Leatherwork

[Spider]

Just a quick picture of some leather I'm working on for my bike. Gotta spruce up Jafrum bags somehow. It's only my second or third piece, and amateur for sure, but I enjoy it. I've got a lot more work planned for this bag alone, and then I've got a set of full saddlebags to work on, but here's where I am so far with the fork bag.














Spider

[b.walker5]

Hi Spider. Great start. Did you make the bags yourself or are you working with pre made stuff?

I've been working with leather on and off for 30 odd years now as a hobby and I love it. Mostly horse tack for my wifes hobby but i've made a few bike bags and stuff over the years.

Here's one I made for my bike years ago when i was starting out. It's an orphan at the moment as the other one got trashed when I dropped my bike early last year. I'll make another when I get some more leather but I'll have to make two as skills have improved dramatically since that was made.





If you need to know any procedures or tips etc feel free to ask, I'm only too happy to assist.

[joceiphus]

Looks good Spider.

[jmnjrpa]

Very nice

Used to do leatherwork years ago. Takes a lot of time and patience.

[Spider]

Thanks guys.

That's a nice bag. I especially like the basket-weave and the lacing around the edges. That upper portion isn't as tightly crammed as most of that style, and it gives a distinctive essence- more relaxed and supple looking perhaps than a typical basket-weave pattern.


I'm working on pre-made bags. The bag in the photo is from Jafrum. It was given to my by a friend for fixing a computer issue he had. Their leather is thick as hell, but pretty rough- no where near quality enough for stamping, but I can't complain. I was also given a set of saddlebags from the same manufacturer last month. I'm going to finish up the fork bag first though.

What I'm doing for this piece, I've done on a couple knife sheathes of similar quality. I slightly moisten the leather(sometimes). Then I take a razor blade and very carefully throw down very shallow V-cuts along the lines of what I want(occasionally some scallops and whatnot). I usually pencil stuff in first to aide me in where I'm going. Then I can concentrate on proper cuts rather than trying to juggle that and design at the same time.

Once the cuts are in, if I'm looking for water resistant, I'll spray the final piece with a suede water-proofing spray and wipe off the access.

I go through a ton of razors, since they work best when they're really sharp. I had no clue how to do this when I started. I use a lot of the same types of cuts and things that I use for certain kinds of wood-carving. It's pretty much a cross-over. Without a forge to stick my head into right now, I've got to do something creative and preferably a bit more macho than crochet.

I'd like to get into full-on stamping and things, as well as making my own pieces. I've got a Tandy leather about an hour away from me, so that's helpful. My tool set right now is limited to a hand awl and copious amounts of razors. Just haven't the financial freedom to pursue it right now beyond the point of how I already am :P

Though I have to tell you, my favorite is when somebody tosses out an old leather chair or sofa. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, a lot of times it's still good leather, just the stuffing or structure of the chair is shot. Then it's time to pull over, whip out my knife, and skin the furniture }:>

Thanks for the offer for advice. Always appreciated, especially when it comes to craftsmanship.

[jmnjrpa]

Get yourself

a good leather working book. You will find that will make it a LOT easier. Trust me. I did this 30 years ago. It is 12"x16".


http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/s...t=01010029.jpg

[Spider]

Very nice. I don't think my razors and fine-work wood chisels will touch anything like that.

A book aught to help(so will starting to work on proper quality leather :P )

Any book recommendations?

[b.walker5]

Your local Tandy outlet should have a good range of books. Check them out on line.

I have this one http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/h...ture=Product_4

All three editions of this one http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/h...ture=Product_6

and this one http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/h...ture=Product_6

[jmnjrpa]

I agree, Tandy is the place. Tonight I will look and see if I still have any.

[CatatonicBug]

I did some leatherworking when I was a kid. I made a belt pouch for my pocket knife when I was in High School, and wore that till I got a Leatherman that came with a pouch. We had a Tandy store near my house for a while, but when they closed, I no longer had a source for leather stuff.

I've never been very artistic, so the few stamps and other tools I own have sat in a painted shoebox for about 15 years, untouched. I always drooled over some of the artwork that I've seen other folks create, knowing that I could never create anything that nice...

[jmnjrpa]

Actually,

I am not that much of an artist. Tandy really makes it easy even though it does take time and patience.

[joceiphus]

I can't handle that time and patience stuff.

[Spider]

I did some leatherworking when I was a kid. I made a belt pouch for my pocket knife when I was in High School,...

I made a couple sheathes in my high school years, but using duct-tape Had one I made to ride horizontal on my belt for my balisong knife. Still have the sheathe, no longer have the knife :P

I really love the look of custom leather work. You can see some of the guys on the CASS forums and others put up some seriously amazing custom work.

Thanks for the book suggestions. I think that once the weather clears up, I'll head to 'Cuse to the Tandy leather shop and get some supplies. First thing I'm looking to grab other than texts is a swivel knife. Been looking around local, but there's not much available. After about two or three hours my thumb cramps something awful from gripping the razor blades.

I've generally got little patience myself, but I find similar comfort in doing this that I do with working on the bike. I've got to focus on what I'm doing, so life's day to day crap gets shoved out of my head. Not so much patience as immersion.