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Hi everyone, I’ve been doing this craft for over three years now, so I’m still a bairn compared to many of you. However, since the beginning of 2024, I’ve taken it more seriously. Aside from tools, I no longer import leather or hardware to avoid the extra 20%+ fees. Here in the UK, things have changed a lot since Brexit. Prices have skyrocketed on nearly everything, and import taxes are just extortionate. For example, I bought a press from Tandy (based in Spain) a couple of months ago—it was on sale for about £200, but FedEx delivered it with an additional £65 charge! I couldn’t believe it. There are a few UK-based online shops (which I won’t name) that source tools and threads from the EU and the States, but they end up costing more than if I bought directly from those countries, even with import taxes. Thankfully, there are still some good suppliers here in the UK for leather and tools, like Metropolitan, George Barnsley, J Wood Leathers, Abbey England, and Le Prevo. Of course, there are also A&A Crack and Sedgwick, which offer some of the finest leathers in the UK, though their prices are a bit out of reach for me at the moment. Lately, I’ve been checking out other makers’ shops in France and Spain. I noticed they use some really unique rivets—chunky, embossed ones that aren’t laser-burned, as well as D-rings with snake designs and embossed buttons. I haven’t seen anything like that here in the UK, apart from a few on Etsy from Asian shops, but they go for £3-5 each. If anyone has a list of trusted suppliers for leather, hardware, and threads (excluding tools), I’d really appreciate it. Here’s what I’m looking for: High-quality solid brass and nickel hardware Veg tan, waxed leather, and quality chrome leathers Tiger thread or similar Thanks in advance, God bless

About a year ago there was a guy on this forum who was making a new line of threads, the posts went on for a few months with trials etc but seems to have vanished, did he ever get the new company up and running and if so does he have a site?

Hi there I am looking to buy a sew machine Adler 205-420 or Adler 205-370, also any Goodyear welt machine , inverted norwegian welt, any ,shoe lasting machine to make a shoe last , leather , shoe equipment ? please if you have any send me pic and price so i will forward to you ASAP ?

I've just acquired a Singer 29-4 Cobbler's Treadle Sewing Machine. I love it. But I have a problem, no screws to hold the head to the treadle base. I've purchased some screws from the hardware store, 6-32 and 8-32's but they do not work. Threads are different. I've tried what I thought might work, out of an abundance of screws I have around my shop. Does anyone have any idea what size these screws are? I figure somewhere around a 3/16ths fine but I'm not sure. It would be awesome if someone had some that I could get from them I would gladly pay. I'd really like to keep this machine as close to original as possible. It's a 1908 model and works beautifully.