Photo Albums

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Hi All, I haven't posted any work in a while. I've been really busy, but; just no time to get anything posted. This year I had some orders for photo albums, which I have never made before, however; since it was a friend that wanted these, so I stopped working on saddles long enough to do these for him. Thought that I would post. Sorry about the quality of the pics, just one of those things i still have to master. At least I think that I have finally found out how to make pics smaller.

Hope that he will like them. He hasn't seen them yet.

Bob

[particle]

Very nice! Can I ask what thickness leather you used?

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Thanks Leatherworker. As for the thickness of leather, like I said in the post, mostly I make saddles, tack and chaps, except when that little outlaw in side of me commits me to make something, when I am asked and can't say no. After I have said sure I can do that, then I use what I have around which is mostly 12/13 oz, 13/14, and chap leather.

Mostly that is what I use, and when I need something less, I skive it. In the case of these albums, I used 12/13 oz mostly for the covers, and the inards on the one with the brand on it was 7oz buffalo, the other two were covered inside with 2/3 oz uppolstery hide. This is the first time i made these. If I were going to make a lot of them rather than skiving the edges down to give the less bulky appearance, I would just order leather more appropriate for the job. I would probably use 8/9 on the covers and 2/3 on the inside covers. Also I did not like the snap ring holderes ao I made my own with some 1 3/8" aluminum channel I made.

Bob

[particle]

Thanks Bob - the leather looked a little thicker than normal, but I don't mind it at all. I'm about to make a bunch of journal covers for Christmas gifts using a bunch of my scrap 8-10oz leather. I don't want to buy a bunch of new leather for them, but can't split them down either so I may just use them as-is. Haven't decided yet. Anyway, yours looked thick and all I have laying around is thick stuff so I thought I'd ask. Looks like it worked out well for you.

Take care,

Eric

[pete]

Hi All, I haven't posted any work in a while. I've been really busy, but; just no time to get anything posted. This year I had some orders for photo albums, which I have never made before, however; since it was a friend that wanted these, so I stopped working on saddles long enough to do these for him. Thought that I would post. Sorry about the quality of the pics, just one of those things i still have to master. At least I think that I have finally found out how to make pics smaller.

Hope that he will like them. He hasn't seen them yet.

Bob

Very nice Bob! Tell me please- I have made dozens of binders/journals/albums but have never tried the 3 piece design. How does one adjust for the spine width? Do you measure & tool the 2 panels first and fold the spine pattern around it? Do you layout all 3 pieces first, tool and then assemble? and on and on......!

Care to give a short explanation or a tutorial on the layout?!!!!????!!!

thanks and again- great looking albums!

respectfully

pete

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Well Pete, I will try to explain how I did it, and hope it makes sense. I first measured out and cut the front and back covers. then did the layout and tooling for each. After that I decided what width I wanted to make the spine allowed and additional 1/4" on either side of that then allowed the amount needed for the "scallop" after fold that covers the front and back covers. As for assembling, once I knew what width I wanted for the spine, (in this case I ended up making my own out of some sheet aluminum, the width plus 5/8" for each flange, then breaking the flange on each side) I then laid it out on the leather and grooved the "spine cover" on the inside where I want the whole thing to hinge/fold. Where the front and rear covers overlap under the scallops, before I glued and stitched it together, I skived it almost to a feather edge so the bulk would not interfere with the fold of the flange when folded. Finally, I ended up using a single piece of furnature / garment leather for the inside. Between the inner cover and the outer covers I used a piece of stiffening board glued in and then stitched. Once that is done, I then assembled and added the flange. I will try to get a picture and add it to this post of what I mean by the flange. I am sure you will have more questions as this makes perfect sense to me, but; that is all together a horse of a different color!

I am going to go down to the shop and take a pic of what I am talking about and post it in a few minutes.

Bob

Ok, here goes, I hope I got the sizing right.

Edited December 6, 2011 by BondoBobCustomSaddles

[pete]

Thank you so much! It makes clear sense to me. What I can't figure is-when you want to mirror the "scallop and bead" from the spine to the front and back covers, do you lay the spine on the covers where they will end up and use dividers ....and then tool and assemble?

sorry for the ignorance

pete

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Thank you so much! It makes clear sense to me. What I can't figure is-when you want to mirror the "scallop and bead" from the spine to the front and back covers, do you lay the spine on the covers where they will end up and use dividers ....and then tool and assemble?

sorry for the ignorance

pete

That is exactly how I did it. Brilliant minds think alike.

Bob

[Greybeard]

Wow, nice. Really like the use of hair on hide w/ the carved leather, gives them the real Cowboy feel. I'll Bet he was a Happy Customer!