garypl

Also, I hope you bought extra bobbins. It’s nice to have a separate bobbin for each thread size and color so you can quickly change thread sizes. I think I received 4 with my machine and I quickly ordered enough extra to always have a bobbin full of every size/color of thread that I use! Gary

I am excited for you - setting up and playing with a new tool, machine, reloaded, etc., is one of my favorite things to do! Hope you have plenty of scrap leather on hand to practice with. It took me awhile to become comfortable sewing on my 4500, and I am still amazed when I see it effortlessly punching through any type of leather I feed through it! I rarely have to adjust tensions - but that may be because I am usually sewing leather that is the same thickness, even when I change needle and thread size. Have fun and let us know what you think after you have a chance to play with your new machine! Gary

How about a simple phone case? You can make it as simple or complex as you want according to their skill level and interest. Regardless of what you decide to make, I am sure it will be fun to do it with your grandsons and they will remember making projects with you for the rest of their lives! Gary

Very nice work!

You must have seen a defective unit - I don’t use the table very often, but it is solid as a rock when I install it! Gary

Hi Gus - nice looking holsters! Only comments I have are that I am not a fan of using rivets at the corners as reinforcement. I think the glue and stitching is sufficient to keep the holster together. The middle holster retaining strap could use a slightly longer strap to make it easier to grab. Good job! Gary

Thanks for the information Kitten - I downloaded the trial version and am anxious about trying it out. I have played a little with other CAD programs and decided the learning curve was too long for me! Gary

I thought the Class 4 and CB4500 were essentially the same product. I have a CB4500 and love it - not a bit of a problem over the past 9 months. Buy from whomever you feel comfortable dealing with. Gary

If you are not actively trying to market a product and just want to make a few for friends, I would not worry about it one bit. Gary

Thanks for the tip!

You do beautiful work Tim! How thick is the belt with liner? Gary

Well said Mutt - at the end of the day you explain the options to your customer and give them what they want!

Good point alpha - I think there are many people who don’t know or don’t care whether a product is hand stitched or machine sewn! Some might consider machine sewn to be stronger even though saddle stitching is normally more durable. Gary

Perhaps it would be easier to brand your products as “custom” or “made to order” to differentiate from mass produced products. I agree with Mutt, if you are making a product from start to finish by yourself, I would classify it as being handmade, regardless of your use of a sewing machine or other “modern” tools. Again, just my opinion! Gary

Nice job sewing everything together!

Looks very rustic - what leather & thread did you use? Gary

Welcome to the club! Gary

Track of the Wolf is a great muzzleloading supplier and they sell lock covers as well as patterns for lock covers. See this link: https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/112/1/LOCK-COVER-L Gary

Main purpose is to keep rain and snow out of the primed flintlock - not conducive to quick shooting though!

Here is a recent wallet I made.

Nice job! Don't see these in use very often!

That's why I started playing with leather back in 1969 - to make accessories for muzzleloading rifles! Don't shoot them much anymore, but still enjoy playing with leather. Gary

Sorry to hear about your shipping issues - that's a bummer! What about just stitching the strap to the side of the bag? Alternatively, to relieve stress on the leather could you sandwich one or two small metal washers in the leather, run the rivet through them, and then cover washers with leather to hide them? Would that distribute the stress around a larger area? Gary

I never tried this, but I suppose you could take a copper rivet and carefully drive the burr down until it is not quite touching the material and the rivet is still free to turn. Then peen the rivet to keep the burr in place. Try on some scrap and see if it is loose enough for you. Long term I don’t think this will wear well and I suggest using a small D ring instead. Gary

I glued two pieces of wet veg tan together with Weldwood contact cement (red can) just to see how well it would hold the wet leather together. To my surprise it seemed just about as strong as dry leather when using the same glue! Test it for yourself. Gary