covering my thermos

[SmilinJim]

In my opinion anyway. I wanted to do a little practice so I got a piece of leather that I didn't mind losing. It was sorta thin but I cased, traced, cut, hammered and stained. Really didn't look too bad. Hmmm, can I use it for anything, how about covering my thermos. Yeah that's good. So I wrapped it and measured and cut then decided to use the braid I used for practice for a handle and cut some caps. You know just slipping it on the thermos may not be tight enough lets use a little barge on the thermos and then while it's wet I can slip the cover on. Do you have any idea how tacky barge gets when it's thin. Didn't want to slide after about half way. Now gotta pull it back off and get rid of the barge. In the meantime the leather has been pulled and folded and twisted. Wasn't in real good shape to begin with. Anyway, wet the leather cover and pulled it over the thermos. Smooth it down. Looks maybe okay. Let it dry and looks better. Hey I know how about antique over the design and that may cover some of the oops. Wrong. Brought out all of the little dinks and dents the leather ever thought about having. But hey, it's mine and will just bounce around in my work truck.

My wife and daughter thinks it looks great. I've got 4 orders to do some for the guys at work. Go figure.

The moral of my story is to use some of the tools the folks on this board use. The main one is to plan ahead. I should have done another with a better piece of leather. Looked into reference for attaching the handle ( I've got all of the Stolman Art of Making Cases books) and so on and so forth.

But it's the way I wanted it and thats my story and I'm stickin to it.

Keep on Smilin

Jim

[Beaverslayer]

I like it Jim, the handle is a real nice touch as well, and the overall look gives it that old antique look to it.

You might want to lace one up the seam, kinda like you would a skate. Leave the lace loose until it's slid over the thermos, then tighten the lace with an awl. Just a thought.

Ken

[Zilla]

I agree that handle makes a great added touch!

Kev

[Mike Phelps]

Hey Jim if you throw some heat at the barge, like with a high output hairdryer or heat gun, it will get tacky and slippery again.

I've heard of shoemakers doing this. At the end of a shift if they've got a bunch of soles with the Barge already applied they just go home come in the next morning heat them up and put them on.

I've worked as a welder for years. I sometimes I would have to stand in one place and gouge a seam with an arc gouger. Molten metal would pile up around my feet. When I finished I would step away and the soles of my boots would stay there. The Barge cement had gotten too warm and turned loose.

[Romey]

Those are cool thermos covers