scrapyarddog

2 years late. I recommend KS: small slits, good penetration, both entry and exit look clean, consistent and precise. Also, easy to order inverse.

Thanks for the bad news... I might have to cut out a hasp from some brass sheets and drill holes myself

Bought this lock and was about the install the hasp, but found out that the rivet (1/16" dia) is a lot smaller than the hole. The hole can fit a 3/32" dia rivet no problem and works well, but the supplier says in their experience 1/16" works ok too. Can anyone teach me how to set this rivet or is the rivet just too small for it's hole? Or is there a tool I need to use other than a hammer or mallet?

I’ve been debating about whether or not to get a set of pricking irons, but after some consideration, I decided not to. I am not convinced that the price level of pricking irons has any real positive correlation with the quality of stitching, and as far as I could tell, the quality of stitching when using a pricking iron has close to nothing do with the pricking iron and has more to do with the size/shape/sharpness of the awl and how you handle it since the awl is the actual piercing tool that creates the slits. From what I see, the quality of stitching has to do with the following: 1. Equidistance between slits/punch holes. Both chisels and pricking irons can accomplish this. 2. Size of holes and slits. Chisels and pricking irons all come in different sizes. Most chisels create bigger diamond shape holes, but there are some better chisels out there that created narrow holes. 3. Clean cut. This has more to do with the sharpness of the chisel and awl. Pricking iron isn’t meant to pierce the leather, at least not on thicker pieces. 4. Angle of slits and holes. Both chisels and pricking irons can created slanted holes, and for pricking irons, what’s more crucial is the handling of the awl. 5. Matching thread size vs chisel/pricking iron size. This has nothing to do with the chisel or pricking iron in themselves. 6. Shape of the slit. There are sharp chisels that create smaller holes, and in the case of pricking iron, what makes the slit is the awl and not the pricking iron. 7. Consistent stitching procedure. This also has nothing to do with the markings pricking iron makes. Also, if you really don’t want to pierce the leather with the chisel but want to use the awl to make the slits, just don’t pierce the leather with the chisel, and just use the chisel to make marks on the leather. If I had to guess, I’d say the reason pricking irons were used back then is because of the strength of the steel. If it’s too soft, the teeth could bend and you’ll lose the equidistance. Using harder steel also has issues: to punch through many layers of leather, the teeth either need to be beefed up so it doesn’t snap or very sharp and fine but then it could easily snap. This might explain the shape of the pricking iron. So, to compromise, harder steel was still used to make sure you don’t lose the equidistance easily and the teeth are fine, but you use the stitching awl to actually make the slits one by one. Of course, you can probably make a pricking iron with only 1 or 2 teeth, but at that point, a stitching wheel properly used would be more efficient… Nowadays with alloys with chromium, nickel and sometimes tungsten, there are alloys that give both good strength and hardness... Am I going crazy?

Hey thanks! Yea, I decided to stop being lazy and drew corners that combine an 8" radius and 4". I like the contrast but most folks don't. Oh WELL.

Thanks! It depends, but they can run anywhere between 5 and 9 lb. A 9~10 oz + lining, 2 divider, no magazine pocket, runs 9 lb or so, and a 5 oz + lining 2 divider with mag pocket is about 5.5~6 lb. I never made an one divider w/o mag pocket with 5 oz unlined so no clue how light that would be but I assume it would be around 4 lb.

Anything left?? Please!!

The problem I had on the first try was contact cement gave the goat suede too much weight, made it drape too much and eventually the suede wrinkled and glued to itself here and there. It's too soft and stretchy so by the time I pulled it apart the piece was ruined. On my second try, I only had cement on the leather side and left the pieces to dry overnight and adhesion seems ok. I did pull the goat suede off a test piece but judging from the layer of suede residue left on the leather, the cement was fine and it was the goat suede itself being loose. I'll try Heat n Bond next week. Thinking that'll make a less messy scene. Pray

The area that needs lining is 39.5" x 8". I cannot find a piece of goat suede big enough to cover this area so I stitched 3 pieces of goat suede to create a piece large enough to cover the area. The next issue is how to glue the leather and the suede lining together. I tried to apply contact cement on both the surface leather and lining. Failed on the first attempt. On the second attempt, I applied cement on the flesh side only, then put a long strip of wax paper on the leather but I left about half inch wide of the flesh side exposed. I then pressed the suede onto the leather and gradually pulled the wax paper out and pressed the lining to the leather. The lining stretch a little and cause a little distortion. Going to try Heat n Bond and see it'll make my life easier.

Trying to use some ultra soft goat suede as lining for some bags and ran into a problem: the one piece gusset measures 40.67" x 8", and I can't find any goat suede long enough to cover the area. The main reason I'm using goat suede is because it's roughly 1~1.5 oz thick, slightly better cow. I'm not using pig because I don't like the pores showing. I'm thinking using lapped seam to extend 3 pieces of goat suede to get to the length I want, hiding the seams at the corners of the gusset so it can't be easily seen. Perhaps, I can use a sewing machine for this but really don't want to do so. I also thought about using Al Stohlman's 3 piece construction but I'm not a big fan of 3 piece gusset on these bags. Also thought about splitting the bridle leather I have and use that as lining for the gusset (so the inside and outside of the gusset would look the same), but use goat suede still for the main body of the bag. Any suggestions?

It's too expensive for me too. Took a deep breath before marking. Beautiful leather, and you can see how dense it is after you split it. I did not split the pieces for the main body of the wallet.

In case anyone was still wondering, I split it with no problem with Cobra. Do not recommend splitting thinner than 3 oz b/c shell is very impressionable and the bottom roller might leave horizontal marks if you split it too thin.

I just got the C14 a month ago and ran a limited amount of leather for practice and production. The blad should still be quite sharp but doesn't hurt to strop it. Going to hold my breath. Hope no stroke.

Wondering if the Cobra I have would do the job. It's fine splitting to 2-3 oz for veg tanned cow hide. Interior? That's the thing. The request is to make it with shell. I'm wondering if shell is suitable for this?

Lol! Seat beside you taken? Waiting to get schooled.

Have a request to make a wallet out of a whiskey shell. The leather seems to 3-4 oz and might get too thick if it's made into a bifold with 3 card slots on each side. Anyone has any experience splitting these? I have a Cobra 14" splitter that works great on cow hide, but not sure what it would do to shell. Kind of expensive to "experiment" with shell.

Definitely. With every bag I make I learn a few things even if it's just the way to handle the awl, blade or even needles. I thought about getting templates, but that would mainly be for planning so I can minimize loss. However, it seems the best way to minimize loss is to just use better leather. Sedgwick's Bend, Mini Bend and Half Backs have very little loss and the shapes are rectangular so it's easy to visualize the cuts. I'm not getting enough orders or at least enough orders of the exact same design to justify a template or die. You probably take more time planning it. I usually draw out designs and dimensions and just go right into it.

Hey thanks! I tried pig suede once, but I could not ignore the pores. Couldn't live with it. Thought about splitting the cow suede in inventory but it's just too soft and wouldn't take the blade. Might try goat suede as it seems to be below 2 oz. I'm not sure there's a rising demand for it but do have 8 orders on hand right now. Every piece with some customization. Totally agree with you. I just got lazy. HA! Thanks! A few more kinks I need to figure out, but overall it's getting easier to make these. HAHA! Andersen Leather! You wrote that instructable, right? I read your piece a few times and determined it was possible to make it with my skills. I changed a few steps, not sure if for better or worse, but your article really helped. I have to show a customer a sample before he buys so rushed this one out. I want to say 30 hours.

Sedgwick Bridle is beautiful to look at but it's pretty stiff. For the gusset, I had to split it down to 3 oz and reluctantly line it with 2 oz cow suede (wish there was 1 oz suede). Probably should've cut the lining slightly smaller than the main body. Would make better edges. Took 1 week... Well worth the pain.

I actually bought Cobra's 14" splitter. 4-6 oz Sedgwick is way too difficult to make into an accordion gusset. You can make it into a 3 piece gusset, but a single piece? I gave up after I felt the thickness and strength of the leather. I split it down to 3 oz and lined it with 2 oz cow suede. Pig suede would be more ideal in terms of weight but it's too ugly with those large pores.

Well, Abbey England is one source. They ship super fast if the items are in inventory, though I've always worried about shipping cost as they don't declare the shipping cost when you check out online. Someone on Etsy sells them on and off as well but I think they charge $100.00 or so? There might also be an Italian company and a Hong Kong company that sell them but I've never contacted them. But, yup, you're right, I don't know any company in the USA that sell these locks. I wish they were more readily available. Turns out I lined a new piece with green cow suede split. Thick as hell...

Lovely! People will ask her where she bought it! Been wanting to make bags for my boys. Your bag just gave me the determination to do it!

That's a really nice piece for a 1st attempt.

For some reason, I really like hand stitch. Plus, I don't own a sewing machine. However, I'm just charging $450 for labor + mtrl.

lol he's paying for mtrl but yeah I'm not charging him any labor. however, told him he needs to get me some biz. Hahahaha this is actually led to 6 other custom orders and a request to make a shell cordovan wallet.