Ian

Tony, that was sewn on my awesome old Consew 206RB. The point where the seams intersect on the back yoke is 9 layers of 3oz leather - definitely past the limit, but it did make it through.

Wow, Troy, that's about as high end as it comes. That saddle surely has got to made the future saddlemaking books. Who says there's a recession?

I had an experience last week that has left me with a very bitter taste in my mouth. Like most resentments, it was my fault, never-the-less.... I had a guy call up asking if I could make him a pair of heavy leather riding pants. I had previously redone his motorcycle seat and saddlebags, so I didn't ask for a deposit and explained I couldn't even give him an estimate until i knew how much leather they would take. His reply was bascially that he wanted the best leather available, minimal seams, etc, whatever the cost. Well, the pants turned out pretty awesome, if I say so myself, but used an amazing amount of leather and quite a few hours of my time. When he came to pick them up, his exact words were "if they are going to be more than $...., then i hope they fit you" His offered amount just covered the materials. looking back, I wish I had said "no dice, i'll give them to the Salvation Army before I give my work away" But, I wanted to at least recoup my materials, so I gave in. Now, I feel like an idiot for the whole way I handled the situation. I really suck at business!!!!!

Funny thing is, they tested the paint on those old Tonka trucks we used to play with (the ones that used to be made in America). The lead content was much higher than the stuff from China that caused such a flap a couple of years back. This lead business is way overblown in my uneducated opinion. If one was to go by this new alarmist mentality we should all be dead by now. Considering that the people now in their 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's 80's and 90's all grew up in the era of almost no regulation. Have humans suddenly become so fragile in the past couple of decades? I agree with TexasJack. Obviously people want more and more federal control over their lives else they wouldn't vote the way they do. It used to be that constraints on freedom came so slowly that they were almost un-noticable. Now the ball is picking up momentum. What the end result will be, one can only imagine. As one wise man noted "the greatest threats to personal freedom are made in the name of public safety"

Ed sorry to appear to be a know-it-all but Weaver has a chestnut color thread they call 'Henna" It comes in 69, 138, 207, 277, 346

Ed, my briefcase experience is limited to one briefcase, but I used a piece of aluminum flat stock I got at Home Depot. Other than that, ABS plastic sheet is pretty handly stuff - it comes on many thicknesses and cuts easily (also can be formed with minimal heat)

That is a great machine you found. Yes, you can sew slowly using just the treadle (though it seems impossible when you first start using it Replacing the motor with a servo motor is the way to guarantee that you can start off at as slow a speed as you want with no 'jump'. If I had the spare change right now, I get one myself, but in the meantime I just use the treadle to control the speed.

I had this idea (I'm sure I'm not the first to do it) about your question and did a little test piece. Here's some pictures. If you ignore that my bottom tension is not proper, it seems to work pretty good. I cut the bottom layer with the same punch I used on the end of top layer so they match up when it's folded over. BTW, that cool buckle is one of a bunch I found on Ebay.

Not to metion, of course, that a belt sander will shoot your piece of leather across the room as soon as you turn it on.

Well, I missed my calling. I should have been a scientist or filmaker then I could get my place in line for the billions of dollars that have been appropriated for 'Global Warming' - that's what it's really all about. At last count, over 3,000 world scientists have agreed that this hysteria is the biggest hoax ever to be foisted on the public. The planet will be covered by a foot of ice and the 'green' industry won't let go of the golden goose they've discovered. In the meantime, every industry that requires the use of solvents will have been driven to China, and the mediocre products we produce with 'green' substitues will be unsalable. I can guarantee you that the container-ship loads of merchandise from Asia that dock on our shores every day aren't manufactured by 'green' methods. So we'll plug along with our inferior 'Eco Flo', feel superior that we're being 'green' and then head out to the mall to buy Asian goods.

Heather, a couple of questions if you don't mind sharing: Is that a 6 strand braid? How does the increase/decrease in width of the levers affect the braid? What is the width of the lace? Ian PS They look fantastic

Boy, I wouldnt even attempt to split with an exacto. Do you have any other thinner leather you can put on the back? And, you don't need a liner to edge stitch your belt, you can stitch a single layer too.

Ed, I'm not sure why you'd need to use Aussie Wax on chrome tanned leather unless you're just going after the shine. Like I say chrome tanned leather usually has a finish, and you can find the finished look you're after already applied, from low gloss to high shine, and you don't need a top coat in addition to what's already there. Think of a new leather jacket. It has a tannery applied top coat that will last for many years with minimal care.

My new year starts out with a dilema, which may seem obvious to every sensible person, but I've never claimed to be one of 'those'. For quite a few years I've struggled to eke out a living with this leather business. Sometimes it's seemed like I'm just about rounding the corner and then the orders drop off again and I have to take a side job. Sometimes I'm swamped with a dozen orders at a time and I think "here we go!" I have been offerred a job with very good salary, benefits, expense paid travel, etc - a no-brainer, right? But it means giving up this elusive ambition and only being able to take occasional leather jobs. It also means losing the contacts I've built up in the motorcycle world. No more middle of the week rides while everyone else is working. It means working 'real people' hours again and wearing 'real people' clothes every day and dealing with very rich people all the time (not my cup of tea) One would think that having passed the 50 year old mark I'd want to straighten up and fly right and give up those pie in the sky plans, but it's not that easy at all. I've been a gypsy all my life - lived and worked all over the US, Canada and South America. Done every unconventional job - from trapeze artist to dock worker to horse trainer to leather worker and more than I'd care to think of. Now, at 52, I have the chance to become a 'real person'. Can it be done? Am I selling out this thing that has consumed every minute of my thinking for a decade? Is this poor craftsman lifestyle really that bad? What to do??

Ed, most chrome tanned leather apart from naked leather has a finish already sprayed on, but if you're just looking for a nice buffable shine, Leather Balm works well and the finish is very rich looking.

Barra, where in Australia are you? Are you in the military?

Like all your stuff, it looks fantastic, but that braid is out of this world. Wow. You should move to America, you'd be a leather superstar.

Maybe I was the last person on earth who had heard this beautiful song, but I found it a couple of days ago, thought I'd share it with you guys - the word aren't really Christmas, but it has a incredible spiritual feel. The first is the original by Leonard Cohen. The second is Jeff Buckley's beautiful cover of 'Hallelujah' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf36v0epfmI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AratTMGrHaQ...re=channel_page Merry Christmas everyone. Ian

Ed, I don't know, but it was so identical to juki - color, logo style. It even looked like it was cast from a mold taken from a Juki. That was quite a few years ago, so don't remember the details.

The machine you choose would be based on what kind of work you're going to do. If you're going to be doing sewing on thicker leather, harness, bridle, heavier veg tan, you'll need a harness stitcher. If you're going to be doing upholstery or garments, a walking foot is what you'll need. You just don't get good results trying to sew lightweight leather on a needle feed. I don't know about Tacksew, but the price seems low for an industrial machine. I once made the mistake of buying a Chinese knock off of a Juki and it was basically, well ...crap. Tacksew also has the oil reservoir under the machine, which I don't like because all kinds of fluff and debris gets in there - quite messy. I know it's confusing because every machine seems to make the same claims, but there is, indeed a huge difference between the low priced Chinese machines and the name brands. With quite a bit of practice, I can sew very slowly on my old Japanese made Consew without a srevo motor, but on the inexpensive machines you'll need a servo. The clutches are too unpredictable. Sorry if that's not too helpful, but the basic rule of thumb is if you want a decent machine, stick with the name brands. A beat up looking 30 year old machine in good working order beats out a shiney new cheap machine every time. So, you might be better off looking for a used machine.

Never bring a roll of pennies to a gun fight

Here's a few from my extensive collection of 'pirated' pictures from the internet. Might give you some ideas

I found this illustration and immediately thought about the skull folks on LW.

The answer is pretty simple - all upholstery leather and most garment leather has a finish on it to protect the leather. It doesn't mean what you have is inferior leather. You used a product that was intended for taking the finish off. Seems like it did the job.