YinTx

Quite the interesting article. It would appear that most of the leather dressings might be detrimental long term, as I had mentioned I had read elsewhere. But the effect on the feel and smell of the leather is not mentioned, which I think is a pretty important topic for the buyer...I tend to think most of what I make is destined to be used and abused, not stored in a museum, and I have to attract a buyer first! Veg tan leather looks pretty dull with just a dye finish, the dressings bring out the beauty.. YinTx

Kinda like Segdwick's leather has a bit of that smell 'o fish... I had heard that beeswax keeps leather from "breathing" by creating a bit of a seal, and thus it can not absorb moisture, and thus dries out faster than if it did not have beeswax coating. Anyone know if this is so or not? YinTx

Also, just fyi, a lot of people are allergic to turpentine. Using petroleum products such as hexane might cause health hazards, especially if people are applying bare handed. A lot of the other ingredients might be found in hand lotion, so would translate well to those not using gloves - ie any one putting product on their own leather goods that they are using at home. Just my $0.02, free, so worth only the price of admission. YinTx

Thanks! YinTx

Worked the top edge some, I was not happy with it before or after. Finished stitching. Ready for delivery! YinTx

Awesome, let us know! YinTx

Wow, that is fast. I'd take more than that just stitching, but apparently I'm slow. I am even more in awe now. Just curious, where did you get the transparent thread that you used along the top of the zipper? YinTx

Thank you, 9tpi. Getting a little further along today.. liner is in, partially stitched.. just the 2 short sides to go and finishing touches... Fighting this leather some, as it will not sand.. so waxy it just ends up sort of burnishing instead. Which makes having flat edges without glue at the seam a bear. I put together a trial piece of leather so I can experiment some with irons, wax, burnishing sticks etc. to see if it is possible to make that last edge cleaner. YinTx

Would you mind taking some photos and sharing as you go along so we can interpret RockyAussie's instructions? Many thanks! YinTx

Yes, I had to learn to do that left handed as well for this type of design. There were more than a few injured finger tips as I learned to do that! YinTx

Absolutely stellar. Impeccable stitching, nice edges, well executed design! YinTx

Bikermutt and Aussie: Thanks for the compliments. RockyAussie, I am sure you are much more adept at installing liners than I may ever be. I wish I lived anywhere near you so I could come learn for a week or a year. Dun: I use a pricking iron to mark stitches, then an awl to complete the process. Pretty much really difficult to hammer a pricking chisel through all the layers the way the body of this bag is built, and I do prefer the construction quality of an awl to the chisels, although I have and do use both methods depending on what I am making. All stitches are saddle stitched. I don't use an awl to cut the cloth in the zipper or the liner, only to finish the hole in the leather. By necessity it will pierce the cloth, but I try to control the depth because I don't want to cut the cloth and affect the strength. Perhaps others with more experience can suggest a better way. It makes keeping the stitch pretty on the front very difficult, since the cloth affects the path of the thread. Hope this answers some of your questions... YinTx

Finally, after nearly a week of finessing the liner to fit and line up how I wanted, I have fitted it into the body of the bag. Open to hints on how to speed up the process of making a liner and installing it! YinTx

I must say... an engineering marvel to fit all that in such a compact space! YinTx

I purchased mine from the same place I believe. It is possibly the best $30 I have spent for leather tools, as *every* item I make touches this "tool" at least once as I cut, trim, etc. The 1/4" version has worked fine for about 2 years worth of use, on just one side. https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=36172&catid=705 YinTx

These edges are coated... YinTx

Is that not hand stitching thread? YinTx

That is an awesome coaster. Well done! YinTx

TexasCowboy62, Thank you. I saw something that looked like this, so I drew up a pattern on a napkin so to speak, and adapted it to fit the size of leather I had. I gave it a thin 2 oz veg tan leather backing to provide it some form. I suspect there are dozens of versions of this sort of thing floating about... YinTx

Troy, Thanks for that. And after 15 minutes of internet searching.... how to make your own Tallow! http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/12-02/make-your-own-tallow/ huh. so simple. why buy? YinTx

hah. Wiki to the rescue... I think Lard is from Pig, and Tallow from cow. Now, where to buy?

Wait, I just read that tallow is Lard! (see product description here: http://grasslandbeef.com/beef-tallow-5-gallon-bucket-ships-separately). Then I read you are mixing tallow with lard! So what the heck is it if it is not lard??? And where would you buy it in the states? Thanks for clearing up my confusion! YinTx

Yeah, it has a striking resemblance to the British Tan dye from Fiebengs, which you can see in my avatar. But, that's what the tanner called it.. so Bold it is! And thanks for the compliment! YinTx

I am not sure. It feels like a tumbled or dry milled leather (veg tan), but could very well be a chrome tan. nstarleather may be able to clarify. Regardless, it has a great hand to it, very supple. It is dyed throughout, looks nice. The 10 lb package he is selling has a LOT of leather in it: so far I have made 4 small purses, this clutch and still have plenty left over to do twice that and more. Some bits have scars you have to work around, some looks like belly, but there is plenty of good stuff in there as well. If he still has any left, its a nice color and interesting leather to work with. YinTx

CazaLopez, I don't plan to paint the edges on this one. Was concerned that the waxy finish on the leather might prevent the paint from holding. I have done some wallets with it, and the edges seem ok without burnishing or painting, so I am going with the warm fuzzy look on this one with the linen thread. Perhaps I'll do a test wallet with edge paint and use it for a while to see how it holds up in the future. For today, not a lot of progress as I was finishing up the orange clutch from the other post.. so only managed to complete the zipper pull. The day is still young tho... and I need a smaller set of end punches... YinTx