BDAZ

If you are looking for a way to really darken leather in a more natural way, look up vinegaroon. I use that in combination with olive oil..sort of a salad for the leather. If you want to "age" leather, a few days in SW sun will do the trick. I had to match a mandolin strap to much older guitar strap for a customer. # days in the sun plus some neatsfoot made it look 15 years old. Cya! Bob

On my machine the thread is wound COUNTER CLOCKWISE when inserted into the bobbin holder. Cya! Bob

Boston is fabulous....In Summer! Winter..not so much. I spent the pas few winters in Salem...This past year I had enough. Play some of the Irish bars in Boston, the North Shore and The Vineyard. Hope to get back this summer. Good luck with your projects! Cya! Bob

Elegant and well made! Cya! Bob

Try the Schmetz 18 or 19 and see if there is a difference. Make sure you are threading the machine properly. BAck off the upper tension completely and then add tension in 1/2 turn increments until the knot is centered in the material. Hope that helps Bob (Former Surrey Resident)

Try RJF. I have ben very happy with his leather as are most folks. It is drum dyed veg tan or natural. Cya! Bob

I also noticed them on E-Bay when I was looking for Celtic Alphabets. Seems like they were around $100. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftool-Leather-Tooling-Celtic-Runic-Alphabet-stamp-set-discontinued-SCA-LARP-/321350513191?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ad1fbb227&nma=true&si=gUqkG84y0tRLL%252Bdig6K5HSAyroI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557 Snooze, Ya Lose! Cya! Bob

Most probably pot metal. Cya! Bob

Thanks! I have been scheduled for sports medicine for next week. I was going to call my arm surgeon Monday (I had cubital tunnel a couple of years ago) but surgeons like to cut and if I can get an objective diagnosis that may avoid surgery, I'm up for that! Thanks again Bruce, that's just what I needed to hear! Cya! Bob

Thanks!

Maye today but the R&R on a Rolls Royce refereed to the makes of these hand made cars many decades ago. When each died the letter went from Maroon to Black. Cya! Bob

Just got back from the hospital after a head on with an iron pedestrian bridge at 20 MPH. I ht a patch of sand and it didn't end well for me or the bike. I was knocked out and I spent day in the trauma unit. To every ones amazement there were no broken bones in my 66 year old carcass. It does look like I have badly damaged my right rotator cuff and possibly my left as well., though not nearly as bad. Has anyone had rotator cuff issues and how did effect your leather work? Especially tooling and cutting. I am backed up at the moment and this is all I need! I have had to cancel all my music gigs for the foorseable future! Thanks! Bob

Great idea! bob

That's all you NEED to know..keep paddlin' And then there's Banjo Patterson... Bob

I purchased a black double shoulder and another from a well known quality supplier, and Roger's blew then out of the water for color, depth and consistency. Cya! Bob

Mine had my company name, City, Sate and USA (I sell overseas) and website. It's big enough so the web site is legible which for me is the most critical information so word of mouth can generate more sales. I usually but the mark on the back of an item so it's visible but not obtrusive. Hey ! Mercedes put's their mark in the front and no one complains! Cya! Bob

It's a banjo strap.. Cya! Bob

I hid a snag on a one piece strap I am making. The very end of the strap, which will be stitched into a loop is a lot spongier than I had initially thought. Must be from the neck as the strap was cut along the back. I can't reinforce the area with another piece of leather as the thickness of the leather at the loop is critical. I could possibly glue some fabric as a reinforcement and to prevent stretching or possibly use some liquid to strengthen the leather..but not sure what. Worst case I'll use cordura but I wonder if anyone has any ideas? Thanks! Bob

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=890-8803&&cm_mmc=Didit-_-SEM-_-GglProd-_-GglProd&003=18299132&010=890-8803&gclid=CO3w8PG2sb4CFYlafgodO0IASA Cya! Bob

I don't get what the 2K pot in series is doing for you. unless you are using that as a fine adjustment once you have the 100K set to an approximate speed. I did a very crude test and figured on my system (remember it's also about pulley sizes) 60 SPM equates to around 60K Ohms. I like the idea of moving the pots off the motor and accessible without sticking one's hands past the belts and pulleys. For those who are analog challenged here's a chart: When I have the log pot installed I should get 50% of the knob rotation controlling the first 10 ohms, so I doubt the second pot is necessary. It would be with a linear pot. Such a simple fix for a significant issue. Cya! Bob

Cya! Bob

You can use an arbor press. This one has a hole drilled in the ram. A 2 Ton will have enough clearance to use your current tools. For hand stitching I always cut a groove and that keeps the pricking iron straight and keeps the stitches below the level of the leather. Cya! Bob

Barge is used by shoemakers and seems to be a better adhesive than either Weldwood or the Tandy version. Cya! Bob

Assuming you are gluing to the outside of the case, I would first clean the case with acetone and remove and mold release then I would really rough up the surface with a low grit paper or wire brush. The I would use a high solids solvent based cement like barge cement coating both sides and allowing to dry to slightly tacky. Cya! Bob

But think of the thousands of lawyers that would be pan handling at intersections, clogging up the homeless shelters and wolfing down welfare. Tragic! Bob