Making Leather Washers For Wheels On A Horse Drawn Cart

[Stitching Pony]

Hi All

I have been asked by a friend to make some 3" leather washers for the wheels of a horse drawn spring cart that he is restoring. I want to make sure that anything I make is up to the task and strong. But I am coming up with all sorts of questions that I am not sure how to answer

I am hoping there is someone out there with some experience in this can give me some advise.

Is there a particular sort of leather that is better for this sort of job, I mostly have veg tanned cow leather in various weights.

Is there a recommended width (or weight) of leather. I thought to use perhaps some harness leather I have

My first thoughts are just to use a wing divider to the necessary measurements but I see that there are a couple of leather washer cutters on ebay for about $20.00 US. Would it be worthwhile to buy one of these? Lefflers here in Australia have a couple of Dixon Leather washer cutters but they are way too expensive at around $200 AUS.

Any advise you can give would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Stitch

[Tree Reaper]

They should tell you what thickness they want then you can decide what to use to cut them.

[celticleather]

I made some similar washers for a cart a couple of years ago. I used 6mm sole leather, which you could probably get from a local shoemaker or repairer. It's very heavily compressed - almost like plywood - and stands up well to friction. It should be well oiled with neatsfoot oil before installation.

I used a washer cutter, but there's no reason why it can't be done with a sharp craft knife (or even a coping saw!). Cut the outside of the washer slightly oversize, and the hole slightly undersize, and sand it down to the correct dimension . . . perhaps with a Dremel or something similar.

[RonDrake]

i cut a lot of round cloth patches for use in black powder shooting and cleaning firearms and also use about 2000 a year of 1-1/2" 8 ounce leather buttons and hand tool them for various projects that i make and sell.

i go to the hardware store and buy the size of hole saw i need and grind the teeth off.

then i chuck it in my drill press and and use a file to put a knife ege on it.

put a wood block on the drill press table and lay your leather on it and begin making your washers or buttons . watch out for your fingers or you may lose a few.

you will have to experiment with what speed to use depending on what diameter washers or buttons you want.

too fast and the leather will burn.

most hole saws are designed to use a drill bit which would also give you the center hole for your washer but i just install a bolt and nut there to chuck in the drill press for the buttons i make.

i can make about 200 or more 1-1/2" leather buttons an hour this way and use up my leftover scraps that i accumulate from my other projects.

i have never used a hole saw bigger than 2-1/2" but i am sure they make larger ones for dryer vents , etc.

hope this helps,

ron