Handstitched

@Spyros I hear ya. I bought my Juki clone back in 2005 . It was around $3800 from Qld. , but to replace it now would be around the $5000 + mark . And although its done so much and pretty much paid for itself now, ( and I claim depreciation when I do my tax) , I still hand stitch. I will never give that up . There are many projects/ jobs I do that need the handstitching . I think I spoke about this on another thread. So I'm 50/50 when it comes to machine V's hand stitching. At the end of the day, I'm happy with my decision to buy a heavy duty sewing machine. A bit of trivia: I fully handstitched an item for our local Ag Show( it was a cartridge belt) , and while it got the ' Best in Section' blue ribbon, I'm happy to say , the judge thought it was machine stitched. Go figure ? HS

I have about...25. Its taken me all this time just to accumulate them. And all of our hearts have been broken like a love lost that we will never forget........ *sigh* . HS

Stop it you guys, making me so jealous Yeh, you're right @chuck123wapati, all of those pics would make nice postcards or calendars. Some years back, in Summer, coming back from my early morning casual job, got home around 5am, couldn't let that pass without taking a pic. A bit out of focus, but nice. I stood there for quite a while looking at it as it kept changing colour. . Just me, and Mother Nature waking up. 'sobsniff' HS

" In the next gripping episode"....... ......." To be continued ..." ...." That was the final in this series..." NOOOOO !!! HS

50/50 . For me I think it depends on the individual project. There are some projects where handstitching is best suited for appearance , functionality & authenticity , but as for volume items, as 'AZShooter' said, this is where the machine is good. But you can still achieve an attractive well made item with machine stitching as well. If time is in short supply, once again, a machine is good, also good for just punching out the holes ready for hand stitching......sshh.... .but we never do that...do we??....mmmnah !! HS

@Ferg That is truly beautiful. Such a lovely place you have there. I have to say I'm a little envious. I'm in the Central wheatbelt , west oz, I often jokingly say that we have only 2 seasons here in West Oz , ' alive & dead' . Nice and green during the cooler wet months, but now we're coming into our ' dead' season. Its only a matter of weeks before everything is dead & dry . Theres not much difference between autumn & spring , all looks the same . The only fauna around my place is the occasional bobby, ( Bobtail lizard ) , and the occasional snake, but we're having some confusing weather atm, nice and warm one day, freezing the next. We try to put out water for the ' bobbys' . They help keep the snakes at bay . The sun rises & sun sets is something I enjoy here, I really take notice of those . Lovely pic you have there. HS

@Rbarleatherworks One other thing I did was to use heaps of newspaper, and tape, to 'approximate'/ 'extrapolate' a template before removing the remains of the vinyl . It did help, sorta They really are called ' quad bikes' here in Oz HS

I've also used ' Q' tips, or ear buds to get into the little nooks & crannies. The ones that are currently used to stick up your nose would be good, longer sticks HS

G'Day, I'm not an upholsterer , but I have done the occasional job, including recovering M/C seats, and while they were not very professional, the clients were quite happy . The one pictured first was quite damaged by the elements . I carefully shaped the foam to approximate the original shape and covered it in vinyl. I used contact adhesive to repair the foam. The last pic was pleated , I used ' Cerex**' (automotive) foam , it has a backing to prevent the thread pulling through and was recovered with automotive upholstery leather . If you're to do any pleating, practice first on some scraps ,..... making sure the ' Cerex' foam is the right way up I'm currently upholstering some 60's - '70's office chairs in vinyl atm. ** you may have a different name for it over your way. HS

G'Day, I have used 2.5 - 3mm chrome tanned black, it was firm but flexible . I have used 3.5mm before too. It polished up nicely, and with all the usual oils & dressings , it was quite weather proof as well. The tool bags I've made had flaps inside that 'crossed over ' , like 'folded arms' to protect the contents . I have done them with handstitching, machine stitching and lacing, depending on the clients requirements. Not sure where to source leather in your part of the globe though. Hope this helps a bit HS

I bought a bigger adjustable spanner this arvo from our major hardware chain, you may call them a ' crescent wrench' ? I call them an " AFS" ' ' 'Any F Size' . So it was a choice between a Chinese made tool for $8.00, or a Taiwanese made tool for $26.00. I went for the latter. I'm not into politics, never have been, but yet I made this choice . HS

Had my Juki clone since 2005, I bought an adjustable guide to go with it, but in the whole time I've had it, never used it . I just use the edge of the foot as a guide.....and my eyes HS

@Spyros That reminds me of this: “We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing.” We have this on our stall, with a few chuckles from customers HS

Cheap leathers are good for 'prototypes projects, or that thingame-bob you've just invented. I have worked with Salty leather, a few back straps, I didn't dare stuff it up big $$$$$ if I did !!! @dikman My Mother did cake decorating in a past life, damn good at it too. She made a cake for a fancy do, very pretty and ornate delicate lines & scroll work, about 6 -8+ hrs work.. at the do, ..some stupid kid destroyed it in less than 5 secs. I could see the the expression on Mums face, like she wanted to do something rather unpleasant to the kid. HS

Great minds think alike. I have supplier in Queensland that has a 'clear out' of excess stock, over runs etc. , and often super cheap too. For example, a bundle of 5 roo hides, some imperfect, would be somewhere around $20-30 au +P&P, about $20-30, I order more than one bundle , and anything else worth having, still works out cheap. So it is worth asking about discounted leather, and 2nd, 3rd grade hides . HS *love the new recruit to play "Spock"

Can't say I've ever heard anyone using a router as a burnisher. I would have thought it would be too fast . HS

I use the wood handles on my bevellers , especially the narrow bits, just ideal for curves, corners etc.

I can identify the pattern, I've seen that pattern on police , security belts etc. Not so sure about the machine tho . HS

@chuck123wapati Some of my best ideas have come to me in the middle of the night, so a bout of insomnia is not all bad I was also wondering if this machine was home made or custom made ? Perhaps the original owner just couldn't find what they wanted and made their own. HS

G'Day, Not sure how this compares in the US & UK, (really ex$y I'm guessing), but I pay $250-300au per 4mm veg tan butt or shoulder, its what I use for belts etc. 3.5mm veg tan side is around $300+ . The 5-6mm heavy VT , was $550au - for a shoulder. I was warned that will be higher by the next time I buy some more, I'm dreading it. Not all of it is Aussie, some is Italian. I don't worry about delivery, I drive 2-3 hrs and pick it up. Way back when... I was kinda lucky I guess, that I started my 'hobby-to-be-business' when tools & materials were cheap- ish, S/H tools were still available, and so were the 'ye olde( paper) classifieds' . But now its all online , tools, materials, and delivery costs can really mount up.... especially now. If I was to start it as a hobby today, I might think twice about it. HS

As the ends look burnt, just wondering if its for leather at all. Shaping glass while its still hot? hence the burnt tips and sides, and the many scratches ? Theres a small crack, just to the right of the 'tip'. Repeated exposure to heat? One side is wider than the other. HS

' A local politician was visiting a psychiatric facility to see if he could provide any funding and support. The administrator of the facility greeted him, showing him around and showing all the benefits and attributes etc. He then takes him into a room with a bath tub. " Here we have a bath tub full of water, and next to it, theres a bucket , a cup, and a spoon and we ask the patient to empty it as quick as possible to access their mental capabilities" said the administrator " O'h, thats easy, you would use the bucket" said the politician NO!! you pull the plug out ............would you like a room with a view? HS

In the first of the close up pics , it looks like theres some dust stuck in the grooves , maybe that can give you a clue? I've searched ' spindle burnishers/ shapers etc..... nothing. But then I searched 'fluted spindle shaper blades' while not the same, there are some similarities ....sorta , kinda...maybe?...not? HS

@TomG Type in " Sprenger Steel Chrome Plated Scissor Snap Hook for Dog Lead/Leash" Also ' Sprenger Quick Release Snap Hook' That might help HS

@jcuk Thats been on TV recently here in Oz . Can learn a few things from that show. HS