Leatherworkers, your advice please

[Thunderbolt]

Thunderbolt, thanks for the detailed pics. I am on the hunt for a rabbit fur coat I can recycle into a pouch style like that. I wasn't sure how I was going to go about it...I like the leather knot clasp also. Thanks

Welcome. Hope it helps out.

BTW, I have reasonably detailed instructios that I wrote out for myself to keep things from getting out of order and to keep from forgetting to do something before it's too late. I can post them here if it would help anyone.

Thunderbolt

[KiltedBrewer]

Thanks to all who replied so far for your help and advice.

I'd love to see your instructions, Thunderbolt. If they're too long to post, you can pm them to me.

And I've got questions about 2 of the items in your materials list.

1. What is leather lacquer? I'm hoping to use pre-dyed leather, so do I still need lacquer?

2. I'm also planning to cement and stitch a piece of the softer leather over the lid as I've seen done in some photos of this style. If I do that, do I still need an edge finisher?

[Smayniac]

I have two brief notes to add, Thunderbolt has covered this very well. First, remember that even with prefinished leather, if you have exposed edges, you may need to apply color; this is more important the heavier your leather. The second is I have to disagree with Blupiper on his punching surface; I used wood early on, and destroyed my punch blade. It catches the grain of the wood and breaks the cutting edge, stick with a heavy piece of belly leather or the tire tread.

Bob

[Eric Peterson]

Welcome. Hope it helps out.

BTW, I have reasonably detailed instructios that I wrote out for myself to keep things from getting out of order and to keep from forgetting to do something before it's too late. I can post them here if it would help anyone.

Thunderbolt

That would be great! BTW My wife found rabbit pelts 3 bucks each at craftsetc.com

Thanks

[Thunderbolt]

Thanks to all who replied so far for your help and advice.

I'd love to see your instructions, Thunderbolt. If they're too long to post, you can pm them to me.

There not too bad, see below.

And I've got questions about 2 of the items in your materials list.

1. What is leather lacquer? I'm hoping to use pre-dyed leather, so do I still need lacquer?

I use the Tandy spray lacquer. I don't know if it's ant different than regular lacquer, but it smells the same.

No. it isn't required, but it stiffens and protects the leather, and it also serves the very important task of keeping the dyes from wearing off onto your kilt!

2. I'm also planning to cement and stitch a piece of the softer leather over the lid as I've seen done in some photos of this style. If I do that, do I still need an edge finisher?

No, if it wraps around the entire edge. But you'll still use a heavy leather under it, and rounding the edges makes the outer edge a bit more "finished" looking.

That would be great! BTW My wife found rabbit pelts 3 bucks each at craftsetc.com

Thanks

Here ya go!

1) Layout the pattern. Use rules, compasses and a sharp pencil or fine-tipped pen. Be as precise as possible, it makes everything line up better when you assemble. I also layed out and punched out small location holes for the holes in the leather.

2) Cut out pattern. Again, be as precise as possible. Bumbs, wavy lines and mistakes are transferred directly to the leather.

3) Choose the best leather for the project (Not flanky, no scars, etc. if it shows.

4) Trace and cut out leather. (Mark the wrong side only, so it can't be seen when finished.) With the Thompson pattern, you'll have 5 pieces, call them what ever you want, but I called them;
-Pouch ( cut 2)
-Flap
-pouch support
-belt slide (the part the chain or belt goes through on the back)

5) Finish all exposed edged. Now would be the time to dye and tool the leather, if you're doing so.

6) Locate and glue belt slide on the flap back. Stitch in place. ***note*** Only glue the upper and lower portions, do not apply glue to the area the belt goes through!! But if you do, you can work it apart with a butter knife and dump som talcum powder in there to deactivate the glue.

7) Locate and glue flap on the back of one of the pouch half.

8) Punch out lace holes on flap, flap closure holes and pouch drawstring holes. (The closure holes can be punched out later, if desired.) Place the eyelets on the pouch, if you're going to put eyelets in.

9) Locate and glue pouch support to the inside of the second pouch half

10) Punch support lace holes.

11) Stitch pouch halves, with the support and flap in place inside out! So the pouch support should be on the out side and the flap on the inside. I did two rows of stitches for extra safety. A few extra stitches at the ends will add some security. Turn right-side out.

12) Thread lace (I suppose threading the lace holes would be easier before the halves were sewn together, but I thought they'd get in my way during the sewing.)

13)Thread lace on closure and support. I made up a monkeys fist knot. But a nice button, piece of deer antler or anything else that strikes your fancy could be used.

14) Lacquer the leather. Some lacquer before assembly, but it was easier for me to do it this way.


That's about it. Thompson adds some other things in his book, IIRC.

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll try and clear things up!

Thunderbolt

[Donnie]

Thunderbolt has a very good list of tools needed. I use a plastic cutting board I got from my wife to do the punching on. Get one of the softer plastic boards, not those that are likr plexiglass (they will destroy the cutting edge).

[Computergeek]

here is a step by step tutorial that I did as I was working on one a couple weeks ago hope that it helps: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=42309

[KiltedBrewer]

Thunderbolt, thanks for the step by step instructions and all of your answers to my questions.

Computergeek, thanks for posting the great photos.

Hopefully, I'll get started within 2 weeks and I'll post my progress as I go.

Thanks to all who replied,
David

[KiltedBrewer]

Okay, I've ordered the tools and materials that I need, but I still have one more question.

Do I need to do anything to create the bend in the lid piece of stiff leather? Or will it bend itself to the correct shape during use?

David

[Thunderbolt]

I just wet the leather and fastened the closure overnight. Then after it was dry, I lacquered it. Now it stays in place nicely.

There shouldn't be a crease in it. But the bend won't be an issue.

T.