8thsinner

Not done a lot of leather working recently but find myself in need of some leather stuff made instead of wasting money on production products that fall apart in a year... So anyway, wheres a good place to buy from these days? I was more into braiding when I was in it... Not one of those kits with the various tip sizes but proper ones, something in a kit selection would be nice though. Also looking for large rolls of artificial sinew (maybe) or if anyone can recommend a really good thread suitable for bushcraft back packs... TIA

yeah, thats pretty much it. It's for a gift, I will also be adding sterling silver wire braid inside the leather braid, but if I can get the leather braid looking neat the wire won't be a problem.

I couldn't work out what you meant by that at first, and think you might be thinking of his ridge braid styles. but no this is the flat profile of a pendant, the loop will be coming in from the top of the triangle, following along the outer edge back to the top to join the loop. The tricky thing I can't work out is how to braid over the middle bar without strands from it causing imbalance on the outer edges.

Any one got any ideas on how to plait the following shape in roo? And or over a piece of metal if it needs it to keep shape.

Once I have this bull whip of mine finished I think I am going ot have enough to top over a cane. It's actually the stem of an old carriage type whip. It tapers down from the handle, and I am wondering if I am going to plait over the top of it, how can I terminate it? Will whipping the end do do you think? Or should I not bother and find something else to do with the lace?

8th can mean either made be me or for me, either or...But I don't really want the year in there...I think a picture of the details will be good enough for that like. Hopefully it's around long enough to justify it... Working the second plaited belly now.

A finished image design...

Incredible work as always man.

Hey guys, I know I haven't really been in for a while, I am still working away on all sorts of things, I might get some uploaded at some point. Anyway. I am working on this signature whip design, 24plait, roo, 6-8', three layer, naturally falling...in black and red... It's about the first thirdshown, I actually want the fancy area about 3 foot of the whip, leading to an 8 seam then to a four seam. There will be sterling silver enriched button knots and probably no handle loop, I never liked them...It's for me so anything goes... The top of image would be the pommel. Any thoughts ideas on how to fill the last two foot of design?

I always cut high quality hides from the outside now, just trim it to shape get a cushion and start working it slowly. But my main objective is lace for braiding usually. And like said, round things off when you need to with a nice sharp rotary blade. If the hide will have multiple uses, eg note books I will cut them first leaving the largest circles I can to make the lace from.

I would tend to avoid glue if I can and use methods that are removable and cause no damage in case there is ever a need to take it apart. I will usually use strips of leather wrapped on, using thin stuff if I can makes it neater. Trim the shape with a very sharp knife, and use a slim bar of steel under it to make sure I don't cut through. Then at the outer edges of it through the braid under, attach either dental floss or artificial sinew, and wrap it (flat) as if I was doing a button, ie 20-30 degrees apart past the last one on each pass. every now and again going through the braid again. The artificial sinew spreads out to about 5mm width so it works far better than dental floss which only spreads about 2mm-3mm I used to use tape to smooth the finished look but don't much find the need any more, if the floss is good and tight and even, it shapes it nicely enough. And helps to provide a better grip for the next knot. If I am out of material, I will make more knots using what ever I am braiding with, usually a Spanish ring, if I need a rein type knot, or if it's for the end of a whip, a Spanish ring followed by a turks head followed by what ever know I am using.

I really like that and also would be interested in more pictures.

I think I put that in the wrong thread a minute ago. Sorry mods I am after a mask maker to put something sort of pirate/steampunk/masquerade with leather and lace together. Please PM your details to me and I will forward you to the person in question.

Friend of mine wants I think a sort of masquerade type mask with lace bits and I think there is some sort of pirate influence too, Can anyone help, please PM your email address and I will forward directly to her.

I checked through every thing from scratch again, the top thread wasn't actually between the tensioning disks properly, thats why it wasn't adjusting when I changed it. Problem solved. Yay. Project now finished.

It's just a straight stitch and looks like the lower right image... http://www.threadsma...-tension-03.jpg

I just picked up a jones model 574, looks something like below but I think my question is generalised. With two layers of sofa leather hair to hair side it stitches no problem, for two layers flesh to flesh the bottom side when finished feels rough and the loops are sticking out. Obviously a bobbin issue, and everything is tightened out, I tried adjusting both variably but can't get a good result. Picture Is there normally a way inside the machine to reset tension strength or something? I know nearly nothing about fiddling with sewing machines...

I don't think I realised quite how long it took to do each piece, but these last few replies have helped me a bit to try and sort out where I stand with this potential order.

I don't see the girl often, but I wanted some basic research before I met her again, I am fairly sure she rides western though, she is a show jumper a lot of the time, but owns three horses. Thanks for the responses so far btw, and I don't mind hijacking...makes it feel more like conversation.

Bevan, do me a favor, if you have no intention of being friendly in PM's do not offer me advice on the forum. Thank you for the descriptions nod4eight, helped clear a few things up. Perhaps I should not use the term cheap, but I mean cheapest in use, ie four strand reins will probably work but not be comfortable, but they are entry level. Thats a better term, entry level. Whats your entry level suggestions, I will still be charging for time, and like I said the leather, though it's cowhide is pretty good stuff, just not like roo. And megabit, it's not a real good friend, in fact she has caused be a great deal of hassle in the past, but customers are customers, and this would circulate other riders which is my main goal for it...If the term cheap came up it would her saying its the cheapest she could afford. Even that has risks, but if I am still getting paid for it, good enough, if it comes out that I make cheap horse tack then only one stable would be told anyway, I have lost nothing but I could gain much. Anyone potential customer would look to the quality and not the person who bought it anyway. Quality even in in simple braiding speaks for itself.

Hey guys, I have not made any horse tack unless a crop counts before, but I have a friend who would maybe think about a cheap set of braided gear. I would like to know what all I would need for a full set, SO far as I know I need a Nose button Bridle Reins Halter I have no idea if one of those covers another uses or not that's why I am asking you. If I was to be using the smallest plaits possible. And I am thinking initially of using braided cow hide but quite a nice one, with smallest number of strands for comfort and looks compromise what should I be aiming at??? I was hoping for wide strands I might be able to get away with using either a paracord core or even a 3mm solid leather thong just for shape, the leather I have right now I am thinking of using is actually surprisingly tough in a 3mm width but I would probably aim to use a strand slightly wider for that of course. At this point I have no idea what I am talking about and whether it would work, so please give me a break down if possible in basic laymans terms, I can look up specific examples of how to construct things and I have seen a few threads I will be going back to. Also give me a price in your currency as to what you would charge if it was cow and if it was roo.

I came across these machines and would like to get an idea of how much they are worth. All are second hand but have been guaranteed to be in fully repaired condition.. Singer 341 Singer 441 and a pfaff 242 two needle machine I have been told they will all stitch leather without problems but if you have any experience also please let me know.

It's like it came straight from a game. Awesome

Was that blued after etching or what, the colours are pretty damned fine? But I notice there is no leather sheath with it, what are your plans???

Love that holster too. I can offer only ideas on working with ray and what I have heard from places on here. Holes can be drilled with a drill press for stitching, and it's gonna look better if it is inlaid. Cutting can be done with a very fine toothed ban saw. And sanding it is a must to get clean edges. I have heard of others scoring the back on a line they want over and over till you are completely through. Stitching straight on the ray though, I have an idea, if you can accurately set up a diamond cutting blade on a dremel, and I would keep it at a low speed at just the right height cutting through the nodules enough to form a guide line might work but if your doing holsters or something, getting that straight curved line would have to be done by hand and a practiced one at that. Then you would hae to hand sand and polish each cut nodule edge so it doesn't cut the thread, Considering it's price thats a big risk and a hell of a lot of work. And if possible I would go with baby ray as much as possible as the nodules are smaller and less intrusive if it's big enough for your project that is. Mind you a lot of people judge the quality of ray by the size of the nodules too... Hope that helps a bit.