of me. Good job you know a thing or two about sewing machines eh.

Good job. Very neat.

Looks great mutt. I'm halfway through Tonys Motoko3 laptop bag which looks to be very similar. I didn't like the waste either but I printed mine on card so now the patterns are templates so not so much waste next time. I'm also thinking that a lot of it could be done on the machine. Punching all those holes took forever. I think Tony says 12 hour build but I think it's more like your 25 hours. My only criticism of the Motoko3 is just a single row of stitches on the back end of the front flap and the single rivet holding the straps both of which are taking all the weight when using the carry handle.

Whenever I go for a blood test I always manage to get in "That's very nearly an armful" Some get it most don't. (another Tony Hancock sketch)