Fred's ramblings

[tsunkasapa]

Congrats! 

[fredk]

Thank you

[toxo]

Well done Fred.

[HaloJones]

Way to go, congratulations 

[fredk]

Thank you,  

Turning a mistake to an advantage

I have a small brass maker's stamp, about 30mm across and 18mm high

    

When pressing this mark into very thin leather, say 1.2mm and less, (under 3oz) I have to be very careful on setting the height on my press otherwise the stamp cuts through the leather, like a clicker cutter.

I've turned  this problem to an advantage. By adjusting the height on my press I can just cut through the leather. But not 100% cleanly, I leave it so I have to pull the leather way from the oval. Why? Because those last few fibres hold the centres of the A and D in place. I'll sort this out by using my mini-drill and a grinder to lessen the height of all the letters so they don't cut through.  By cutting out the oval I can get tags out of scrap pieces, which I can glue inside drawstring bags made of chrome-tan and that sort of thing

eg

Yesterday evening I started sorting out some boxes of small scraps and ended up punching out over 50 tags. Once started it was quite addictive, to see if I could yet another one out of a small waste piece

 

 

 

[fredk]

btw, that belt that took 3rd place.

I made that for a guy in my medieval group. He insisted he was a 38 inch waist, his mum agreed, so I made it for 40 inches. Turned out he was a 46/47 inch waist. His old shop bought belt and trousers had the vanity marking of 38 on them. I measured his old belt to his well used buckle hole and it was 45 inches. I made him a larger belt, and made him pay more. So that belt has been in my 'stock' since about  '14

[Handstitched]

On 8/1/2022 at 7:31 AM, fredk said:

btw, that belt that took 3rd place.

Well done on the win  

I am Judging  the leather section again  this year at a show  in the southern 'burbs' of Perth ( Western Australia) Last year, I was called in to Judge, same place. Went into the exhibition hall..........there was just one belt...and that was it!!   I couldn't place it, it had no holes to do it up . One of the criteria is that it must have function.  Not the first time either. At a prestigious Royal Show one year, ,my first item to Judge was a belt...lovely carved belt...but no holes. I couldn't place it.  Love to see the look on the exhibitors face when they see the Judges notes ( mine)   

We have our own country show this year, I have leather stuff to exhibit. See how that goes...I'll also be Judging the Judges. I made a few boo boo's. See if they pick them up eh? 

HS

[fredk]

Here is a true story;

Once there was a horse race, one of many at one of the many horse racing events. There were about 10 starters listed, but one by one they dropped out until there was only one horse left to run. Of course it came in 1st. But the judges gave it 4th place. Just outside the money. The judges gave it 4th place because, they said, the jockey did not try hard enough, just because it was on its own there was no excuse for not trying hard and the timing the horse took over the course would have put it about 5th or 6th in a proper field.

[fredk]

Last year I made about 15 of these 'Christmas Stockings' 

All made from off-cut out of the scrap box. About 5 inches tall. Just took an evening after I took the notion to make them. Just glued together

Showing front & rear;

A few were a bit more elaborate;

These were a bit bigger, about 7 inches tall. The other side had a personal initial on it

I'm thinking of doing just a Christmas Tree hanger this year. With plastic jewel 'rhinestones' as decorations. Maybe about 4 to 5 inches tall

[Handstitched]

@fredk Not sure why, but those images didn't appear. Could be my 'ye olde' pooter . One of the valves may have burnt out. I've got some spares in the shed.....true. 

HS