Handstitched

It finally has a permanent home in my workshop after much tidying and re-arranging .Prior to that, it just got moved whenever I needed to use it....it got a bit heavy It now sits next to ' Brutus' . Quite a juxtaposition, the old & the new sitting next to each other. The rubber mat prevents it from sliding about on the laminex bench. I just need an extra light . HS

G'Day, This is what I use: https://maclaceleather.com.au/product/seal-shine-1-litre/ https://www.birdsall-leather.com.au/DTC/Top-Coat-Leather-Finish/pd.php HS

G'Day @PALeatherArt, yes , unfortunately you will get marks, not matter how well your machine is adjusted. Uwe summed it up very well. Every piece of leather is different. I'm always making sheaths, various leather cases, for knives, tools , ' ' Leathermans' etc. So what I have learn't to do is use a huge 5mm ' D' ring, ' O' ring or a ' Square' ring to rub out the marks . ( the corners help) It does work, but just takes a bit of ' elbow grease' . I'm petrified about adjusting that any further , in case it gets some air time and makes a hole in my workshop roof , I may never be able to get it back in again. Everything on ' Brutus' ( my 441 clone) is adjusted just fine I don't dare touch it. HS

G'Day...from Aussie land You may have some difficulty there. Perhaps you could try that on some scraps first? I would think that the sealer wouldn't adhere . Check this out, it may help: https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/91870-dyed-leather-bleeding/ HS

G"day, I had a lot of trouble in the early days using oil based dyes on belts, so frustrating . No matter how many coats of sealer I apply, the dye still came through . I now use water based dyes , that have just little bit of alcohol to aid drying. I also use regular water based polyurethane sealers, and hi shine sealers, (some of which are chemical based) . But, no more rub-offs . The belts still come out just as nice HS

Here it is, my $8.00 cheapy . So happy now I have one I oiled up the latch, and all the hinges etc. and it works fine now . I'll give it some TLC later . HS

Thats the same model as mine , but much nicer. I only paid $250 ( Australian) , it works well. Nice restoration . 350 , thats about $700- au HS

Its a shame @remery124 thats not here in Western Australia, I'd snap it up ( the freight would be astronomical , more than the machine is worth ) . Although it has no reverse, that can be overcome, I'd buy it as a 'stand-by machine'. Its not that much different to my Seiko . Hope you're successful in selling it. Me My Seiko is not 60, but 54 years old . And yes, I do rely on it for horse rugs, canvas, medium leathers etc. Its earned me a good income over the years . HS

Toxo beat me to it , but yeh, Basting tape . I found mine in discount shops, surprisingly . But haberdashery shops will have it too. I use it a lot, for making roo hide straps, handles , leather fel / french seams etc. Much neater & cleaner...and quicker than contact adhesive, but a bit fiddly removing the waxxy paper strips, but otherwise very handy stuff Comes in different widths , I use 6mm mostly, sticks like s**t to a blanket . I also have 9mm & 12mm . HS P.S. I had a customer ask me today at the markets: "What are you like at making watch straps ? " In a few words: " crap, too fiddly" . OOPS! I think I was a bit too honest eh? But for me with my fingers, I do find them fiddly .

G'day, Not sure where to put this, " History" , " Show Off, or here. I did do a pre-search on these. Anyway, as the title says, just bought a ' Gladstone bag' this arvo , whoo hoo !! It's only taken me 15 years , but I got one. Pics later, but just like this one ( pic from ebay Oz) , and in similar condition. Same lock & hardware, but no key. It just needs some TLC like they all do. No big deal, not as if I'll be pulling teeth or tonsils to supplement my income I asked the seller " How much? ", I was expecting $30- $50 + Nup..... $ 8.00 ( Australian) paid it in loose change out of my pocket. To my surprise, they go from anywhere from $ 10- to $175 , depend where you look , some in worse condition than mine . HS

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