Handstitched

@JazzBass MattS pretty much nailed it. I measure <--------------> this much thread, from one hand to the other I have three hand made ponies of different size openings . The other is an antique saddlers stitching clamp . And remember, its hand made , so don't worry if the overlap is visible or if a stitch or two is a bit off. They're called humanity stitches, as I was once told by a quilt maker. It lets us know that we're humans...not machines Good luck & Enjoy your hand stitching JB HS

I sometimes use a large H/D ring 5mm on flat leather, belts etc. , and a H/D square ring on the nooks and crannys on some leather knife/ tool cases, and gently rub over the affected areas, that does help....with a bit of elbow grease. I have a 441 clone, and I'm not too keen to back off the foot pressure too much in case it leaves a 'bullet ' hole in my roof, Ha !! HS

G'Day, This is my....messy...arrangement for my dyes etc. It used to be a lottery/ scratchie bench from our local newsagent, that and the grey rubbish bin to the left...( for the losing tickets ) . I use small plastic kitchen/laundry baskets to store them . Most are water based, with some added spirit to assist in drying. Some are oil based, ' Raven Oils' , the small glass bottles (out of view) . When my dyes & sealers etc. arrive from my supplier, I top up all the smaller bottles using the larger 1 & 2 litre bottles you can see on the bottom left of the shelf. Its case of ' not putting all my eggs in one basket ' . Its well ventilated, but also away from windows & direct sunlight....and well away from the main work benches. You can see my air compressor to the right that I sometimes use for air brushing. The red hand pump to the right is for transferring acetone from a 4ltr tin to a 1ltr. tin, otherwise its a messy & costly affair using a funnel. (Its also for my kero heater) . HS

Yep, I agree. I only buy from Tandy when theres a genuine bargain , although quite rare. I have also pointed out their ' pricing anomaly '. Just waiting for their reply. I've had accounts with Birdsall for 14 years, and NSW Leather Co. ( agent in Perth) I also purchase from Adelaide Leather . Even Leflers Melbourne can be a bit pricey. Never bought from Austanners , I might try them out. Theres also Packers Leather Narangba Qld. only bought from them rarely . There is ' Western Leather Craft in Perth (WA), where my leather journey started , I know the current owner, he's gone all ' medieval ' and not so much staying true to leather craft per se', and I knew the previous owner ( not nice) ...and the one before that ( his mother....so much nicer) , but the shop is now physically inaccessible . He needs to move . Trying to get wholesale pricing from Tandy is not easy. With the exception of my leather supplier in Perth, its a case of ' two weeks from everywhere' if I want something. HS

The difference of $185.99 " Premium Price for businesses " , and $169.00 " Sale Price" , doesn't sound like much , but every $$ counts as a sole trader . We have 10% GST ' Goods & Services Tax' in Oz . And the Aussie $$ keeps hovering around the low . 70's . Not good for buying stuff from the US. It has to be at least .85 - .90c to make it viable. I did my tax this week, I'm way down on sales on last year. But thankfully, all my bills are paid and I'm in the black But, costs keep going up, so I'll be putting up the prices of my plain belts ( and few other things) next year , first price rise in about 10 years HS

You're not the only one. They know nothing about ' continuity ' . http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/82275-tandy-catalogue-from-australia/ (go to my latest post) HS

G'Day, yet another gripe about Tandy. Spot the ' anomaly ' between this: ( business to business ) for Oakleaf , https://www.tandyleather.com.au/en/eflyer/1810bus-au?utm_source=Tand-E-mail+from+Tandy+Leather&utm_campaign=8056bfae80-2018-10-09-TandyLeather-1810BUS-AU&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e267c11fde-8056bfae80-75657005&mc_cid=8056bfae80&mc_eid=d54954bb79 (sorry for the long link) .........and this: ( from their latest October catalogue ) https://www.tandyleather.com.au/en/product/oak-leaf-lightweight-saddle-skirting-10-to-12-oz-4-0-to-4-8-mm Same ad, same product, size , thickness description etc. but with one substantial difference between this and their so called " Premium Specials" for businesses . I haven't told them ....yet. I'll give them the opportunity to correct it. HS

I started doing a hat pattern last week, I wasn't happy with how it looked ,so I screwed it up, and, (with an expletive ) I threw it in the bin . I did another pattern.... " ditto" .... I'll get there eventually HS

G'Day, Very nicely done I hear you when you say " When you amaze yourself " . I made a lovely bag for a client a while ago , so nice I wish I kept it Ha ha HS

As space is at a prime, I used empty cleaned butter containers for all my hardware. See pic, centre left, on top of the shelves . thats only half of them. Not the ideal solution, I know , but it works. http://leatherworker.net/forum/uploads/monthly_2018_08/5b869fe92624f_WorkshopPics2018.gif.30864d7b0338c9d6d3e500212dc11254.gif HS

Nothing wrong with that , looks aged , nice I have known people to modify an old screw driver, sharpened , to use as swivel knife. No different to modifying the ends of nails , bolts etc. to use as stamps . If it works and does the job.....? Like stetson912 said, you don't have to use all the fancy tools to do the job. HS

G'Day, I had a quick look around, and, just looking at this pic , I thinks it does, see the lever on the right ? : https://auctions.afimg.jp/item_data/image/20171010/yahoo/r/r211605064.1.jpg However, I also found this: http://parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/16U288.pdf It makes no mention of reverse. And this: http://www.industrialsewmachine.com/webdoc1/singer/16u.htm once again, no mention of reverse ? Hope this sorta helps, HS

We can have a virtual coffee instead Flat white no sugar, thanks But feel free to ask us anything about leather. Its pretty much guaranteed that someone on here can give you an answer/s to whatever you need to know. HS

That has happened to me, mainly due to over saturation of oil. I have also found , from experience, that there may have been something on/in the leather that has caused it to soak in too much in one spot. It 'might' soak in a bit more if you left it a bit longer, try it . However, if all else fails, then yes, try dying it using a slightly dark antique, but it may also still show through a bit , depending on how many coats you apply. Nice tooling though HS

Makes me want to go to my workshop right now and practice my basket weave skills......which are not as a nice as that . Lovely colour HS

G'Day, That looks stunning Just the sentimental value alone would be priceless. Well done

Nup, I'm from Haverhill, Suffolk .....originally , much further north , not far from Newmarket,... horse racing country . Now I'm in 'upside down land', ....Australia, ( or ' Austraya ' as we call it . ) HS

I mark the prices down , with ' Reduced' or ' 1/2 Price' signage etc . They see something in the bargain bin and say, " oooooh....aaaah ...look at the work in that !!" My silent thought bubble pops up with , " yeh ....look at the frustration, the blood sweat & tears, the little scratches from where it got thrown a few times ... if only that thing could talk " Yep,it sells, even if just covers the cost of materials or part thereof ...or at least a few ice cold beers HS

G'Day I agree with kgg & ComputerDoctor , it might seem like a good deal, but by the time you've paid for shipping, taxes etc. it might not be such a good deal after all . And what about the voltage ? Obtaining parts could be an issue as well. I would lean towards getting a known brand closer to home, even a good S/H machine where parts and service are easy to get. HS

Well, I think you've nailed it . If cutting using a knife is causing discomfort , I can't see any other way. My strap cutter cuts most leathers easily , even when the blade is a bit dull, but, if want to cut leather 5mm + I put a new blade in , glides through nicely , and if I need to cut shapes etc. I sharpen my blade , or replace with a brand new blade. I don't use a round knife, I find them awkward . I use a knife same as the one pictured. When the blade is new its super dooper sharp and cuts through thick leather with ease, even with a bit of arthritis that I have in my hands....now And btw, theres no such thing as a silly question on here HS

Albob, I'm guessing that your aim is getting better with your coffee cups ? Besides, coffee cups are cheaper than cans / stubbies of iced cold beer Its no consolation , but " yep .....been there, done that " . I've made the devil blush a few times You have a ' bargain bin ' too eh ? Mine is actually an old basket full of ' mistooks' , shop soiled stuff , and and stuff that I've made that is .....well....... crap But, people seem to buy it . HS

G'Day chrisash, One suggestion, you could just simply try doing what I did, do some simple market research in your town / local community I looked around my town and thought, " what does this town need that it hasn't got ? " , with a horsey theme in mind. I also asked some horse owners in my local community . ( my town has approx. 1700 people) , 'who does this,who does that? where do you get that done? ' ...and so on. I soon got my answers. I also like to be a equine retailer in the future, but thats another story. It might give you some ideas ? HS

Thats interesting to know about pricing there. My customers drop off & pick up their rugs as I'm only about 10 mins from town . I can pick up & deliver locally if they need me to, but to another town is extra. The least I charge is $10 for a simple minor repair, and it goes up from there. The ones in the pics were around $60 - $80. Most of my customers give me 2,3, 4 rugs...or more to repair . During Summer & Winter, I can earn quite a few dollars as they come in thick & fast . HS

G'Day chrisash , Apart from various types of leatherwork , I also I do an assortment of leather repairs bridle repairs, stirrup strap repairs , alterations etc . , as well as an assortment of repairs & alterations to canvas , tie down straps, shade sails etc. In the early days, being the only leather worker in town, it didn't take long for the word to get around on the bush telegraph. In my small country town , there was no-one that did any of this locally. So I got all of the work. With a bit of basic market research I asked a lot of the horse owners " who does your horse rug repairs ?" Quite often the answer would be " I dunno" or " they get sent to Perth" , some hours away. So an opportunity came up. Long story short, an industrial machine came my way. I started doing rug repairs. Check the link. I do all my horse rug repairs on this machine, both clean ....and dirty. Yes, some rugs are filthy dirty when I get them , and I quite often smell like a horses butt when I've finished. Some would not receive them like this, but, ...as I am the only one that does this, and as I have a good rapport with locals and well known in town, its difficult to refuse both work ...and much needed income. There are no washing facilities anywhere, but some clients do try to clean them. This machine is serviced regularly, cleaned and liberally oiled frequently because of this. http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/81806-sewing-machine-reliability/?tab=comments#comment-548958 This machine has earnt me quite a few extra dollar over the years, and sure helps when the leather works goes a bit quiet. Perhaps one day, I'll be able to provide washing facilities as well. The market demands & circumstances where you live may be a lot different. But good luck with whatever you decide to do Hope this helps HS

Thankfully, it never got that far " New swear words will also be invented and tools flung if one....." .....forgets to fit a vital piece of hardware before gluing and stitching and assembling ...but thats another story for another thread . HS