toxo

RIP Eldor. It's a facet of forums like this that give and exchange information freely that we can feel sad about someone we've never met.

Had to dig but I knew I had some of these somewhere but can't remember where from. If you don't have any joy, come back and I'll find em.

Don't remember having trouble finding the belts but I also have a box of these that I can make belts from. LYFJXX Emery Cloth Roll, 6 Grits Abrasive Sand Paper Roll for Woodworking, 80 150 240 320 400 600 Grit Sandpaper for Metal, Each Roll 8 Meters : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

I don't remember paying anything like that price. Maybe my belts are thinner?

I've seen a couple of different combinations lately. I'll see if I can find em. Here ya go; Scheppach BGS700 150mm Brushless Electric Grinder / Linisher 230V - Screwfix Electric Belt Sanding Machine, Mini Belt Sander Electric Knife Edge Sharpener Sanding Machine Belts Adapter Polisher Kits Mini Bench Grinder 7 Adjustable Speed (UK 3 Pin Plug Upgrade) : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools BUCKTOOL 500W Bench Belt Sander 4 in x 36 in Belt and 6 in Disc Sander with Direct-Drive Motor, BD4603 : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools JEEVOO Mini Belt Sander - Electric Double-Ended Bench Belt Grinder Kit for DIY Woodworking, Metal, Knife Making : Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

I think I've posted this before but I have to do it again under this banner of making things easier. I debated whether to post it in the beveller post but I think it's way more than just a burnisher. In this video I've replaced one of the belts with felt. It was a half-arsed effort but done properly I think it would be awesome. Note that this is real time with just water as against spending hours at it. The green compound is'nt right for this but this awesome for stropping blades. Please bear in mind I'm no videographer.

Look on YouTube for hot foil machines. Even if not using foil you still need heat.

Don't remind me! As a fabricator welder I had a season ticket to the Royal Eye Hospital at the Elephant & Castle in London. As you say, the powerful magnets don't work on non metallic and welding slag is just that. I remember well that black and chrome thing that you had to put your chin on. The surprising thing was, when he switched on the two really bright lights and came at you with a very sharp spikey thing and said DON'T MOVE, DON'T BLINK, despite water streaming down your face, you didn't, even as you felt the plucking at your eyeball. I remember the first time, a black nurse put drops in my eye, put a pad over it and began winding a bandage around my head. I fainted. The funny bit (In hindsight) was when I was waiting for the bus to get home. The road was quite wide and one way. The bus stop was placed so if your bus came around the corner you stuck your hand out and the bus would come over to the left to pick you up. If no hand was stuck out he would move over to the right hand side to turn right. I was there for a while because, by the time I could see what bus it was it was too late. He had gone over to the other side of the road ready to turn right. Eventually I stuck out my hand for every bus.

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.