delonybro Report post Posted March 5, 2015 Ok, after contacting various manufacturers and be turned down (understandably), I'm taking it upon myself to make a guitar strap out of one of my snakes that died. Booger was a Gaboon Viper and they've got an incredible pattern to them. I've included a photo of a strap I'm looking to replicate and my question is this. 1. Does anyone know what weight of leather I would use for the top and backing leather that the skin would sandwich in-between to make a durable strap? OR, would it work to use the Tandy strap kit as a backer and then top it with another leather? I'm very much a newbie, but would also like to put this skin to good use. Thanks for any help! The Skin What I'm hoping to emulate: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tarawhite Report post Posted March 5, 2015 I am a newbie here too... and just starting to work more with chrome tanned leather. The strap in photo looks like a very thin leather. It probably has either a thicker back or some sort of filler/support inside, as thin- chrome tanned leather won't hold up over time. The snake skin is most likely glued to this backing before sewn to top. I would first make a strap without Boogers skin (awesome scale pattern BTW) and get a feel... then when you created and fixed all the errors, make one with your beloved's skin. There is a section here on patterns, where you could get a GS pattern. I had a customer send me a full alligator skin to make a handbag from. I had that skin for over a year and finally sent it back... Couldn't bear to cut into it! Good luck... ~Tara www.etsy.com/shop/sevenannine www.facebook/sevenannine Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock Report post Posted April 4, 2015 Hello all Your first "cut" is done on the main strap exposing a hole in the guitar strap. Then you will need a bigger piece 1/4 inch bigger then the hole. about 3/5 oz leather . The shake skin is then glued on this part and glue on the back of the guitar strap, the sewing is done around it. Then a full piece on the back of the guitar strap "chap leather" 2 OZ. You will never see the second part the 3/5 oz leather just the sewing on the front. that method is call inlay you can even put a piece of leather deer, mouse ect,,,(spongy) between the skin of the snake and the snake will look like it is standing up or "popping up" I did a few so far and the demand is very high, I learn that from a DVD I have best $120.00 spend on a movie PM me and I may be able to provide very good details..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rock Report post Posted April 4, 2015 I mean moose not mouse...lol been a long day yesterday Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
terrypen Report post Posted April 4, 2015 I mean moose not mouse...lol been a long day yesterday I kind of like the vision in my head of a kind of burly guy sewing a tiny little mouse hide!!! LOL Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites