Tugadude

The thing is the purchaser will need to be able to remove the tag periodically, so it has to be convenient. Batteries are said to last around a year, so not a huge deal, but still…

Another great use of scrap, very small scrap in fact, is cord organizers. Just a small piece and a snap and you're good to go. Or velcro, or magnets, or a Sam Brown Stud or...

This, to me, is an example of a thread which should either be deleted entirely or cleaned up, removing posts which are off base. Not only off base, but make accusations. That isn't what I want to see when I come to learn about leatherwork. I get enough divisiveness elsewhere, don't need it here.

It seems we get some traffic every now and then where people are looking to find hardware that some manufacturer is using and it is always a difficult proposition. As I stated, sometimes the maker gets something custom-made for their purposes, rendering it inaccessible. Other times they procure bits from niche providers that don't advertise or at least where we can find them. In our industry we tend to gravitate to companies such as Weaver, Springfield Leather, Tandy, Rocky Mountain, etc. for a lot of things. For specialties, Buckle Guy, as mentioned is a good one as is Ohio Travel Bag. One thing you could try is to reach out to the manufacturer and just ask. Maybe they'll be nice and respond? I guess it depends on how you ask. If they see you as someone hoping to make your own products with their idea, then they'll probably send the email to the trash bin. Or they might surprise you. Doesn't cost anything but time to find out.

I watched a video on YouTube of someone using Black #18 Eidechse Recoloring Balm on a black wallet. Looks like a glorified shoe polish to me. It might make the bag look somewhat better, but likely won't eliminate any defects.

What I see is a lot of dirt and some fading mainly. In my experience and opinion dyes don't "fix" color variation and in fact can exacerbate it. Black might work as suggested by Handstitched, but I think there is still a chance that some areas are always going to stand out and be obviously different. Stains are transparent and as such they don't really cover up defects. There is no way they can "smooth out" or eliminate dark spots. That's just not how they work. To do that you'd have to use something opaque, like a paint-like product. I have a lot of experience in the application of various types of coatings in building construction and there are similarities here.

If you just search the web for "flat top snaps" you find several options. Too bad the maker of the subject wallet doesn't show it in the opened condition, that might give some better idea of exactly what it is. All snaps aren't created equal obviously. And it is certainly possible they are custom-made for the manufacturer. The appearance is very clean.

If you read the reviews it is identified as a snap in at least two reviews. Not a screw apparently. “hold 10 cards and some cash in mine. It’s small, fits easily and comfortably into pockets, is really easy to pull cards out of, and the material feels great. The snap is actually super low-profile too. I’m very pleased with it.”

I often hesitate to even comment on details because I'm a detail-oriented person, always have been. It is both blessing and curse. Blessing because in my career it has served me well. I oftentimes have to determine why something failed (in construction) and the why is frequently a small detail easy to overlook. A curse because I notice things like that strap keep and cannot forget it. To me, bringing it up is an attempt to help a fellow leatherworker. It isn't a criticism for the sake of same, but hopefully it creates an opportunity for the maker to reflect and who knows, maybe agree that it could be improved. What I don't think is particularly helpful is noticing something and not mentioning it. Telling someone "hey, that looks awesome" when you see something you believe could be done differently isn't helpful in my opinion. I'd want others to do the same for me. Yes, that keep is already sagging and in time the edges will curl. Not in keeping with the overall look, which is very nice. That's all.

YMMV = Your Mileage May Vary. It was a common phrase in television commercials for automobiles. They would brag about how fuel efficient a car was and then at the bottom of the screen you noticed an asterisk, followed by Your Mileage May Vary. Nowadays it is a way of saying something is an opinion and you might not share it. Or something is my experience, you might not share it. Hey, it is your backpack, do what you want with it. You're happy, that's all that matters.

"Thanks for looking and your comments Tugadude Every part with a load bearing IS stitched & riveted " Again, my issue wasn't whether the rivets alone are sufficient. We all have unique taste and in my opinion the strap guides above the pockets would benefit from being stitched. That's all I'm saying. I realize it isn't a strength or stress issue. It is an aesthetic issue and I'm just suggesting it might not be in keeping with the rest of the work, that's all. It is such a nice backpack and to me, would benefit from a different treatment there. If you disagree and after consideration feel that it looks just fine, great! At least you thought about it. As they say, YMMV! Here's what would be just a small change, but to me it helps make it look more refined. But this is what I had in mind. I think it, or something similar would add to the look. Or, yet another method, and this one eliminates the need to use rivets or stitching.

Here's a video, part 1 of 3 I believe. You will find parts 2 and 3 I'm sure. I haven't watched, but I trust she knows what she is doing. In order to be authentic, you should use reindeer leather, antler and tin thread as shown. Famous actor Benedict Cumberbatch often wears one, though probably not in his superhero costume.

It is called a Sami bracelet and is associated with Sweden. The button or other fastening bits are typically made from reindeer antler. Here is a tutorial: https://projectland.typepad.com/many-projects-going-on-at/2012/04/learning-how-to-make-a-sami-bracelet.html

I like it. One of the things that makes such a backpack attractive (to me) is the roll top, which allows you to expand the carrying capacity or roll it down to make it more compact when it is near empty. That, to me, is a good thing. I'm not a fan of using rivets to hold things. Not because they won't work, but just the look. So the first thing I see that I'd address is any area where there is a rivet-only, no stitching. I like how you showed the layout of the components on the side of leather. Shows clearly that it is going to use the majority of the hide. On that note, it gives a pretty clear indication of how much you'll have in leather costs. Then add the hardware of course. Add in your labor and that's an expensive pack. Worth it, but expensive nonetheless. keep up the good work!

I think it is finished, it is just the angle of the picture. I'll be honest, I don't know that I would use shell on holsters, but that's just me.

That is a great resource and the reason I asked to see the rivets after the fact. They might hold a clue, being too short or too long, for example. Or bent, a result of having been too long to begin with.

Good answer. A good dealer has nothing to hide, no pun intended. I also deal with SLC and while I don't buy as much as most here, they have always gone out of their way in order to help me. I wonder whether the OP has other options for procuring leather and related products. Sounds like there is at least some distrust with the current supplier. Telling a customer to take it up with the manufacturer isn't the best approach.

Can you show a picture of the rivets after they came loose? I mean separate from the project. That might reveal the mode of failure.

These can be had in sizes from 1.2 lbs up to 4.5 .lbs. You can find them on Amazon. Another method is to gather up some lead and melt it down into the size and shape you desire and then encase it in leather. If you don't know of a cheap source of lead, companies sell ingots of lead that aren't terribly expensive.

If it is sun damage, and the way I interpret the photos, that is in doubt, I don't know of an easy way to "fix" it. Short of dyeing or painting the whole surface, there is no magic formula I'm aware of that could eliminate variation in color due to sunlight exposure or anything else.

What you have there Fraulein is a signature. It is unique to your work and sets you apart from the herd. Keep it up! A lot of leatherwork begins to look the same after a while. This is a great way to differentiate and I applaud you.

Good catch. That would definitely improve the aesthetics. The lining looks really good, well executed. The stitching all around looks very nice. The only thing I might consider changing is the attachment of the handles. Nothing "wrong" with them, just not my favorite method. I echo the comment regarding the stamping pattern on the pockets, it really sets this piece apart. Thanks for sharing this with us!

This is so true. I've seen (keeping it in the leatherwork realm) wallets and such from some well known brands which aren't even close to being as good as their price would indicate. And yet they sell them like hotcakes because of the brand. So yes, brand definitely comes into play. Add an embroidered dude riding a polo pony to the shirt and suddenly a $30 dress shirt doubles in price. Much better can be had for less sans logo. It would be interesting to hear from some of the members here who have developed brands. There are several that immediately come to mind. RockyAussie is one that has a great brand name and a nice website. I'd say he found a niche and is using that to his advantage. https://wildharry.com.au/ What a great name for a brand. I'm sure an extension of the owner himself. I'm guessing that once a brand is established, a certain percentage of customers become regulars and come back regularly to collect more and more product. Repeat business is obviously a good indicator that you're doing something right.

I like how she also offers embroidery services, so with tattoos, piercings and embroidery there's enough diversification to hopefully keep her business steady. One of the toughest things for any business is cash flow, so having more things to sell certainly helps.

Very cool idea! Hope they raise lots of dough to support such a worthy endeavor. Coasters are one of the first things I think of when people ask what they can do for practice or what to do with scraps. Doesn't take much leather to make a coaster and they needn't be round either! I make square ones for myself and they work just fine! The glass doesn't know the difference. But seriously, what a great way to practice carving, stamping, dyeing, or anything else that floats your boat. And if they don't turn out "just so", who cares, use them to put under bottles when you are dyeing leather or finishing. Keeps mess at bay. Thanks for sharing that with us.