toxo

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)

Thanks Fred. My envelope has gone now but my 1.2 artificial sinew came today and it goes through my needles so all's good so far. Just have to practice now.

Now that is a thing of beauty. You don't often see the points as crisp as that. Outstanding. Well done.

Thanks Brian. I have some JJ #2 so should be good. Don't know about #2/0, Someone said something similar a while back and I messaged JJ for some clarification because on the website they call it #2 but the picture clearly shows #002. They told me they are both the same. I was on their website yesterday looking for needle size for 1.2 thread and it drove me mad. Round in circles for twenty minutes before I gave up.

Until you add the $50 plus shipping to the UK.

Attempting Dieselpunkros Motoko3 laptop bag for my daughter. Gonna be a challenge for me but you gotta push yourself right?

Words are not enough Brian. I wish I had half your drive and belief in yourself. Well done!

Looking great! Well done. I love the look and thinking about the satchel version for my daughters work bag. Will be my first bag but you gotta love a challenge right?

JT Batchelor told me the other day that they only do shoulders now so where's the go to place for leather and is it a postal job?

Matt, you must use JT Batchelor a lot. I bought one of these from them for not a lot and it's a lovely piece of steel. This guy likes it a lot.

Halitech, definitely looks like it's worth a look. Does anyone vouch for this one? Biker, I agree, doing a skive for a turned edge by hand does look scary. You'd make sure you did those edges before you invested in a load of work in case it went tits up. Matt, nice offer but if I can't sort it myself I might as well go out and buy it. I'll always be up for a cuppa or a beer should the opportunity arise. MDV, I can see me getting one of those soon.

Thanks again guys. I think I've finally learned. Over £100 for belt skive and lots of practice with a manual. I hope those six inch jobbies are all the same cos I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a better grade.

Well ideally both. Do the six inch blade ones do edge skiving as well as belt skiving and what's the cheapest way to it?

So what manual skivers will do a whole belt and edges as well? As I said it's not gonna get overworked and I can't justify spending big money although knowing me if I get really into it that'll change.

Will this cheapo be ok for a newbie with a hobby? Probably one or two projects a month for belt and edge skiving? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Splitter-Set-Cutter-Skiver-Aluminum-Craft-Leather-Metal-Machine-Paring-Kit-Edge/401795252129?hash=item5d8cdcffa1:g:3QkAAOSw8BNdEZ9A

I think it's a long handled fruit picker that should have a spring in the jaws and a string in the bottom hole.

Thanks guys! There are it seems many versions and of course vanity comes into it. I'll have to get her to choose. No good making something she won't wear.

She won't carry a handbag. Any good patterns around? She also has back problems and was gonna make her a support belt. I suppose combining the two would be overkill?

I'll just throw this out there for what it's worth. I've used "Gorilla" glue a couple of times. It works on moisture so the work has to be dampened. Don't know how flexible it is but for stickability on leather I can vouch for it's effectiveness after I weighed down the work with some books but inadvertently moved the work. Next day I had to cut the leather to get it apart. Doh! Have plenty of clamps now.