celticleather

A stunning piece of work!

Karl If these are the hook fasteners you're looking for, they're available from Le Prevo. Not quite so ornate, but the best I know of in the UK. Terry

Yet again, John Ruskin's words seem to be appropriate: 'There is hardly anything in the world that some men cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.'

The nearest thing I've come across is stocked by Le Prevo in Newcastle - not quite as ornate, but functional. See http://www.leprevo.co.uk/photos/6100-lock.htm Terry

If you don't do it right first time, then this sport is not for you . . . and you have the rest of your life to figure out what went wrong!

Whenever I get to thinking about pricing my work, I always keep in the back of my mind, the words of John Ruskin, the 19th century social critic: 'There is hardly anything in the world that some men cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey.' It helps me to keep a grip on reality, and prevents me from under-pricing!

Magic!!

We managed a peak of 3degC here today, but the rain has stopped! There's an icy blast on its way from Russia at the weekend, so that's something we can look forward to. I wonder if it'll come with vodka . . ?

I don't know whether this will have found its way around the world by now, but it amused me. On 15th January, T-Mobile planted 400 dancers among the commuters at London's Liverpool Street railway station, and filmed the result with hidden cameras. At 11 am the whole thing kicked off, and the result - shown on UK television - is here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=exkfGhz-YsU&NR=1

Over the years, I've accumulated three Osborne rotary punches - the solid steel versions. They were all bought second-hand for reasonable prices (two of them from eBay). I have found them to be superb tools for everyday use, much stronger than the pressed-steel tools whose handles eventually bend! The tubes retain their edge, and are replaceable in the event of a disaster, and the anvils can also be replaced when they become worn. I keep one in each of my workshops, and one in reserve as a spare. Thoroughly recommended!

Syd I notice that the information on their website is a pdf file. Do you have Acrobat Reader on your computer? If not, you can download it for free here http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ Uncheck the Free Google Toolbar option before you download, unless you want another toolbar cluttering up your screen! Terry

Syd I should think these people would be able to help you: http://www.leedum.co.uk/Pages/Leedum%20Products.html Look in the 'Downloads' section of their website - there's a section on leather piping. You may have to order a minimum amount, but it would be worth talking to them. Terry

Smells good, Tony! I'm sitting here listening to the rain lashing against the window . . . can't wait to get to bed! Terry

Happy Australia Day to all you folks in upside-down-land! Best wishes, and have a tinny (or is it a stubby?) or two for me! Terry (in right-way-up-land)

I cut many of my veg-tan belts on the curve. I find it reduces the unsightly 'bagging' that can occur around the back of the belt, and provides a more snug fit, especially for people (mostly ladies) who wear their belts on their hips. I use mostly shoulders for this purpose, with a curve of radius 85". There is a bit of initial offcut, but with a bit of careful planning this can be kept to a minimum. The offcuts are used for belt loops and key fobs, so nothing gets thrown away. I never cut my bridle leather belts on the curve - it would not be economical to do so. I scribe a radius onto the hide and make the first cut with a head knife. Subsequent cuts, with either a strap cutter or a plough gauge follow the same curve. It is important, however, to ensure that the buckle is attached to the proper end of the belt!

Dag They're great! Where did you obtain the pattern for the turnshoes? They're exactly what I need for an event I'm attending in the spring, and I've not been able to find a suitable (and understandable) pattern. I'd be most grateful for a clue! Terry

I use the same basic method that Marlon has mentioned, but instead of a block, I use a very tightly balled pad of non-linty cotton cloth. I find that this allows a reasonable amount of dye to be absorbed into the pad, and enables a good area coverage from each application. I find that the best method is to allow the pad to lightly skate over the surface of the leather, and build up the colour gradually. Too much pressure, and the dye is pushed down into the impressions, with horrible results!

Welcome to the forum, Carrie, one of the friendliest and most useful resources on the Internet! I've no doubt others will chip in with booklists, but in the meantime there's a set of tutorials at http://www.bowstock.co.uk/tutorials.html which you may find useful. The search facility here on the forum will usually come up with information on a particular topic - just type in a keyword. Enjoy your time here! Best wishes Terry

Obama is certainly a good orator, but I hope his policies are in better shape than his shoes!

There's another way of dealing with loose ends, that I posted on another thread. It may not work on all applications, but it's useful for belts etc. You can find it here http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...amp;#entry77837

Excellent! Very tidy job!

It's rather difficult to find a tasteful image . . . this is the best I can do! Hope it doesn't offend anyone's sensibilities!

This is yet another example of the consequences of well-meaning but ill-considered tinkering with ecological balances. In 1960 Mao Zedong ordered that all sparrows in China were to be eradicated, because they were eating too much grain. Truckloads of sparrows were killed, and the following year the harvest improved. A year later it was realised that sparrows also ate locusts, and when a plague of the insects devastated subsequent harvests, over 30 million people starved to death! Whoops! Rabbits were introduced into the UK by the Romans in the 1st/2nd century, and to Australia in 1788, where they have been a nuisance ever since. Cane toads also colonised Australia in 1935, where they were intended to control the cane beetle; they have become a destructive addition to the eco-system. The consequences of these introductions are not fully predictable, and can affect natural balances in unforeseen ways. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to look far enough into the future to be able to make changes of this sort with total confidence. There are moves afoot to re-introduce wolves and beavers to the UK . . . ho hum . . .

Oh dear . . . I have to smile when I see the word 'suspenders' use in its American context! It has such a different meaning here in the UK . . . Excellent work, nonetheless!

Ray Your machine looks remarkably similar to the 29K71 that we use every day at the shop. I have an original wooden table that fits around the shuttle arm - very handy for stitching new straps onto horse blankets, and any large flat work! The Victorian machines are an absolute celebration of the ironfounder's art; why use straight bracings on the treadle stand, when some elaborate scrollwork would do the job? And the decals are little masterpieces. These machines are redolent of an age when time was cheap and quality was foremost, and I'm sure they'll outlast both of us! I hope you'll raise a glass to its 110th birthday! Terry