Geoff

Hi Fritz, Beautiful work. Your sheaths are as good as it gets. Especially your inlay & lacing. Keep on showing. Geoff

Thanks for the advice, it seems that I will need slightly narrower lace. @ 3/32" How about the thickness? Is 1.0mm OK or will I need it thinner? Thanks, Geoff

I have made a couple of credit card wallets, by hand stitching. I would now like to add lacing around the edges. Although I have done lacing on heavier gauge leather (knife sheath), never on light weight items. What gauge of lacing leather is best for wallets? I have some 3mm x 1mm and 3mm x 1.5mm which seems far too thick for the wallet. Any advice will be appreciated. Geoff

Thanks Bruce, Your reply helps a lot. I may try one size of the "bissonette" edger - which size would be recommended for 9/10 oz belt straps? Geoff

Thanks a lot for your replies & information. I will now be able to work on my new belt, which will be a "dress" style belt. Geoff

I have been working on improving my belt edge finish and spent some time researching various leather workers recommendations. One of them being that one should only cut the edges in one direction (from head to tip), to keep the cut fibers all in the same direction. Whilst I take on the logic in this method, there is no way that I could do it because (with my plain edger) it would entail doing some of the cuts with my left hand. Following further research, I heard about "bissonette" edgers, which can be pushed or pulled. The question is, at the end of the day, can the difference be noticed? I have a nice set of plain edgers that I use with my right hand only, and would only invest in a set of "bissonette" edgers if the improvement is significant. Another thing that springs to mind is how to sharpen them? Any comments on the use of these tools will be appreciated. Geoff

Thanks for the information. That is exactly what I needed to know

I am thinking of making a lined belt for myself. Should the lining (will be glued & stitched)be thinner than the outer part of the belt? What are typical weights for lined belts? Thanks in advance, Geoff

Thanks a lot for going to the trouble of posting the photos - I think that I will give the Hidecrafters set a try - they look sharper than the Tandy ones.(from a previous photo) If the ferrule has any gap, I will give it a spot of superglue. Thanks for the tip. Geoff

I currently have a 3 wheel set from Tandy - is the Hidecrafters set significantly better in performance? I like he fact that it seems from the photo to have more angle. (I am awaiting confirmation that Hidecrafters still supply the one pictured. I really like the quality of the Ranch2Arena ones, but at $55 each I can't really afford it. I appreciate that the materials and manufacture are top notch, but do they mark and overstitch so much better? Thanks for any information, Geoff

Thanks for that, they have them. I will give them a call

Thanks Kevin, To make the job complete, I think that I will replace the hasps as well. I emailed Ohio but got no response - may be they will not ship to UK!! Their website has no prices

Thanks a lot, I will check them out. Geoff

Can someone please point me in the direction of a supplier of replacement lock & hasp for a hard leather briefcase. The preference would be brass with a combination lock. It is a repair for a close friend, so I don't want to fail on this. Thanks, Geoff

that is a fantastic restoration I am envious.

Thanks again for the input and advice. Entiendo, I love those leashes. Did you braid around a core & if so, what did you use?

Received with many thanks, Geoff

By the way, I have the instruction manual and parts lists as PDF format if you would like them.

Do you mind giving an indication of the price of these old Singers? That is a nice restoration. I have a similar one. Can you please let us know what type of paint was used - I am tempted to have a go at restoring mine. Geoff

Thanks to everyone for the helpful replies. SmartAceWolf, My reading thus far is limited to "Bushcraft No.8" by Ron Edwards and I have ordered "Braiding Fine Leather" by David W Morgan. Would the "Encyclopedia of Rawhide & Braiding" by Bruce Grant be going over the top for a beginner? On the subject of cutting lace for braiding - How about the merits of the tools for the job? I have seen the "Australian Lacers" on Ebay for about $25, and some rather better made ones from Dene Williams and Clint Sims (a bit over my budget at this time) Would I be better trying my hand with one of the cheaper ones, or saving my money until I can afford the better one? Thanks again, Geoff

Please do. A step by step tutorial will be great. Geoff

Sorry, I should may be have said at the outset - we are English, and my daughter does ride English style, albeit in Spain Thanks for your help

That is the problem with being a beginner! What seems like a simple question obviously is not. My experience in braiding is limited to various lanyard type things and I have done some lacing on wallets, knife sheaths etc Soon I want to make a riding crop for my daughter. I suppose that I should reword my question : I am planning to make a riding crop. Would I be advised to buy some Kangaroo leather or make it with what I have (natural cow leather) Thanks

That is a good question! As a beginner, I suppose that I meant the easiest to get a decent looking result. With time and practice, I would like to get the nicest finished product. Up to now, I did not see Rawhide lacing. Do you buy it or prepare your own? Thanks, Geoff

It seems from what I have read, that Kangaroo leather is by far the best for braiding and lacing. What comes in second best, and how far down the scale is it? For example, is goat leather any good? Thanks for any information, Geoff