celticleather

I made a pair of leather braces about ten years ago for a guy in the US. I was a bit surprised when he emailed me asking for Celtic suspenders, because 'suspenders' has a different connotation here in the UK! I bought a second-hand pair from a charity shop for few pence and recycled the fittings and some of the elastic. The guy sent me some pics when he received them.

A bit like a vegetarian meatball?

The thread is supposed to run between the discs (around the bolt), and the pressure of the spring determines the tension. I was having problems with the thread popping out from between the discs, particularly with heavier threads, so I followed the online method and wrapped the thread once around the discs. This fixed the problem, but needed a little less pressure on the spring.

If you've got a couple of weeks to spare, try reading through the tutorials at http://www.bowstock.co.uk/tutorials.html and all the pages at the foot of http://www.kingsmerecrafts.com/ There's enough information to fill several books!

Just to confuse things even further, here in the UK we also measure leather thickness in irons. 1 iron = 1/48th". Therefore 15oz = 6mm = 15/64th" = 11¼ irons.

I'm in the middle of making a batch of belts using a 6mm (about 15oz) natural butt that Baker's very kindly finished to my specification. I have to say that it's the best leather I've ever used . . . it's a pleasure to work with it!

Ray I've found on our sole stitchers, that pulling the thread from the spool differently will impart a twist to the thread. It depends upon how the spool was originally wound. If you have been drawing the thread from the spool as in the red arrow on pic (with spool rotating), without problems, then changing to drawing the thread off as green arrow (with spool stationary) will cause the thread to twist (or vice versa). If you haven't changed the way the thread is drawn from the spool, please disregard this missive! Terry

These people in the UK have probably the best range of bookbinding leathers that you'll find anywhere. http://www.russels.com/ They are quite happy to send orders overseas.

I'm not sure if I would know these if I fell over them, but have a look through http://www.fhtomkins.com/documents/buckles%20&%20fittings%20brochure.pdf . . . they may be lurking there somewhere!

I had the same problem with one of my strap cutters a while ago. The convex curve of the handle should be on the 'hide' side (red on pic). I lightly glued a small piece of card (about 1/4" wide x 1/16" thick) inside the handle (green arrow). This has the effect of increasing the angle between the blade bar and the handle (blue arrow), which in turn increases the angle between the blade and the handle. This causes the strap to be pushed more tightly against the handle, and prevents the blade from wandering outwards. I was using a 5oz leather, and it worked for me.

These are almost certainly brass bifurcated rivets, with about 2.5mm or 3mm shaft. We use them all the time for replacing locks and catches on briefcases and luggage. They come in a variety of lengths (between the head and the split) to cope with different thicknesses of material. We don't use a machine to set them . . . simply spread the split ends apart and lightly hammer flat.

I guess zippers must be available in the US, but if all else fails, there's a pretty good range here: http://www.abbeysadd...cat_id=ZIPS0001. I use their zips in motorcycle and riding boots, and they're quite happy to send overseas.

There are cast stainless steel stirrup buckles of that size here: http://www.abbeysadd...&attr1=5/8I0001. Abbey are quite happy to send overseas.

You're welcome, Ray! I just remembered that Abbey Saddlery (http://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk/) recently bought B B Stanley Brassfounders of Walsall, who also make brass buckles in the traditional way. It may be worth asking what buckle styles are available as a result of this purchase, or perhaps Abbey are just seeking to maintain the existing range. There's an article about the purchase at http://www.equestria...N-May-2010.pdf (on pages 30/31). Terry

Welcome to the Forum, Lindsay! Here are a couple of UK buckle manufacturers that you may not have tried: http://www.fhtomkins.com/ http://www.berbo.co.uk/

Have a read through this thread . . . http://leatherworker...topic=7006&st=0

Tailors' chalk works well.

I've never found anything remotely similar, and it's not for lack of trying! I'll keep looking from time to time, and perhaps it'll show up.

I've been trying for months to track down this buckle, but in brass. I eventually found the manufacturer (http://www.fhtomkins.com/products.htm), but they were not prepared to sell me any because they said they were made for a particular customer! I think they are known as firemen's buckles, so called because they were used years ago by US firefighters to strap up their firehoses. If you have any better success at finding a supplier, please let me know!

At long last I have obtained a catalogue from J T Batchelor of Islington. It's in the form of three pdf files - Tools, Buckles and Dyes - but the files are too large to upload onto the Forum. It doesn't have prices, and neither does it detail the leathers that they stock, but it lists the items that are available in each of the three categories - a step in the right direction! If anyone would like a copy, PM me with your email address, and I'll gladly forward the files to you.

http://www.coatssewi...mendations.aspx (Barbour's Yellow Label) http://www.somac.co....nen_thread.html

Ferg I'll go along with Gary on this, and also with your own feeling that English pricking irons are the ones to get (but I'm English!). I'm pretty sure that Le Prevo (http://www.leprevo.co.uk/sewing.htm) and Abbey Saddlery (http://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk/product_detail.cfm?id=FA018) are happy to post items to the US. Also, UKRay here on the Forum is an agent for J Dixon tools, and they are probably the best available . . . I'm sure he'd be happy to help you get exactly what you need (http://www.barefootleather.co.uk/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=280&sortField=description). Terry

I sell Morello polish in my shop, for achieving a high-gloss shine. It's a paint-on polish that forms a smooth base for the subsequent use of Kiwi Parade Gloss or Guardsman Gloss polish. I think it's regarded as a bit of a cheat, but that doesn't stop vast numbers of army cadets from buying it! http://www.cadetdire...er1.php?pg=1863