Handstitched

I have been meaning to get a length of patio tube or alloy....for years. Its one of those ' round to it jobs'. Theres another idea for scraps @AlamoJoe2002, ' round-to-its', or ' tuits' . A round piece of leather just simply called a " tuit" . " For all those jobs that you never get around to doing" . I thought about making these myself.......but I never got around to it HS

G'Day, it looks quite good...to me anyway Apart from keeping it out of the sun..?? .... You can start by cutting a straight edge. I have a long length of 2x1 wood that I use like a ruler , with a very sharp knife ( a bit 'old fashioned' I know, but it works ) . I then run my strap cutter adjusted to cut a 5mm strip, giving me a perfect straight edge. Others with big workshops on here may have machines etc. to do that . The 5mm strip I sell at markets . I also have some different size strap cutting tools. A ' V' shaped tool for the tip, an ' U' shaped tool for the buckle end. Theres a lot of posts on here regarding belt sizing, making of belts etc. https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/85744-belt-lengths/ As for wastage, you will always have wastage . I try to use any off cuts , scraps etc. for key rings, belt keepers, fridge magnets, and for longer off-cuts, dog collars, , halter/bridle repairs and various other small items I can sell. You just have to be a bit creative in that regard. HS

G'Day, Just wondering if a different fabric on the back ,like a calico or thin canvas( with same or similar colour) that has a much tighter weave would help. My Mother makes an assortment of handicrafts and teddy bears etc. using a domestic machine. She's sewn quite an assortment fabrics over the years and calico has been quite a big help with ' furry teddy bear fabrics' that are a bit stretchy ( she used to be a seamstress by trade in her younger days ) I now have her old 'domestic machine' , a Pfaff 60. HS

I'll have to try that. I'm of the " hold the thread" crowd A lot of us are our own mechanics , where I live, I have no choice HS

G'Day, welcome to the forum I guess you could start with a strap cutter. They can easily cut that width , but mainly ' stiff' leathers like veg tan etc. What leather are you thinking of using? I'm from Australia, so where is SoCal ? HS

I try to use adhesive wherever I can on joining , stitching etc. its like an extra pair of hands . Any chance of seeing the end product? HS

@ivan7342 The other alternative is to use rivets with a longer stem , however, skiving will be cheaper I too have made marks on leather using hand held rivet setters, its not the tools, its the operator...me , ha ! As for punching holes, ( Maun plier type) for going through the thick stuff , I generally mark the holes with an awl ,( I have one that I can tap with a hammer) then punch each one , one at a time. But I do sometimes use the straight ' hitty with a hammer type ' . BTW, have you got your work space in your lounge room ? Couldn't help but notice the lounge chair HS

Yep, I agree. We all have different ways of doing things thats all , and I respect that muchly , what ever works for you is the best ' you say tomato, I say tomarto, you say potato I say potarto .... ' HS

G'Day, Have you ever thought about just using a pencil, a ruler, and a rubber ? Just a thought Thats all I ever use . I try to keep card holders/ cases, (and wallets) simple but practical . Some customers want pockets for this, more pockets for that and a folding thing-a-ma- bob in the middle, ......and room for a flat screen TV .Just kidding HS

I have used 5mm veg tan leather for fishing gimbles for the round part in the middle. I soaked the pieces over night . I end up with arms like Arnie after moulding, shaping, etc. . But where the round part is sewn onto the main body, I've skived about a mm or so to make life a bit easier . It just takes a bit of brute force......and a few shots of whisky . I made that last bit up HS

Try doing ' zig zag cuts' ,( deeper than pinking shears) along the edge but try it on some scrap first . You may still case it as well. I can't find a pic but , hope this sort of helps . HS

I have never done business with this mob but , it does reference Singer. https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Needles-Machine-Bottles-Brother/dp/B07VC8D1SM HS

@Hawker G'day, firstly , I looked up your machine, https://www.manualslib.com/manual/364550/Singer-44-79.html?page=4#manual And you're right about the needle size. I did have a look around , but all I could find, for the moment, is this: https://www.sewingmachinesaustralia.com.au/shop/buy-accessories/needles-by-machine-type/plain-sewers-1/leather/needles-16x230lr-leather-point-100-needles.html . The other side of the world I know, and no help to you . This is my parts supplier I'll keep looking . HS

Yeh, I'm starting to learn that. God forbid that anything happens to mine . I'll keep looking though. @chrisash I have a boot patcher, an old Singer 29K , but not sure if it would be any good for the heavy rugs that I've been sewing lately . HS

G'day, Winter has nearly come to an end here in Oz, and the damaged rugs are coming in thick & fast. Just started rug #19 out of 21 ...from the same ( repeat) client . A few more arrived this arvo,another repeat client. While I keep banging on about ' Stewart' , my trusty 54 year old 'ol Seiko , I recently had a disturbing thought.... " What if it went wrong? " . ( It would break my heart if it did, it has sentimental value) While I am mechanically minded and I do my own servicing, repairs etc. , and due to the nature of the work it does, it gets cleaned & serviced frequently . But anything serious, like something breaking, I'd be in trouble. I don't have access to the machine service centres, parts , mechanics etc like you do. I'm 3 hrs away from the city . The only reliable parts/ machine centre is in Queensland . So I did a lengthy search amongst the classifieds . I can't find another machine like mine . Not even a Consew 226 , or a Singer w111 . So from this point on I'll be keeping an eye out for a ' stand-by machine ' .... even a newie equivalent , .......just in case. Just makes me appreciate what I have even more HS

Exactly its never an accurate measurement. I have never used an old belt as a guide for the same reason. They're stretched & out of shape .......and made from vinyl , and some customers aren't always sure which hole they're actually using . @HondoMan When customers come to my stall, I always get them to measure their own waist, no physical contact ( nothing to do with covid btw) , then I make a determination / recommendation / give advice. If its say 40", that will be the centre hole. I can work the rest out myself. @KennethM If all else fails, just follow the ' Al Stohlman Method' . Its worked for me ( and countless others ) thus far HS

@johnny91 Congratulations , its a boy Just kidding. Theres not that much difference between your Pfaff, Singer, Seiko & Consew variants. I mostly sew horse rugs,with lots of folded seams, corners, thick webbings, bindings etc. on my Seiko STW, but it sews 3mm leather quite happily . have fun HS

G'Day, while everyone on here will have their own method, I have never used the size of jeans etc. as a measurement. I've always used a tape measure around the customers waist for an accurate measurement. Theres normally 5 holes on a belt an inch apart, , so if your waist is 34" that would be the centre hole on the belt. HS

Not sure if this is of any help as well: https://www.sewingmachinery.com/seiko/seiko-ch-8b.html

G'Day from a fellow Aussie Not sure if this is of any help: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/77410-seiko-ch8b-manual/?tab=comments#comment-512159 HS

I quite like the Pfaff. Never seen a gold Singer before . But I'd be leaning towards buying both, if possible . You could always set the 2nd machine up for other jobs, materials , threads etc. HS

Looks like its in good condition and will do the job. But the only thing is that it has no reverse , but that can be overcome. The table top looks new. I do horse rugs with a very similar machine ( Seiko) , reverse is a must on those . What about the pedal, is that meant to be like that, looks like it's at an angle? Hope all goes well

In an effort to keep this thread on topic ....well.....sort of ( I'm sure the LW mods might laugh at that.... ) it could be turned into some sort of sewing machine. Maybe as an outdoor display for a sewing machine service or restoration business ? Anyone with a welder and some creativity could do that . No-one would dare steal it, it would give them a hernia !! or, ' one man's trash is another man's treasure' . I've seen the passion that goes into sewing machines on here, so nothing is impossible . HS

Yep, for $50- . It could only be scrap metal value . But then again, I shouldn't really judge, it may have some value to a collector HS

found it. It could be mistaken for a sewing machine I guess. HS