Project Blog - Historic Sporrans / Brass Cantle Project

[MacBean]

If you want to make me one like this, I'll provide the leopard skin! :-)

[artificer]

Scott, I am retiring next week. As soon as the superannuation starts to flow and I have bought "she that must be obeyed" her new car, I will be contacting you re the half-octagon cantle. You Sir, are a bloody ripper.

Sounds Great Mike, congratulations on the coming retirement! I'm already re-drafting the plans on the half-octogon for the material changes.

Make sure you do what needs doing first, though. I've found that "She Who Must Be Obeyed" is also "She Who Must Not Be Made To Wait"

If you want to make me one like this, I'll provide the leopard skin! :-)

Believe it or not, I have a pending commission right now for a very VERY similar piece in pewter/silver. We're still working out some details.

I'd very dearly love to make one in leopard though!

It's actually because of said commission that I may be buying a jeweler's lathe so that I can turn the decorative knobs in the appropriate metal.

ith:

[Ryan Ross]

...It's actually because of said commission that I may be buying a jeweler's lathe so that I can turn the decorative knobs in the appropriate metal.

Ok, Scott... Now you're just showing off.

[artificer]

Ok, Scott... Now you're just showing off.

I wish it were the case. They simply don't exist. Give it a web search.

Appropriately sized brass turnings are barely available. The place I linked to on the first page has cut their stock offerings by a bit and also has $100 minimum order for STOCK parts.

Real silver ones do NOT exist. Apart from making them, my only other option is a jeweler. By the time I pay a jeweler to make them, I could afford the lathe AND the silver, still have the lathe for future work, and re-melt all the machined off silver for future use. As an additional benefit I can make things specifically to a commissioner's request.

In essence this situation is this entire project in miniature. It is simply something that doesn't exist, so I'm forced to make them.

My wife has already been advised

ith:

[Ryan Ross]

I wish it were the case. They simply don't exist. Give it a web search.

Appropriately sized brass turnings are barely available. The place I linked to on the first page has cut their stock offerings by a bit and also has $100 minimum order for STOCK parts.

Real silver ones do NOT exist. Apart from making them, my only other option is a jeweler. By the time I pay a jeweler to make them, I could afford the lathe AND the silver, still have the lathe for future work, and re-melt all the machined off silver for future use. As an additional benefit I can make things specifically to a commissioner's request.

In essence this situation is this entire project in miniature. It is simply something that doesn't exist, so I'm forced to make them.

My wife has already been advised

ith:

Hahaha- I'm just kidding you, Scott. You're just one of those rare folks who seems to be able to do everything... and honestly, I might be slightly jealous.

I imagine you'll have yourself some fun with a jewler's lathe, anyway. Like all of us folks, I'm certain you love getting new toys and making stuff with said toys. In your case, RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME stuff.

[artificer]

Hahaha- I'm just kidding you, Scott. You're just one of those rare folks who seems to be able to do everything... and honestly, I might be slightly jealous.

I imagine you'll have yourself some fun with a jewler's lathe, anyway. Like all of us folks, I'm certain you love getting new toys and making stuff with said toys. In your case, RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME stuff.

No worries, I knew you were just busting my chops.

It was more a venting of my incredible frustration at the lack of 'STUFF' in this world.

There are galaxies worth of widgets that are no longer made. I find it insanely frustrating that I'm made to make my own.

Where is the "Silver Widget" maker when you need him (or her)?

That said, I DO love new toys, except for the fact that they're constantly eating into my income. Sometimes obsessiveness about details is a curse (or so I'm told- by my VERY long-suffering wife, anyway).

ith:

[artificer]

The cantle and bag are complete. I'm finishing up the belt and strap today.


The stitching visible on the back is from the commissioner's requested internal storage pockets.

One interesting thing I learned in the researching brass work (found it on a clockmaker/repair forum) is that it is physically impossible to polish brass or other "factory metals" to a true mirror finish.

For that to be achieved the metal must be sanded, copper plated, then brass plated over the top.

As an aside, it is very, very strange to not have touched this piece since the polishing. It's very alien to have to wear gloves all the time when working.

ith:

[NeightRG]

Yummy... As if I didn't already have enough thing to save up for.
What's the finished weight on a bag like this?

[artificer]

Yummy... As if I didn't already have enough thing to save up for.
What's the finished weight on a bag like this?

15oz with a quite sturdy cowhide and several internal pockets. Switching to Elk or pigskin would shave an ounce or two.

ith:

[ShaunMaxwell]

Beautiful! No one could tell at a glance that it wasn't an antique cantle, but it's destined to be an heirloom. Thanks for sharing another outstanding piece.

SM