Stitching clam

[BobHall]

I have a book titled The Leatherworking Handbook by Valerie Michael. In it there are pictures of what she calls a stitching clam. Its purpose is the same as a stitching pony or a stitching horse... just a different design. I have a stitching pony and it just wont work for the projects I'm working on. The distance between the clamp and the tightening bolt is too shallow. I could build a stitching horse but don't have room for it. The 'clam' looks perfect for my needs and available space. The big question is, where can I get one? I've looked with no luck. I've attached a picture for reference.

By the way... the book is great! I highly recommend it.

Thanks!

Bob

[Luke Hatley]

siegel of calif has them listed in there catalog............

[BobHall]

Thanks Luke... I knew they had to be somewhere!

[ShirleyT]

I ordered directly from Abbey Saddlery and had it in less than a week. At the time was less expensive than Siegel's. http://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk/

The quality is great. All I had to do was add leather to the jaws. They also have Osborne and Dixon tools.

And here's a website for Valerie Michael. I went over and studied with her a bit. Worth the investment. Now, if I can just find someone to teach me tooling and stamping...

http://www.leathercourses.co.uk/index.htm

[Lippy]

Valerie Michael has her own stitching clams that sell for £59 or about $88. I've only seen the images in her book and talked with her via email. She said they are about 45" long and 2.75" wide. Hers are made from laminated beech. They would be easy to make if you know how to steam bend wood. Perhaps somebody can tell us how to do it.

Cheers,

Lippy

[barra]

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?s...55&hl=clams

If your keen to try steam bending, youtube "steam bending wood"

Barra

[BobHall]

This is exactly what I love about this forum... you throw out a line and catch more than you ever imagined!

Lippy... Luke suggested Siegel so I looked there first. I can't find it on their web site.... maybe it's in their print catalog (don't have one.) Shirley suggested Abbey Saddlery so I checked them out. They require a log in, which I just got, so I'll look there later. In the meantime I sent an email to Valerie... they show some tools on her web site. She was very nice in her reply, but they no longer ship overseas.

Barra... thanks for the link. There's a lot of useful info in that thread. I had no idea there were so many versions. I'm a woodworker as well, but i've never steam-bent wood. If I can't find something soon I'll consider that option.

I've seen a few, very few, made in the US. The style of the clam Valerie uses is one that I like; finding one that can be shipped here may pose a problem. I'll keep hunting!

Thanks all!

[Kustom]

I ordered directly from Abbey Saddlery and had it in less than a week. At the time was less expensive than Siegel's. http://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk/

The quality is great. All I had to do was add leather to the jaws. They also have Osborne and Dixon tools.

And here's a website for Valerie Michael. I went over and studied with her a bit. Worth the investment. Now, if I can just find someone to teach me tooling and stamping...

http://www.leathercourses.co.uk/index.htm

Shirley,

Which of her classes of did you take. I have her book and I really like it.

Steve

[ShirleyT]

Dear Steve,

I took her class on wet moulding, three days. My original plan was to then spend four days with another teacher. Unfortunately, the gentleman had a health crisis and was hospitalized. Valerie graciously agreed to let me stay on as her student instead. So I had a class and then additional private instruction for a very reasonable fee. Tetbury is in a beautiful part of the country and easy to get to by train. Well, train gets within a few miles and Valerie picked me up at the station. British Rail Pass made it easy. I stayed in a great inn above a shop (Talboy's) two blocks away. Small town, great people, fabulous instruction, and it changed my life. I came away knowing I could make a living doing something I truly love and that is important to carry on artisanal traditions.

Once the economy turns around I'll be going back. I'd really like to do her summer school (longer) class. The English have a different way of doing things (duh!) and I've found the differences have added a certain richness to my work that I might not have learned otherwise. I've heard the same thing from our English cousins that come here to study with our Western crafters. It's all worthwhile; it's all good.

Thanks for asking!

Edited April 16, 2009 by ShirleyT

[Kustom]

Shirley,

Thanks for the info. It sounds really great. Maybe someday I can get it together to go.

Steve