dikman

The second photo made me smile at the clutter/odds and ends that inevitably gather under a bench!

Looks like it's back to the drawing (thinking) board for me. While Patrick's table is a reasonable price in the US the exchange rate for our dollar is pretty pathetic, plus shipping rates from the US have skyrocketed in the last couple of years so it's not a viable option.

I can't help with any books/sources but brown stain made from walnut husks is likely to have been used as there's nothing complicated about making it, all you need are walnuts!

Very nice solution, Patrick. How about a couple of photos of the underside and how it fits? I've been pondering making something but it started getting too complicated (and big!).

12 foot long? That's a big sheep!

Yep, should definitely be in the Sewing Machine section.

Happy birthday mate, guess you'll be cutting a lot of fringes now!

Hanging the swords next to the case is a good idea as being edged blades they fit the theme. How about crossed swords above the case? just a thought.

The tooling on the holster/belt combo is simple but surprisingly effective, it really stands out.

That's a different way of carrying, I haven't seen that style before.

An interesting method of "invisible stitching", but it seems to me it might not be as strong, coming out through the edge?

Nice work, you did a very good job keeping the opposing patterns aligned. It's surprisingly easy for pattern "creep" to sneak in!

You choke on the cost of wood and then think nothing of using half a hide of leather! It would never have occurred to me to use leather as where I am the lumber would be cheaper by far. Anyhow, I'm all for using what's around, if possible. The yellow stain has a "glow" to it that makes the brown look flat. Regarding the maker's mark, have you thought about one of those little el-cheapo lasers, they're great for something like that as they can be placed wherever you want on the hide and the mark burned in. Just a thought. Thanks for the detailed ride along, it makes for a good read.

I did a bit of searching on making dye from acorns and it seems all you do is simmer them for about an hour, but it has to be done several times. It's Spring here so it'll be a few months before the acorns appear but I have oak trees close by so I might collect some and give it a go, out of curiosity.

The model number gives it away, it is a clone of the Pfaff 335. The 335 is primarily sold as a binder, the one I found searching is set up for that, as DieselTech said, and won't be suitable for what you want to sew. What you need is a standard upholstery-class machine, probably a flatbed. Keep looking.

So it's obviously something in the leather itself. It would be interesting to carry out a few tests on it but it's all become mere conjecture now as it's now in a place so safe that it it can't be found.

I have the same problem! Once I get interested in something I tend to collect things! I sort of got my setup on the cheap, I already had a spare table/servo so just bought the 441 head and adapted the table to it. Works for me. Note that if you buy the needle plate/feed dog combo sold by a couple of members on here the big 441 can sew thinner materials with lighter thread. It won't replace a decent upholstery-class machine but it makes it more versatile.

You're quite right of course, Constable, some of those old machines can certainly do the job but I deliberately didn't mention them because I didn't want to confuse the poor lad!

Once someone mentions holsters it makes the machine choice easier - because there is very little choice! Either a 441-class machine or one of those "one-arm bandits", such as the Cowboy Outlaw. Nothing else can handle the heavy thread, has the clearance under the feet or the sheer punching power needed.

TomG, that book sounds interesting. Boiling acorns? Is that all there is to it? I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

I think you're wise to give this a miss. If this is basically going to be your main machine then my advice is to buy a "proper" walking foot set up to do what you want. Don't get fixated on having a "brand" name, there's nothing wrong with buying a clone from a reputable dealer. Buying used is fine IF you have some idea what you're doing - I didn't but I bought them cheap and learned a lot!

That is an interesting idea, using a fishing reel to control the tension. Could be more difficult to set up (and look funny) but a large baitcaster reel should work well, they generally have very good drag systems. If I had a Tippman Boss I would do it, just 'cos......

Me too. Not worth the risk, if something went wrong you'd kick yourself for being impatient.

I don't know about this model but the Pfaff binding models have a back-and-forth motion for the (smooth) feed dog, not the normal reciprocating motion with a toothed dog. Changing the feet and needle plate is easy, the feed dog motion not so easy, IF it can be altered. My advice would be to get a machine that is set up to do what you want to sew. That Tysew looks like a reasonable machine, you just need to make sure it will handle the thread size you want to use and has the clearance under the feet.

Hi Mike and welcome, I must admit the above statement has me puzzled, oil and water generally don't mix too well.