UKRay

Too weird for me - I'm just wondering how she got to know the leatherworkers who are going to make the items? LOL Is this something to do with you, Badger? (being as you are the only person I know who routinely mucks around with icky looking body parts...)

I firmly believe that any kind of museum which allows people to appreciate their cultural history is a good idea. I would hold up the Walsall Leather Museum as a great example of this. http://www.walsall.gov.uk/index/leisure_an...athermuseum.htm My reservations are that the tools and machines in my own workshop are, in the main, older and in better condition than anything I have seen in museums. This is probably because museums are invariable trying to do it for free with donations, scrounging and bequests whilst I have invested heavily in my workplace. Whatever the reason I would be concerned that any exhibits in a new museum should be of the very best quality and the curatorship carried out by a professional. Supporting an establishment - any establishment - is a personal issue and I'm confident every person on this forum has their own opinion. Suffice to say that financially, museums are low on the list of prioritories for most folk. Feeding kids and keeping a roof over their heads takes center stage. If you plan to do this thing don't rely on public support for your project as, IMHO, you won't get much financial help. Even if the good folks on this forum who are enthusiastic beyond measure about their leatherwork support your project, few people are earning as much as they would like these days so you don't expect miracles. Whilst I hate to seem gloomy - please be assured that I would like to see this project happen - I'm doubtful that running classes every night of the week would support such an enterprise. Government funding is the only viable option for such an establishment particularly if it is to grow and accurately represent your chosen subject. Just my thoughts and worth what you paid for them...

Real life is what I have been doing today to make enough money to pay a few bills, Dave. You really don't want to know! However, I am now my own man again until next Monday when it all starts again... I promise to post pictures of mittens when they are made - right now I'm still at the design stage. I just drew up a quick mitten shape, stitched 2 bits together and turned 'em inside out as a sample and the guy drooled and bit. Now I have to do the job properly or cousin Luke will be on my case again... "Its not about the dollar - its about a job well done and the satisfaction of doing a job well". I have to agree but I like the dollar too! Go on - give me Guilds and Co-Ops, I can take it...

Although I get most of my work from word of mouth advertising, I do get a fair proportion from my internet efforts but the best ones for me are those that I get from nowhere. Call it luck or good fortune if you like As an example: I picked up a nice little order this week almost by accident. I was pricing for another job and the lady's husband walked past carrying a neat little wood burning stove he had just finished making. By the time I left I had an order for 100 leather mittens for opening the stove doors when they are hot - just so you know, chrome leather is pretty fireproof and heat resistant and works fine for this application. That was his fiirst stove. He hadn't even thought about burnt fingers and opening the doors. He is now going to give my mittens away free with every stove. I simply reached out and grabbed the order as it went past... My point is that we have to be looking all the time and be prepared to use our knowledge to solve problems for people who may not even know they have them. Those handles of yours, Dave, are an example of the same kind of thinking. You solved their problem (quality issues) because you knew how to. You got the job because of your specialist knowledge. Maybe we need to do more lateral thinking?

Way to go, Dave - nice work if you can get it! I love jobs like this 'cos they give such satisfaction when you have a box full. Congrats on doing the deal.

Quite right too, Hidepounder. You keep that stuff to yourself! Tashabear, we have to stick together here. You too Holly and Horsehairbraider. Some of the people on here are weird! ...and I'm not altogether sure about you Scottishshoemaker... what you said was pretty weird too!!! Tony, I don't talk to the things, they just have to have names... nice names... I might have guessed that cousin Luke would lower the tone of things, and as for you Tom, well I don't know! Those poor rabbits... Hilly, I can't imagine what you mean. rhall - I'm not altogether sure if that is a compliment or not but I did laugh! Jordan, you are patently 'one of us'!

If it helps anyone, I have a box of about twenty Tri-Bolts sitting in my workroom here in the UK. I'm happy to ship them anywhere in the world at $6 each plus shipping at cost via PayPal. The shipping is definitely cheaper if you source your own nuts and washers from a local supplier. They cost pennies! Drop me a PM and I'll gladly help where I can. Ray

I'm talking about the way I give inanimate objects names... am I alone? I find it hard to own any kind of machine without giving it a name. My old Pilot sewing machine was called Biggles (look it up on Google if you haven't heard of Biggles before), My old van was called Ermyntrude after the cow in the Magic Roundabout (it was a cow to start most mornings) and the GPS in the car is called Gloria for no reason at all. Don't ask me why, I just can't help it. Is anyone else like me - do you give your vehicles, sewing machines and random bits of electronic equipment names or am I completely barking mad and entirely on my own? Surely some of you 'slightly unusual' folk in the US do this? Maybe this thread is what the men in the white coats have been waiting for!

That was quite a leathery adventure you had there, Tom. The strap design is very interesting and the way you have linked everything together is very cool. The only question is about the strap edges - what have you done there as they don't seem quite as well finished as the rest of the job. This may of course just be my squinty eyes!

I was fortunate enough to find three ex-library tables on eBay. Each is made from solid oak and measures 6ft x 2ft 6". I have covered one with a 3ft x 7ft High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) cutting board that I purchased from www.partwell.com in the UK. This has been completely successful and I couldn't praise Partwell's service higher. They cut the board to size and delivered it to my door. In addition, I use standard cheapo (catering quality) HDPE cutting boards under my foot press machines which I use for for punching holes. Once again, no problems there. I also use 24" x 12" catering style cutting boards for tacking down work that needs to be left to dry. Shoe tacks are plenty sharp enough to work well and the surface can be used over and over without splintering like wood.

I'm very pleased to hear you are both getting along so well. I have almost three times as much space to move around in my workroom now, though it won't be long before it fills up again... the new machine is even bigger! IMHO, it could be even less time before his bobbin case rips the fingernail off your chubby little sausage fingers and you bleed on the nice clean leather... either that or you will sew both hands together... Biggles can be a tad spiteful if you don't give him enough respect. If you get tired of him you can always bring him back. Have fun!

Now don't you be unkind to that lovely machine, Karl. You promised you'd be nice to him...

Happy Birthday, Josh. I hope you have a great day. Ray

I'm pleased that this idea has generally met with the board's approval. I have had a number of PMs and email from other members and after my chat earlier today with Karl (Badger) I think we can safely say this event is going to happen. Because of the time constraints - most of us are working - it can't be this year but almost certainly next. This does allow us time to plan and prepare something special. Jim, I'll try to drop in to Tandy to see you as you suggest. Perhaps we could have a chat about getting you and Tandy involved? Tom, Luke has already said he is coming to do a demonstration or two... Tina must come too. Jordan, I like the idea of linking with another event - more about that later. Dave, Everything you said has gone into the plan. Many thanks. Ben, I'll drop Francis an email in due course. Thanks. Denise, you make a very valid point and one we discussed at length earlier today. I think this needs more thought. Finally, Tony - Midsomer Murders eh? You definitely need to get outdoors more! I'm still keen to hear from more UK members about what they would like to see at a show of this kind. Unless we know what you want we can't provide it for you. Thanks guys, Ray

That all sounds like excellent advice, guys. I'm putting together a list of folk that ought to be at an event like this and I'd appreciate your thoughts. Would any of the US vendors make the trip? At this point it is hard to see how they could make enough money to cover costs... What sort of events are popular - I have never attended a show like this so I have no idea. Sorry Tom - Troy says no dancing girls... Mind you, Knut seems pretty keen...

As far as I am aware, Kustom, we don't have any 'open' leatherworking shows in the UK. Certainly not on the scale that the US offers. Personally I would like to see demonstrations from suppliers and craftpeople plus a range of competitions and exhibits. I'd like to see as many European leatherwork craftspeople and suppliers as possible attending the event and selling their wares and I would encourage the leatherworking museums and colleges to come along too. I don't think it would be sensible to restrict the show to Western leatherwork although I would hope to see plenty on show. European cultural diversity offers so many styles of leatherworking and I'd like to encourage as many people as possible to attend and exhibit their work. edit: Sorry guys, I meant to include Scandinavia too - 'cos I'd definitely like to see Knut and Tom Swede there too! I'd like to get some feedback from the Brits - would any of you like to attend an event like this?

Steady, Tom. Have you missed your medication again? LOL

Listen to Kate - she knows waaay more than me! R.

Just take it a little slower, Frank, and put less pressure on the cut. Let the blade do the cutting rather than force it through the leather. IMHO the problem lies in that the middle back of the animal is tougher than the flanks and the leather is slightly softer the lower you get on the sides. If you force the cut you will get less resistance from the sides than the back hence you get a slight curve in your cut. I get the same effect with a plough gauge if I rush the job. Best to take your time, cut a little slower and more carefully - even if your inclination is to cut swift and slick. Just my opinion and worth what you paid for it. I'm sure others will have different advice.

I generally find that methylated spirits will shift most things and it is available from most hardware stores... I'm not sure if it has another name in the US but that is what I would use...

Every time I see another US leatherwork show on this forum I get envious of people who live close enough to attend. I want to do those classes, see all that great leatherwork and talk to all those interesting people too! As there isn't much chance of me getting to the US anytime soon, I mentioned the feelings to one or two folk over here - they know who they are... We all agreed that running our own event was an idea worth exploring. A leatherworker's convention in the UK would certainly open people's eyes to what can be made from leather but how many people would be interested in attending and taking part? What would they want to see and do? I'm happy to do the donkey work and arrange the thing in a central UK location if there is enough interest - over to you guys. Any thoughts? Anyone want to help? Ray

Denise, have you EVER considered moving house... maybe... somewhere warmer... maybe...

You know that feeling when the light suddenly comes on... Looking at your pictures, Trevor, the whole moulding making process suddenly became easier. Using cutting board to make an external former (because it doesn't flex too much and is easy to shape) makes perfect sense. Building the 'plug' from pine or some other easy to work softwood is a no-brainer. Sealing the plug makes sense - as does sealing a plywood former to stop de-lamination. Now what about clamping the bits together? I've seen all kinds of clamp in my local hardware store - what sort do I need to get? Pictures would really help here as I have a feeling the trans-atlantic tool naming thing might be different - and the brand names aren't the same.

The big thing about leatherwork for me is doing stuff the way you want to. It doesn't really matter a damn what anyone else says you can still ignore everything and do it your own way. That is what I mean about your way of working rdb. You just do it your way and the results speak for themselves. (I was going to edit this sentence but laughed so much when I read it again that I have decided to leave it in - what I was meaning to say, rdb, was that your work is original, interesting and practical - nothing derogatory at all! LOL) This business of moulding is really a hands on, practical, go and do it sort of thing isn't it? No amount of telling can beat the sheer volume of learning you'll get from an hour spent making a mould and using it. I like the three piece mould idea too. It seems to add a bit of technical wizardry to a process that is otherwise quite mundane. Designing and making a complex shaped bit of wood or plastic (I liked the idea of using cutting board too - I have several hacked up boards that need re-cycling so I'll give them a go) that really works and does a good job gives me far more pleasure than it should... I'm going to enjoy mould making. Thanks for all the help guys. A quick question on the subject of materials, would you varnish a wooden mould or just leave it plain? Would the varnish help the leather to slide more easily or would it be better to allow the wood to soak up the moisture from the leather?

I missed this the first time around and thought it was so good it needed another showing! The black background really works well with the tooling. Is the Geisha your own design, Tinyl?