Gonnate

Hi. I have an old-ish Saddler's Clam... thanks ebay!... [and it's The Official British Ministry of Defence Standardizations Committee model from 1969 too, complete with a lovely wax seal, so it should be ok!! ...] Anyway, I've just begun using it to make a padded accordion strap & it's marking the leather where it compresses it. Other than that it's really useful, I like it! The obvious answer is to stick pads of leather to the inside of the jaws so they don't mark the leather. Would this be an act of gross vandalism and the wrong thing to do for reasons I don't yet know, or would it be as useful as I think? Thanks, Richard. (P.S. in case you're interested in the amazing label: "Name of item: Clam Saddler's for collar making Stores reference No. 6120-99-910-4392 Approved by Chairman, Panel 'A' J.E.S.C. Sub-Committe on Hand Tools This master Pattern is NOT to be issued." and so on. Most impressive, and I feel I ought to salute each time I read it! )

Hello, from the English Midlands. And yes, it is sunny-ish just now! I've just found this forum & it looks great. I have been stitching odd things on & off for a few years, mostly self-taught, plus info picked up here & there. I made a shoulder bag from veg-tan leather 10 years ago, which I use every day, and people often comment favourably on it; but my two grandfathers, both shoemakers, would have seriously disapproved I'm sure! Sadly I never had the opportunity to learn anything from them. I'm now hoping to make a fairly rigid case to keep some Northumbrian smallpipes in. (About 2 ft long, and roughly 8" by 6"deep.) I have some ideas, but am hoping to ask questions about this of you good people. I've been advised to get Stohlman's "The art of making leather cases" already, though all 3 vols come out v-e-r-y expensive for me, so I'm hoping there are patient people here who don't mind answering queries about making a case like this. Some other net groups I found are only concerned with leather carving & tooling, which is a great skill but not what I'm trying to learn just now. Best wishes to all, Richard.