fredk

Hand sewing; sometimes I cut and burn but mostly I cut the thread tight to the item. I usually give my items a coat of soft wax mix which I polish in. The sewn threads get this too. Also, with some heavy thread I try to bring the end of the thread up between the layers, cut neat, tuck the end down and glue the edge, locking the thread in

Leather buckets have been used for centuries. Some are/were made to be collapsible for easy storage. Very necessary on the old sailing ships such as HMS Victory. For use in fire-fighting they have certain advantages over metal buckets; they take knocks and being thrown about better, they leak through the sides and this seepage protects the leather from the heat. Leather doesn't get hot nor does it burn. A metal bucket can very soon get too hot to handle

Leather fire-buckets were still in use here up to recently

a. my 3D resin printer can print to about 7 inches by 4 inches. I just don't have the ability yet to draw up the artwork as a printer file yet b. The largest brass stamp I have had made is 5cm x 5cm. That is the largest size I wanted but the china-boys can and will cut brass stamps up to about 12cm square, or any combination size you want your artwork to be

I've taken a notion to see if I can make a Phrygian cap in leather Its also recognized as the hat the Smurfs wear Any ideas if there might be a pattern out there in the wilderness, or am I gonna have to draw up my own pattern? It looks like this: or this; I'm wondering if a medieval cap with a liripipe pattern could be adapted. I used to have a pattern one of those

I thought I'd mention; the crystal topped rivets I have sit out from the leather a wee bit so I use these cup washers under them. The washers makes the crystal appear to be bigger. The cup washer just takes up the empty space under the rivet head, it also makes it more secure and less likely to catch on anything

that is chronic

All the crystals I have have short stems, good for just about 1.5mm, 2mm max leather. I would put the rivets on strip or strap of the thickest leather that can take them then glue & sew the strip to the main collar leather. Just working the other way round; thin backed by thick rather that thick backed by thin

I was using the word 'liner' in a general sense, that its not the main construction A simple fix; get a thin piece of leather, if this is on the outside; leather of contrasting colour, like red, stamp it either with an impression or with ink, a design of your liking or initials, or for the inside leave plain. Glue that piece of leather over the bad part; well beyond its ripped edges and over the belt edges, then sew it to the main belt. Making a feature rather than trying to make a hidden repair

I think I may have come across belts made like this one. The lining is PVC. And that is near impossible to repair. But it can be patched. A new piece of PVC would need to be vacuum formed on to the belt with special bonding adhesive

1. Find someone who does 3D printing and designing. I know a chap who does and he made me some different sized ampersands. He drew them up and then printed them for me. Charged me not a lot. With 3D printed stamps once you have the file you can print out at different sizes. You need to use a press with these stamps 2. I get brass stamps made by one of a few different Chinese makers through ebay. Their prices are reasonable. With brass stamps you are stuck with one size. You can heat them to burn the design on. You can use a press or a mallet with them

Most excellent. You captured the Nordic, aka 'viking' decoration very well. That interlacing, also used by Irish Celts is extremely difficult and you have done it very well

Most excellent. Thanks for 'reporting' back in with your news

I've not used pens for antiquing but I use them for other lining jobs, such as letters. Gel ink pens work best but need care as the ink is not waterproof. Brushing on a sealer over the ink can smudge it. I dab on a light first coat of the sealer, then a heavier coat Pens used on a number of these and some coffee cup cuffs

I checked mine last weekend and yesterday No change. Nowt happening in way of mould/fungus or bad smells. All pieces are getting a wee bit darker on the grain side but I think thats because they're getting direct sun light on them. All pieces smell faintly 'leather', with just a hint of the stronger oils on those pieces A proper detailed check this weekend

a. the few knife sheaths and sword scabbards I've made I've just rubbed in plenty of beeswax on the inside part

Just think; someone's therapist knows all about you

I keep sniggering. A 'hot box' means somat else here Another way is for your 3 year old daughter sneak it off your work bench and hide it amongst the tomato plants in your green house, and you not find it for 3 weeks, long after you've made another for your friend No 3 year old handy? plenty of parents will lend you one for a day Sorry, I'm just being silly

Nice looking shootin irons easy-peasy to make holsters for dem Ya gan doit lad

Very nicey indeedy You're very good at these caricatures

Almost 2 weeks ago I went looking for a large plastic envelope containing nearly 50 A5 sized sheets of double-sided sticky. I had used a few sheets just a few days before. I spent a few days looking for it. I looked in the usual places and even in the unusual places. I couldn't find it so I ordered another 50 sheets which arrived last Thursday. On Friday I started a search for my set of chopped-off fingers to get my hat band ready for this coming week. Even though I'd set them out early last week I couldn't find them.As I looked for the fingers I found the envelope of sticky sheets. Late on Saturday as I was putting some hardware away I found the fingers Then I went to put the new stock of 50 sticky sheets in with the old stock - but now I can't find them! Hat is ready though;

I too missed this one Its very nicey indeedy. An unusual pattern for it. Not seen anything like that afore

Interesting Good find

I use a beeswax mix rubbed on and burnished. Others on here use Gum Tragacanth

Its a very nice set. Clever idea using elastic on the bottle sleeve @Klara they have to cover the label cos they don't have real whiskey ( but think tantalus) I've seen plenty of bottles of whiskey. I wanna see a picture of the Rodeo Queen,