Duffle Bag Repair

[ArkieNewbie]

I got a call from a local dentist about his duffle bag that he uses for his flight gear that he needed repaired. He mentioned on the phone that the handles were in rough shape but I didn't think it would be THIS bad. As you can see he had one of them held on with some aluminum wire!!  I remade the handles and the retainer strap. I used a CXL horse but strip I had bought a while back from Maverick Leather. This stuff was AWESOME to work with. Nice and flexible and glued up GREAT! What do y'all think?

[Littlef]

good looking handles!  Gave that bag a well extended life.

[Deanr]

I think it looks awesome and he should be happy.

[AlZilla]

Nice save!

I wonder why the old ones failed like they did...

[ArkieNewbie]

11 minutes ago, AlZilla said:

Nice save!

I wonder why the old ones failed like they did...

Thanks! Well first off, they weren't real leather. The whole bag is bonded leather I believe and they were made as three separate parts. The end of the main part of the handle was stitched to a separate piece that went around the ring. With that construction they were dependent on the strength of the stitch holding them in. Once that failed it was all down hill from there. 

3 hours ago, Littlef said:

good looking handles!  Gave that bag a well extended life.

Thanks! Those handles will far outlast the rest of the bag haha

1 hour ago, Deanr said:

I think it looks awesome and he should be happy.

Thanks! I appreciate it! I hope so. He's out of town until next Friday so now I have to spend a whole week hoping he will. haha

[Handstitched]

Great job, the new handles may outlast the bag  

I have done quite a few handle repairs, and theres good sense of satisfaction at the end knowing that you've extended the life of the bag.

Well done 

HS

[ArkieNewbie]

On 7/14/2023 at 11:27 PM, Handstitched said:

Great job, the new handles may outlast the bag  

I have done quite a few handle repairs, and theres good sense of satisfaction at the end knowing that you've extended the life of the bag.

Well done 

HS

Thanks so much! It is quite satisfying! And the satisfying feel and slight creak of the horse hide helps too!