fredk

In WW2 Winston Churchill is supposed to have directed a sea convoy of ships carrying tea and tobacco to special protection. The Admiralty told him that if they did it meant removing ships protecting a convoy of tanks and other munitions. Churchill is supposed to have said 'the British worker cannot carry on without his tea and cigarettes but he can without tanks'

I used to use a piece of concrete paving slab but I changed to a piece of marble I found because I found a skiver just glides along the polished surface of the marble. When I use a skiver to do an edge at an angle part of the skiver is on the marble and it just glides over it

Unfortunately, Yes - Thompson's Punjana, blended in Belfast https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-tea-producer-runs-out-of-tea-after-red-sea-supply-hit/a1977796519.html The End is Nigh! The sky is falling! PS. We may have to arrange to send you 'aid packages' of tea,

Last month I bought one of those bags of 440 tea bags. I'm set for another few days yet. Local company thats blends a range of popular teas has already run out of tea. Their stock is on a ship coming Round the Horn* * Round the Horn, old BBC Radio comedy show

Now there's going to be a 'run' on Tokonole. PPL will be buying stocks of it as an investment opportunity, there will be a black-market for it, with dodgy traders supplying 'cut' Tokonole at inflated prices . . . . . .

I used LCD Saddle Tan oil dye then Eco-flo Dark Brown antique

I'm putting together some items for no.1 dottir's archaeology kit I'm way out of practice. The stitching on this is terra-buble but here it is anyway And with what goes in it It doesn't look so very bad in the hand This started out 'a bit of leather folded over . . . ' and it got more elaborate as time went on Next are some tool rolls for small scrapers and brushes, and a case for a magnifying glass

A 'former' is simply something in the shape of what you want to mould around instead of using the actual item. In this case, a wood block made to the shape of the shears

This is the Mark 2. Longer straps, two less of them and holes top and bottom. I left it with a couple of ladies last week. This week I'll find out how they got on with it

Happens even on expensive leather. I made this Navigator's Board and when I dyed it a lot of wee dots appeared. Bug bites It was covered in these, bottom left, but only showed up after dyeing

I use the shafts of screwdrivers

You can make shoe lasts by pouring ready-mix concrete in made shoes. Take an old or cheap pair, that fits, line it with a plastic bag and pour in the concrete mix. In a few hours you can remove the cast. If you're lucky you can remove it without destroying the shoe, or you might have to destroy the shoe, hence the use of an old or cheap pair I have done this so I know it works

Its not a problem, its an annoyance

You should ask this in the Leather Sewing Machines section. You'll get an answer quicker. I'll 'report' this to get it moved

How many would you want?

One I can think of; on bought-in patterns with prepared sewing holes marked, the holes don't align

I've had Boss for just over a year. No problems. No complaints. One thing I like about it is its small 'foot print' on my desk. Takes up less space than my Singer 99

4- monthly & 5-weekly report since last #1; Baby Oil; Flex is good, better than Control #2, Smell = mildly 'leather', Other (fungus, deterioration ) = 0 #2; Cooking Oil (rape seed); Flex is very very good, very much better than Control #2, Smell = very slightly 'leather', Other = 0 #3; Lard (pork fats); Flex is slightly better than Control #2, Smell = very slightly 'leather' and a hint of oil, Other = surface feels a bit 'greasy' #4; NFO Compound; Flex is very good, better than Control #2, Smell = neutral, Other = 0 #5; Olive Oil; Flex is better than Control #2, Smell = very slightly 'leather' with a hint of oil, Other = 0 #6; 3-in-1 Oil; Flex is stiffer than Control #2. Smell = strongly of 3-in-1 oil, Other = 0 #7; Vaseline; Flex is stiffer than Control #2, Smell = faintly of 'leather' Other; Surface feels very greasy #8; Control #1; kept with #1 to #7; Flex has stiffened #9; Control #2; kept inside away from influences No change in colour in any of the pieces Thats all for now

I think the white might be (English) Angora wabbit

I agree, looks like wabbit Some breeds of wabbit grow very long hair Clean carefully, sponge clean and hang to dry. Do not get soaking wet or they will fall apart Worth about $10 to $15 each

2mm to 2.4mm minimum, 2.6mm to 2.8mm bestest

Just make belts for skinny people If you cut at an angle perhaps you can gain a few more inches

What price time and evenness (consistent spacing) ? on a few its not worth it but on a few dozen (even done over time) it is

Assuming; Cut a large section(s) down the centre for your belts. Don't cut individual straps but a section from which you can cut straps, say, 15 to 18 in wide. Then cut whats left in to 12 to 15 in wide strips. This should bring you close to the belly and thinner leather. Then you can cut your wallets from this. Hang up the long strips out of the way and cut them into belts as and when needed

try and get an older tool The newer ones are very smooth and have heavy plating which reduces it further