TomE
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Everything posted by TomE
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Thanks. I am interested in different methods for this. I buy mostly bridle leather with a moss-back but if I split it then I will seal the backside.
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Very handsome! How did you seal/burnish the flesh side of the flap?
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@TonySFLDLTHR, planning to call SLC tomorrow to check stock on HO bridle sides. 9-10 oz sides in black, London brown, and havana. Wanted to select 3 sides in person and I'm 3 hrs away from the store. Do you know about current stock?
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Can sew between layers of leather using a holster plate if needed. See 58:30 min in this video from Chris Andre.
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Yes, I like the weight of leather reins covered with the Equus grips. The rubber coated nylon web grips on these reins are lightweight and flexible (floppy), but they are a favorite of the owner. The cuff with a double row of stitches is the original. The cuffs I removed during the repair were falling apart so I replaced them with a thicker cuff. I could have incorporated the cuffs into the 2 stitch lines holding the leather straps on the grip webbing, but I decided to makes certain the straps were firmly attached to the grips before covering the ends with the cuffs.
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Pergamena tannery specializes in lighter weight veg tan leathers. https://www.pergamena.net/ They've been around a long time. See p. 10 of this newsletter. https://livestockconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Summer-2022-Newsletter.pdf
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Thanks, @jcuk. Foal slips seem likely since we’re in the business of producing foals. Still adding the side stitch to buckle turns and placing the fixed loop tight against the turn. I am trainable.
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Batz Corp. Download their catalog for easy searching then search on part number for price.
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"I only want to see you riding in the purple reins." Couldn't resist. Yesterday's project was replacing the buckle ends of a friend's reins. Torn in two. Got a pretty good color match with existing - that's dark brown Fenice Colorfast dye. These rubber grips are nylon webbing coated with rubber. A piece of web inserts into a split in the leather strap and is sewn in place. I prefer grips that slide over a continuous leather strap. The cuffs covering the junction of leather strap and rubber grips are a little different than existing but I think they'll pass inspection.
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Thanks! I appreciate it. Thank you. Staying focused on halters, bridles, and reins until I master these items. Thinking about future projects to use leftover shoulders and bellies of 9-11 oz bridle leather sides.
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A little bit of Hermann Oak bridle leather, and a lot of thread.
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Magazine Feature | Camp Leather Goods, South Sound Magazine
TomE replied to Campleathergoods's topic in Show Off!!
Interesting article and business. Best of luck to you. I think @Mulesaw would relate to doing leathercraft at sea. -
Beautiful work on the knives and sheaths. Thanks for sharing.
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I burnish thin leather (~3 oz) by laying it flat on a slick surface like a cutting mat and rubbing with a folded piece of canvas. Turn the leather over and work the top and bottom of the edge until it looks right. I also use a power burnisher covered with a canvas sleeve. Use light pressure and support the thin leather with your finger tips. I rub the edge on a piece of canvas wetted with water/saddle soap to moisten the edge then power burnish. I typically don't use gum trag because I burnish before dyeing the edge then do another round of burnishing after dyeing.
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Pergamena Tannery specializes in veg tanned, lightweight leathers including goat. https://www.pergamena.net/
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I'm thinking I can make a leash and collar out of cow hide that won't break with the amount of force a person can exert on the end of a leash. If you're tying the animal then I would want it to break at some point or risk injury to the animal's back or neck. At least that's how we think about leather horse tack.
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The Cobra Class 4 (or Cowboy CB4500) really shines when sewing 12-30 oz of material, but it's not practical for 6 oz or less. I have a Class 4 and hand sew about half of my projects. Sometimes it's easier to sew by hand than to configure a project for machine sewing. I have the Cobra burnisher and use the sanding drum more than the wooden slicker. The sander is handy for leveling up edges made from multiple layers. I covered the burnisher with a canvas sleeve and it's handy for the initial burnishing of long straps like reins, but I still finish the edges by hand to get a smoother finish. My advice, as someone who recently returned to leathercraft after a ~50 yr hiatus, is at first to focus on a few types of projects using hand tools. Learn how to use and maintain the tools while figuring out how a machine would enhance your productivity or enjoyment. As we saw in the Terminator movies, machines have their limits and don't always carry the day.
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Better yet, could train an AI algorithm to value leather goods based on pictures/prices of items posted online. We could use the app could to set the price of our goods. I'll match any advertised price, etc. ...Am I on the right track?
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Better days ahead in MO. Stayed above 0 deg F last night and the wind has moderated. Power stayed on. Horses are doing fine in the cold, eating lots of hay and some are blanketed. Predicting 60 deg. F and rain later next week. Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!
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Those belts look great to me! What types of leather and finish did you use? I know what you mean about the time involved. It takes me 20 hrs to make a bridle and I don't feel comfortable charging what I think my time is worth. I could cut corners (e.g., simplify the design and machine sew) but I'd rather do the job in a way that builds my skills and satisfies my standards. I have the luxury of treating this as a hobby while gaining more experience and building a reputation.
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Highly skilled work right there. I'm interested in the modified awl. Heated and bent in a curve? How long? How do you sharpen it?
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Nice work! I'm sure they will be pleased.
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Thank you, @Basically Bob. I'm getting faster but I am basically a 2-trick pony -- bridles and halters.
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Well done! Handsome bag and pretty fabric for the liner. The medallion makes it even more special.
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Thank you. Yes, she's cute but even better she is a highly skilled craftsperson who teaches the traditional methods of saddlery/harness-makng. We use biothane for every day halters. I buy them from 2 Horse Tack bc their stainless hardware is first rate and I wouldn't save much buying the materials and making them.