fredk

Sometimes I can't get the cut to start so I push the leather into the blade to make a mark, then on that mark I use either scissors/shears or a knife to cut about 1" along what will be the strap. Then I push the leather into the cutter again and I've got a start and maybe a bit to grip to help pull the leather through

I line about 90% of my small items. I mainly use extremely thin lining leather and on the very odd occasion I use cloth material The 10% or less not lined is usually the cheapy 'pocket money' items

To suit my design I did each letter of LAZY~D individually inside a frame and angled each frame

I use a Desk Top Publisher program [aka DTP] The stamp makers I use will work from a a good jpeg image. To get there; I do the artwork in DTP, then print it out at a large size. I then scan that print out to make it a jpeg photo type memory. I can take that jpeg in Microsoft 'Paint' or a photo editing program to adjust it and re-save it. In fact, I number each version [subject name] 01, then each change gets a suffix letter added, eg, first change is 01a, then 01b et cetera. It often I'm up to letter g or even m or n before I'm happy with the tweaked stamp image Its seems a lot of faffing about but I'm used to doing things like this and I can do it all inside a very short time edit- to add images Basic early stage design What I ended up with

Until you get your sewing rhythm sorted try just putting the right needle mostly thru the hole but whilst its there push the left needle thru, so both metal needles are together in the hole, then pull the left needle all the way thru with the right hand and the right needle all the way thru with the left hand - at the same time

I would never describe investment in purpose used machine tools as 'relatively low costs' When I started up my wooden toys business I/we used machine tools which we had purchased over many years at great costs. Those tools were bought for other work but were brought together and used to make toys

Interesting. I never thought of sewing machines being 'handed' But against above, one of my sisters was very much a leftie and she found it awkward to use our 'normal' sewing machine

yes

Delivered this morning, a short time ago. Now to go play with it, and find a space on my cluttered work bench to bolt it to. There is no room on my lesser cluttered work benches for it

btw I was just reducing that large roll of manilla to equivalent A4 sheets to compare with the pack of 160gsm x100 A4 sheets from Hobbycraft

Yes, that will do. That will suit big patterns. That will give you approx 95 A4 sheets I use these from Hobbycraft; https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/white-card-a4-100-pack/6509831000.html its slightly lighter at 160gsm and for patterns bigger than A4 I sellotape the sheets together. Also at A4 I can print out the likes of Tandy patterns and then sellotape the patterns together

If its the heavy weight version, yes it is. The thinner lightweight isn't too good for patterns

Damn it all ! I just bought one of these last night. £63.56 inc delivery and 10 spare blades. UK Seller. Delivery by the weekend or so. I could have got it a heck of a lot cheaper if I could wait 30 to 50 days for delivery but I have some projects on hand now that I can use it on My hand-held splitter will do to about 45-50mm width but the other day I realised I would like to split down some leather that will be 9 - 9.5 cm wide. Enter the bigger splitter

I know this as a 'French Skiver' for taking down the inside edge of a piece, for thinning it prior to sewing it up This style I know as an edge beveller I also buy and use these cheap but decent little ones

That looks the biz shure enuf

I looked at their website. There were a few items I'd like but not available thru ebay. I may take a punt on one or two low priced items and see how it goes . . . . or maybe not

Have you got access to a home kitchen blender? Chop up a big onion*, put in the blender with some warm, nearly hot, water, not a little amount, about 1 pint. Blend until you have a watery onion mush. Pour this through a strainer. Mix the resulting onion water into about 2 gallons of clean warm water. Dip a big sponge into the bucket, wring it out but leave it fairly wet. Wash this over the hide. 2 gals should do several hides *More onions = stronger solution

No, the onions shouldn't turn to mush, they should just dry up. Onions are noted for eliminating fresh paint smells in a room and for getting rid of odd or bad smells in a refrigerator. Once you start to smell the onion you know its done its job then you replace it with a fresh cut lemon. The lemon scent eliminates the onion scent and when you smell the lemon you know its done its job as well I / we used to use this method for freshening the interior of 2nd hand cars Depends on how much work you wanna do on these hides. I'd make up a weak onion/water wash and sponge the hides down with that, maybe a couple of times. Not soaking wet, just sorta dampen them. Then if they take on the onion scent I'd sponge them down with a weak lemon/water wash. Leave them hanging where they can get plenty of fresh air around them jus sum thots

No, the smell will still be on the items This should work, but I'd use cut up raw onions first, then sliced up real lemons after

Thanks A good review. Not that I'm likely to buy one tho. I'm happy with my hand held splitter

That looks fun I think the top binder clip could be eliminated by self-looping the elastic band

This Tandy pattern has instructions and patterns for the pieces. The patterns start at page 15 Shoulder Holster Pattern 4416.pdf

I once had a beagle hound who always managed to find the fresh wet cow pats when we went for a walk. Even in fields where no cattle were he found a wet pat to roll in. He used to walk home with head and tail held high, like he was proud of his new over-coat[ing]. He was a retired Crufts Dog Show champion. We reckoned he was rebelling against all the pampering and beautifying he used to get

They are easy enuf to get here in UK I used to use a lot of them but I never considered using them on leather. I must re-think that