Tramps Leatherworking

A few months ago I purchased a new CSO head knife for less than $55.00 --- sharpened it up, and so far I have no complaints --- was well worth the money.

I use C.S. Osborne harness needles, I have no complaints about them...

The bag looks nice --- the bike needs apehangers though...

Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I think sometimes people get a little hypocritical when it comes to trademarked items --- I wonder how many millions of HD tattoos are out there? Since I design all my patch images, I don't really worry about copyrighted/trademarked images. However, I know of a stone "yard art" business, and a wood carving business, and both sell HD logoed items. I have a good customer that owns a tattoo shop, and he was at my leather shop when I was making that patch --- he made the comment that it would make a great tattoo, so it wouldn't surprise me to see it on someone's arm someday --- a variation of that image is also my leather business logo.

I only do leatherwork on a bespoke basis, so I make my own patterns based on the customers measurements. You can get a vest and chap pattern book at http://www.sbearstradingpost.com/ under "Books"...

Depends on the style of vest --- if it is a gambler style vest, I hem the arm holes and all edges. If it is a cut-off style (SOA) I use binder tape on the arm holes, and neck, and hem all the edges. I usually put a full length front separating zipper in the SOA style vests, and hidden snaps in the zipper flap.

Thanks Randi...!

Here is my latest distressed biker patch, it was a bespoke item from a friend in an MC... This is a Tramp (Me) original design.

The model picture is exactly the way I would attach the straps...

Very nice! it would appear you inherited some of your dad's artistic genes...

Great job, I love reapers and skull themes...

I have a Fiskars 60mm rotary knife and it will cut leather 10 to 14 oz with multiple passes... The majority of my cutting is done with an Osborne head knife.

Yeah, especially those items...

Mike is absolutely spot on --- Chrome tanned is best for vests, jackets, motorcycle chaps, pants, etc...

I have been doing leatherwork for 35 years, and I design just about everything from scratch --- I rarely use patterns, as I love to design different products that fit my image of what they should look like. I also hand select all my leather, or my partner does that I have trained, because I know what I want leather to look like, feel like (hand), and smell like, yes that can make a difference... As far as being an expert, I have been called an "Expert" and "A true craftsman" by customers, and other leatherworkers, but I have never described myself as such. Having a shop is nice, I have two --- one in my "man Cave" and a real shop behind my house, but I have seen some guys produce some pretty amazing leatherwork from basements, or just a corner of a room in their houses. I was lucky enough to apprentice under an old biker that specialized in the Motorcycle genre of leatherworking, that experience was invaluable --- of course it was before the Internet and google... Tools are a whole different animal, if you do some searching on here you will get 100 different opinions about which tools are necessary, and which tools are the best. If you spend the money and get some good quality tools at the beginning, it will make things easier for you. I have some Barry King tools, C.S. Osborne, Weaver Master tools, and a couple of Tandy tools that pale in comparison to the others I mentioned. If you contact one of the reputable tool makers they will be happy to discuss what tools are best for the type of leather work you are interested in... As for sewing machines, I have two Singer treadles that are almost 100 years old that I use everyday, In addition I have a Consew 227 R-2 that I think is a great versatile machine --- it will sew everything from 46 to 207 thread with absolutely no issues. Good Luck, and continue to study the wealth of knowledge on this site, and pick the brains of some of the members --- there are some really great leather craftsmen/Artists on here who are always willing to help. '

I have several of Barry king tools and the quality is excellent, highly recommended by this old biker...

That is bizarre, I have used A&E bonded Poly from the thread Exchange for years, and I have never had that problem, not even close...

What, no biker monster? Great job anyway!

Looks pretty good, thinner leather will work as you already mentioned --- I would also spend some time burnishing and finishing the edges...

I agree with billybopp, I leave it a little long then trim --- I never considered it cheating, just good planning...

The "secret" to saddle stitching is consistency in the creation of the stitch --- I have seen Nigel stitch in round holes and the stitch row looked fantastic. There are many different methods and tools used to create the holes for stitching, and all can look good if the stitching is done properly... If you learn the little "half-knot trick" he does it will help immensely...

Lmao, Jack Daniel's?

I use C.S. Osborne snaps, I have no complaints...

I wear deerskin gloves exclusively for riding and they are extremely durable and can withstand repeated exposure to moisture (rain storms). They can even be hand washed...

This has baffled me for quite sometime also, we can land robots on mars, but we can't engineer a sewing machine to sew 69 through 415 thread?