teddycrafts

Hey, i thought some sellers sell the backstraps of croc,etc? I know parts don't need papers, shark too.

Not for resell, not buying the whole hide. I think small pieces don't need papers.

Hi, where can i buy croc/gator/caiman hornback straps? I tried seatching, only found ostrich market. However, their alligator hornback strap looks like it has been burnt lol. Anywhere i can source it online or from members?

Something like this Some people call it cracked or something.

Just came back from reservist in the army, long time no see... Where can i buy black distressed calf/cow hide? I only need a small piece, not the whole hide. Someone willing to sell me? Appreciate the help! I need to make a watch band for my father's birthday.

Thanks, i tried ebay and can't find the osborne tool i need so i turn to this site.

Guys, is this website trusted/safe for using credit card,etc? http://www.handtools-uk.com/default.php

thank you

Hi guys, i need help to pick the right skiving knife for making watch bands, have been pretty unsuccessful thus wasted some cash,etc. Sometimes i need to skive very soft cowhide/calf, if the knife isn't sharp enough... it will cause the leather to change in shape. I have one option in mind, what do you guys think about it? UK right hand style skiving knife http://www.handtools-uk.com/p1586-skiving-knife-osborne-ref-469b-uk-right-hand-us-left Nonetheless, is this uk website trusted?

Or i might need a very sharp skiving knife, the skiving knife i use will stretch and change the shape of soft leather... as i am using calf skin for filling and backing. Do you guys think this website is trusted? I am planning to order one. http://www.handtools-uk.com/p1586-skiving-knife-osborne-ref-469b-uk-right-hand-us-left

Recently i made a few stitchless crocodile watch bands, but unsuccessful at times. The problem is that crocodile skin breaks easiy if you are not careful with the skiving. I broke some already, i need to make it thin for it to be folded to form the loop..... i am making 24mm-26mm straps for panerai and other big watches, thickness of glued cowhide and crocodile must form thickness of 1.6-1.8mm. Therefore, it will be close to watch case. I am looking into skiving machine and don't know if it's possible to skive straps? For examle, my strap is 140mm long, and i need to skive the top 4cm to certain thiness. I found an affordable chinese built skiving machine online, but i am afraid i am on my own to learn how to use it.

Thank you Wiz and Jls.

Guys, i need the exact name for this machine please. I saw a watchband maker use a mini machine like this, works really good i think.

Sell me some if you have left over, can make some nice looking watch bands with it.

The brown one is good, i bought 2 from you before... wanted to give a good feedback but error occured when i tried. But maybe you would want to lower the cost a bit.

Guys, i need help identifying the type of crocodile before contacting the tannery. I found this picture online and i think the texture looks pretty good, not so plain like alligator, and not so rough like caiman. The deep blue and dark green looks really good, i am sure the deep blue hornback is not caiman, but i can't tell what it is.... nile, fresh,saltwater,etc... -_-

Yes i won't buy this machine, I've consulted wiz about this. I think i have no choice but to buy it from the US instead of local dealers. I need a unison feed sewing machine, but the dealer in Singapore charging me 2.1kUSD for juki 1541s..... online sells the same thing for 1.3-1.4k. I believe because they don't stock them at all, they have to order it from another country. Nt much ppl doing leather work in Singapore, you see the problem.... i can find nothing much here

Any advice guys?

Upon using my mom's sewing machine and consulting experts on this forum, i contacted 2 suppliers locally to see what they have to suggest and offer. I am basically sewing crocodile, lizard, shark, cowhide watch bands for big watches ( 45-47mm ) like panerais and graham, they are really 4-5mm thick, no joke LOL A walking foot like the JUKI 1541s is too expansive and the more affordable ones like highlead and chandler aren't available in my country, thus i have no choice but to look for other options. Having watched videos of professionals sewing watchbands, i am convinced that i don't need a walking foot, but an industrial strength straight stitch needle feed sewing machine for this job. I contacted 2 suppliers and provided them with the 3 videos i found on youtube, both suppliers suggest the same model which is JUKI DDL 8700, they told me this is good enough to sew leather 4-5mm thick, one of them also said that they can provide me with roller foot, P811 foot (edge guide), MT-18 Teflon Foot One of them also said that i just need to change the needle size to 18 to sew on my products. I need some advice from you guys before i pull the trigger, i am not sure if i should get roller foot or the teflon foot, some of my crocodile straps are from the belly, thus the top layer will be stiff and uneven patterns, i think the roller foot works on this, but i am uncertain.... based on the 4th video here it works, watch 3.20. As for the servo motor, one supplier suggested "NEW STAR" NS400 servo moto, another suggested Taiwan Hohsing G60 servo motor. These are some straps i made, 4-5mm thick, for crocodile second and third layer are calf/soft cow hide. So i am sewing single layer leather glued from 3 layers 1,55 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Mfbm-uuAg 0.40 3.20 These are examples that some people don't use walking foot but the need feed lockstitch. I ask one of the suppliers bout the thread to use... but she couldn't answer my question, she said normal sewing thread will do. I am planning to use 0.5mm and 0.8mm thick thread, still waiting for another supplier to reply regarding this. If you guys have any advice or opinion, please post it here, i need it really bad. My worry is the feed dogs on the bottom of my strap, maybe i will check with the supplier if i need rubber/silicon on it or don't need.

Do you mind sharing with us how you reduce the marks? I called a different supplier today and the supplier suggest JUKI 1181 like the other did last week, and i told him that this machine leave marks and she told me to put paper at the bottom, but don't make sense to me..... cos if you put paper and remove it later, your stitch wont be tight.

Ok, will try to use my mom's sewing machine to see how it works, thanks again.

Hey, you are right that i don't know anything bout the machines hehe. I just went to wiki and read up on feed dogs,etc. I also called a dealer and ask him more about it, i think even if i get triple feed walking foot like the models you suggested, it will still leave marks at the back of the strap. Means all machines including triple feed have feed dogs at the bottom to pull the leather.? I contacted a strap maker, he told me to get a machine that will not have sittch ont he underside.... he said he can't advice because he don't use sewing machines. I found 2 videos on youtube, i believe this 2 strap makers don't use walking foot, because the top stitch color is different from the bottom, what machine is that?

Besides this, i also need to tell the dealer that i need a straight stitch machine without the bottom grid/ looks like claws/teeth? I was thinking it will scratch the bottom of the leather. I am going to tell the dealer i have 2 options, mid quality walking foot triple feed with smooth feed ( without bottom grid ) and the straight stitch one without bottom grid + servo and roller guide. Thanks for taking so much time and effort to answer my questions

I've sent the details you listed to a local seller, i think i will stay away from walking foot since i am only sewing single layer ( glued ) strap. Will there be any modern machines that work as good as this machine for my straps? Because i feel that it is easier for the dealer to source one like this,

I made the stitchless lizard strap and some croc too.