chrisash

Maybe worth emailing this company, it does not look like they have any, but may know a source https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer17CLASS-SewingMachineParts

You find lots of old veg tan leather items from Gladstone bags to briefcases etc with leather well dried out and past its useful purpose in its present state Everyone seems to have made their own specialised miracle balm, conditioner, oil etc to bring things miraculously back to life, and the experts seem to do multiple actions using special creams, oils et that they never tell you what they actually are So my question is if you find a item that is veg tan and considered beyond all hope of reviving (well nearly) what would you use and what process

With small cops you can change the direction the thread comes off the cop by turning it upside down, as there is no obvious bottom like larger cones

"Just Leather"

I myself have a large problem with some skins from animals that may have been killed just for their skins rather than food or controled culls, I understand there are now Python farms in the Far East where they are bred entirely for fashion skins which seems disgusting in this day and age

Have a look at Pull Up Leather like here https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FletcherHandmade/items the more you wear it the more Antique it looks

Is Oil (chrome) leather another name for Pull up leather

College sewing in the UK have a good selection of spare parts if you need any at reasonable prices, Great Price you did well https://www.college-sewing.co.uk/store/Singer29K,29USewingMachineParts

Mikesc In the u,k it looks like it's different rules for trade counters, I ran a e-commerce site from a industrial unit for many years untill 18 months ago The trade counter was open to all customers and paid no shop rates; and consisted of a fair size area, where we displayed goods, a large number of industrial units in the UK have trade counters open to the public as well as trade, although i guess it would not be acceptable to sell something that is not remotly connected with a trade, like a sweet shop I guess, but dont really know Selling workwear from Nurses dresses to mens overalls etc we brought in from major companies at a trade price which was between 45-60 percent below their selling prices, which helped them sell on lkarge quantities and improvemthere buying power a win win situation

They would sell more if they sorted out there web site, it's so old in design and telling you they have hides but you must ask what colour you want is discrasefull these days they should have photo's and full descriptions Does this inspire you to buy Quote "We buy these value-priced cowhides as odd lots, meaning we get whatever colors (usually earth tones) the tannery has in that particular lot, therefore colors shown may not always be available. They were tanned for upholstery use, but are an ideal choice for chaps, garments, saddle seats and bags.Weight/Thickness: 3 to 4 oz. (1.2 to 1.6 mm)Average size: 45 to 48 sq. ft. (4.18 to 4.46 sq. meters)"

Others on the forum in the past have stated his prices are through the roof and all secondand parts I can only suggest try it and see how well it sews and due to its age dont overload it with silly thickness leather, it was designed forboot leathers You did not say if it also had the base unit, thats worth £200 on its own You can also make a wooden surface to make it a flat machine

Next step is to throw the cars out of the garage, then take over the lounge, then ???

For at least the first year the apprentice costs you money as they know nothing and take a lot of your time teaching the basics and correcting there mistakes In the second year they can be trusted to help make the basic items for the master to finish off, the master still has to put time aside to teach new techniques and skills so maybe a 50/50 year In the third year the apprentice is improving their skills and making the master some more money At the end of the third year the apprentice is skilled and leaves the master and the overall training is balanced Another point is that not all masters can teach or want to, they can show how to do something just like a video or book, but to actually teach, just like many youg school teachers, teaching and doing are not always the same thing

Just as a matter of interest i have been looking at 3D metal printing costs for use say on discontinued gears etc parts to keep sewing machines working, and was suprised at the way the cost of parts have gone down over the last year, you can get some idea from this link for a uk company, still high but still going down though you do need to supply detailed 3D data https://i.materialise.com/en/3dprint#modelId=faf7fead-b8c0-4b63-aaa3-417698887dff&materialId=12a65a42-df49-47a9-8828-0efaf84c5509&colourId=1d560850-b873-4379-8721-44cb8b4f9baf&productTemplateId=71bf88f0-705d-419e-9ec2-b75bf37f32b6&scale=0.5915923&quantity=1 Note this is just a sample piece i used to get a quote not anything i want or need just a part from McMaster-carr files

Those prices make Nigel Armitage video's at £3 per month seem fantastic value, and whilst not covering Cordwaining he does cover probably 90% of techniques most will find usefull at some time in most leatherworkers knowledge base https://vimeo.com/armitageleather

Good offer by Rocky, with his skills i wish i could go myself Apprenticeships may be the wrong word to describe what you are looking for, in the UK and many other countries a apprenticeships lasts about 3 to 5 years working under a master tradesman, but watered down now to cheap labour and a bit of basic schooling for many positions which are a insult to call apprenticeships

Seems a pity they dont let the management buy stock from the States at real trade prices and just sell maybe online or and trade counter as a franchise with maybe cut down product lists

There must be a reason it looks like it was used for spare parts, maybe it was knackered in a factory and not worth repairing

Are you guys for real, you would pay for a item and then when it arrives faulty, you would make repairs , rather than demand the seller send a replacement part to make is work as it was intended

Just read on Leatherworkwer uk that guy has received a email from Tandy to say they are closing the shop in June and will only operate online sales after that

I doubt the seller would chip in, thats not the way they tend to work, far better to email them with a picture of the whole amchine and also the broken piece and ask for a replacement part stating it was damaged in transit, if they dont play ball you have the option of a review on their service if brought from a reputable web site You could also complain about the slow dispatch or was it the courier? though it may well be customs taking their time

Many thanks Rocky