AftonCraft

Nige - I just received an order of two diamond awls this week, and this video has been a great help in preparing them for the work ahead. Thank you. Randy

Your friend does beautiful work, Bob. Unique, too. Randy

Bob - Thank you for the "recipe." It sounds like it will work well. I don't have a Dremel tool, but might be able to use a variable speed drill as a substitute. I had just received a couple of Al Stohlman books in the mail. One said that canvas can be used to burnish damp leather. It worked far better than expected. I will burnish some more and will add beeswax. Randy

I finished assembling the cutting/assembly table for my tiny leather and canvas goods workshop (9' X 11') yesterday, so it's time to make a prototype leather product. The photo displays the components for a purse that will be given to my daughter-in-law for her birthday on Friday. It was planned as a convertible purse and bicycle saddlebag, but I need to keep the project as simple as possible so that it can be finished on time. Here are a few questions for you more experienced folks: 1. The sides are two layers glued up with contact cement. What glue or cement would you use for a project like this? It should be water resistant. It's too cold in Minnesota (still) to open the window, so a less toxic and smelly formula would be welcome. 2. I don't yet have an edger or a burnisher. What it be possible to use a scrap of wood to burnish the edges of the straps? 3. The main body is a single layer of 8 ounce leather. For items like this to hold their shape after heavy use, would it be better to use heavier material, or to glue up the leather as was done for the sides, or to stitch or glue in gussets where needed? The purse will be dyed black. It is named for Bodiam Casle in southern England. I look forward to your advice and am glad to be working leather again. PS - I moved this from the critique forum, since this one seems to fit better.

Nice design and details. Well done.

The rider should be delighted to ride in this saddle, Bob.

I just purchased a second-hand Consew 206RB-5 in great shape, and Wizcraft's guidance on thread, needles, and SPI is a perfect list to get me started on making the prototype of a combination woman's handbag and bicycle saddlebag.

Greetings! I have poked around Leatherworker.net for a few days and have learned a great deal and discovered what appears to be a community of good people who happen to be interested in leatherwork. I have returned to leatherwork after decades away. It's good to see a wealth of interactive knowledge documented here. This will be a great place to learn, exchange ideas, and I hope make a few friends. I am in a transition period -- just about to retire from a great career, or "day job," and starting a second career making useful things out of leather, canvas, metals, and wood. The first two prototype products in the works are a roll-top canvas and leather daypack and a leather combination purse and bicycle saddlebag. So far, it's fun, rewarding, but a great challenge with many lessons to learn. It's good to be here, and I hope to know some of you by name soon. Randy Runtsch Afton Craft, L.L.C. Rochester, Minnesota, USA