McJeep

Beautiful work Ya know, I saw the subject and thought to m'self "This has got to be the ONLY forum on the net where you can post that subject and people don't think it should be X-rated" ;0) aw c'mon ... somebody had to ;0)

Finally got these delivered / installed today - customer wasn't able to get to my place till now because of the weather/roads - apparently it's winter ;0) I like the overall design but smaller pockets would've been better - unfortunately the holes were pre-punched for the pockets by the person I bought the tools and supplies from to get into leatherwork. Wasn't gonna waste all those materials and buyer wanted big pockets soooo. Also, the flash did weird things to the lace colouring - they match much better than the pics show. I do like the fact that this style engine chaps does not cover up the chrome on the case guards - if ya pay for chrome y'oughtta be able to see it ;0) Now on to the wife's sissy bag.

Like it :0) Looks like you cut your own lacing for the braiding as well?

Planning on the same thing but drilling first and then cutting the wedge out ;0)

I'm busy teaching myself the different lacings and braids for edging and joining things. Have been playing around with the triple loop lacing and just now, the round braid/basket weave. I want to know how to do these before getting on with a sissy bar bag. Doing the braiding around the edges of the front flap won't be a problem. I'm also thinking of using a round braid to join the gusset to the back panel of the bag. Both gusset and back are 8oz leather - I really like the clean tight look of angled chisel holes vice punched holes. Have tried joining the pieces using 4 prong tandy hole punch and 4 prong tandy angled chisel ... neither gives me large enough holes to revisit previously used holes the way I have to in the basket weave - without herculean effort anyway ;0) Using the screw on needles to do this cuz I've had absolutely no luck getting those pronged things on the lace at all. Are there bigger four pronged chisels or punches to make bigger holes? Should I be using smaller lace? Should I skive down the gusset material edge to allow more flex? Should I have my head read for even attempting to use basket weave to join the gusset and back? LOL I've read lots on doing these things for edging but there's not so much available to read on using them to attach things or do bike seats etc. Any advice is much appreciated :0) Rob

What a great chuckle to start the day with! Thanks fer that! And having been on the receiving end of many many many (ask my wife :0/) tool and sport related "malfunctions", yes I am allowed to laff at other's misfortunes ... so long as neither death or severed limbs are involved ;0) The wife keeps her truck warmed up while I'm working with big tools ... for stitches runs ;0) On a more serious note - this type of thing makes me very glad for the medical we've got north o the 49th - if I had to pay 3 or 400 for stitches, I don't think I'd have a roof over my head! ;0)

Will do - thanks muchly :0)

Turned out really nice man - Thank God for the above post mentioning it wasn't for actual riding - my heart sank for ya when I saw the empty hardware holes ! LOL Cool :0)

LOL Oh I don't expect I'll get his results on first kick by any stretch - just trying to hedge my bets ;0)

I'm pretty sure Ian's tired of me pickin his brain about the sissy bar bag so I'll start a new thread ;0) How do people go about forming the nice sharp crease like at the rear of the bag? And how to form the front wrap around as well? Do people just do this by hand? Or do I need to make up forms so it can sit over night? Never done it before but thinking it's probably key to getting results like his. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=9857 Sorry for the link, board wouldn't let me post the actual pics

This is pretty much the style I'm referring to (but mine will have a simpler rounded up sole) - I have a pair that I like the fit of but they're suede and lined with that faux fur crap that just makes yer feet sweat ... grim I'll be tearing them apart and using them as templates for some proper hide ones and was planning on doubling up the sole while I'm at it - should be lifetimers when I'm done As for the wife, I've found her old favourites (what's left of them) in the back corner of the closet so she'll be getting a pair as well - prolly last HER about one season LOL I'm not kidding, the girl is just plain hard on footwear! :0)

Ha! completely missed that till I went back and looked - cool :0)

If my first seat (when I get to that point) looks half that good, I'll be a happy camper - nice :0)

Wow ... some of the stuff on here - including this of course - just knocks me out. You folks are so very talented - gonna take me a lonnnng time to get anywhere near the quality of the stuff I see here. Hat's off to ya :0) Rob

Oh I noticed that earlier on and already have your site bookmarked for future reference (read whenigotdabucks) I see you've just clamped it down on an old workmate sawhorse? Just happen to have one I don't use much ;0) AND the 60 gallon compressor is already in the shop :0) I will be in touch, but it'll likely be a while :0/ Thanks for the pics! Rob

Tanks :0) Nice work on the bags BTW - I really like the inlay :0)

Verrrry interesting - too early in my leather making to invest in something like this but I definitely see one in my future for building saddlebags and the like, and I am fond of hand operated/slow/detail work machines in general. Nice to see I'll be dealing with a Canuckian as well - especially one an hour away from me hometown :0) No disrespect to Americans, it just alleviates all the shipping brokerage/border/customs BS when I can shop North o the 49th :0) Rob

less'n ya consider yerself a self made man/woman ;0)

Rat Fink rocks :0) Nice work!

Nice ... being a "bit" of a tool nut, I can see this pastime getting wayyyy outta control very quickly hehehe Thanks much :0)

How much pressure do you use when burnishing - I guess the reason I'm asking is t see if it's really worth my while to go to that size motor. Does being able to "come on to it" produce better reaults or is it all about the heat and gentle pressure. (end newbie mode) ;0)

Thanks guy - a good read. Those aren't the style that I'm looking to do though - she'd blow those out in a week LOL Looking to do the more garden variety structured moccasin/slipper thing. Something that I can double sole the bottom of with sayyyyyyyy 300 weight hide? ;0)

Never heard of this but it sounds very intriguing - my wife is VERY hard on shoes and I need to make her some bulletproof moccs for around the house ;0) Any info is appreciated Rob

So in keeping with the Scot in me, these "thrify" (hehehe) options intrigue me and yesterday morn was spent playing with an idea. I'm not so convinced that things flyin apart is that big an issue as we're not dealing with very high rpm here. Si with that in mind I went for what I could find in the shop - dermel bits and an old broomstick LOL It actually worked very well after a couple of failures (the experimental phase I wore shop goggles for ;0) What I ended up with was a piece of broomstick, center drilled but not all the way (that seemed to never end up being anywhere near straight through) and using dremel screw on mandrels. Drilled the holes just a bit smaller than the mandrel screw to assure a tight fit and it works like a charm. Then chucked it in the dremel, cranked the rpm up and rounded (balanced) it with course emery cloth, then 240 sadpaper for smoothing out. wrapped emery and sandpaper around different sized drillbits to help form the grooves Now that I know it works well, I'll pick up a length of nice hardwood dowel like maple or other Thanks to Dwight for the initial heads up on this idea :0) Here are the mandrels I'm talking about - about $5 a piece up here http://www.dremel.com/en-us/AttachmentsAnd...il.aspx?pid=401

Outstanding