Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default What we do in the shadows

    I used to have a great woodworking shed. About two years ago we sold up and moved, so no shed since then, and it’ll probably be another two years before I finish the new house build and have another shed. In the mean time my tools and machines are covered in anti-rust and stored.

    Lockdown had me searching for new things to do, so I fulfilled a long term desire to give leatherwork a go. I already had a mountain of upholstery leather including 2 full hides given to me by a neighbour, but actually I find upholstery leather a bit too soft for anything I’m likely to make so I bought some veg-tan leather from Birdsall Leather and some tools off eBay.

    These two bags are my first project of any size. They are nothing particularly complicated, basically just cut and hand-sew, with a little bit of wet moulding.

    They are fully lined with zippered pockets etc which adds quite a bit to them, but thats just a fabric sewing job.

    I still have quite a lot to learn, especially the whole confusing business of edge-treatments, but generally the learning curve is nothing compared to woodworking. I like the fact that there is no unhealthy dust and nothing trying to cut my fingers off. And I like the fact that the toolkit is simple and cheap, you can probably buy everything you need for the cost of a Veritas plane.

    The process of ‘skiving’ leather is important in producing quality items. I initially wanted a skiving machine but have found that I can do just as well using my woodcarving tools and skills (specifically a 2/14 gouge on the Swiss scale). When you own a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

    I have a walking foot industrial sewing machine which will do leather but actually I prefer to hand sew and it’s more versatile. I don’t mind at all settling down to do an hour or so of saddle stitching - I think that’s the effect of the lockdown.

    The leather costs, of course. I bought a veg-tan ‘side’ from Birdsall for $130 and that gave me the two bags shown, plus enough for a third smallish bag not started yet, and a strop. I’m not sure how I feel about that cost, but then I haven’t explored any other methods of buying leather which may be cheaper.

    Cheers
    Arron


    F9C834F2-F70E-4369-A104-C99B599CE680.jpeg
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,468

    Default

    I did leather work for years now more of when I want something I make it , that cost is quite reasonable considering if you were to sell one of those bags it would easily pay for the leather
    can become a very addictive pastime.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Willunga, Australia
    Posts
    735

    Default

    Nice story Arron. I have been wanting to try my hand at leather-work since pretty much forever myself. When we moved to this place in 2011 there were some leather-working paraphernalia in the shed which set my mind working. What really prompted me was a Gerber multi-tool I had bought from Bunnings. It had a cloth pouch which was falling to pieces. I bought a bit of leather locally for about $20 and borrowed some tools from a friend at work. What came out the other side as ok - good enough as a start.

    Since then it has taken on a life of its own. I get better with every project and I have even re-visited the original pouch I made (twice) making it a little nice each time. My latest project was 2mm Veg tanned smartphone pouch for my brother (see below). I have had several requests to make projects on commission which I politely turn down. I have no desire to make for money. It is all for my own pleasure, and I don't want it to become a burden.

    I usually buy my supplies from a place called D S Horne here in Adelaide. Their prices are quite reasonable and they have a good range. They are a Tandy reseller who have mid range leather tools. I also buy some supplies from Ebay and Ali. The little woman is very supportive and went wandering one day and found a tannery. She got chatting and ended up getting a bunch of hides including some really nice kangaroo hides which make nice soft goods plus a bunch of other stuff for about $250. I made myself a stitching pony made up from some scrap pieces and ideas from other stitching ponies I found on the interwebs. It does not work for all projects but is handy for things such as bags.

    I love hand stitching and listen to music, podcasts or audio-books while I sit at my table and stitch.

    My most ambitious projects were a bi-fold wallet from Studio Hael (I highly recommend his you tube channel) and an iPhone wallet style case which I designed myself. I am really pleased with both of them. The wallet was made from Kangaroo and the iPhone wallet was designed around a bumper case from SPIGEN and used scraps I bought from D S Horne.

    Sams iphone pouch.jpgIMG_5222.jpgWallet Outside.jpgPhone case inside.jpgPhone case outside.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default Keeping on going

    I mentioned above that the items I showed in the first post were out of the same vegetable tanned side that I purchased. There was a bit left and it was enough to make these items. All these designs were borrowed from one of the many leather crafters on YouTube. Unfortunately there isn’t enough to make a strap for the handbag and I don’t want to buy the same leather again.


    E171B520-78F3-4253-83B2-2DE06D0C6470.jpeg

    I find buying leather online without examing it first to be pretty hopeless. I think I’ll wait till I have a car again (waiting for Toyota to finish building my new Ute) and can visit leather shops. I now have two full cow hides, one goat and one kangaroo - all nice leather but none gives me the qualities I want for what I want to make - I really have to see it and touch it.

    Cheers
    Arron
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Bentleigh East
    Age
    50
    Posts
    423

    Default

    Kangaroo is very nice, probably my favourite leather. You never have to skive it because it comes really thin, incredibly strong, soft to the touch, has a very nice back if you buy it from a decent tannery, and ages beautifully. The only reasons it hasn't taken over the world are purely practical: availability, size of the hides and no thickness options. Still you'll find it on some of the best adidas football boots and high end motorcycle suits.

    I just finished this bag out of roo. It's fairly rigid right now becauses it's lined with pig skin inside, but that's the beauty of veg tan, in 6 months it will be a totally different bag.

    And yeah I am downsizing my woodworking set up. Pretty much the only woodworking I want to do right now is making hydroforming moulds, jigs and tools for leatherworking LOL

  7. #6
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default

    That a great bag and very nicely made, Spyro. Is it hand or machine stitched? If it’s machine, what do you use?

    Any chance of an interior shot showing the lining ? Is the lining just fixed at around the top, and does it have pockets?

    I hadn’t thought of kangaroo for bags but I’ve been using it to make a few small things like these pen holders. Despite the shiny surface it is veg tan. I find it’s very easy to scuff and mark during the making process, but the edges do burnish beautifully.

    Cheers
    Arron

    0771DEC2-1B64-4359-BBEF-852CA837682B.jpeg
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Bentleigh East
    Age
    50
    Posts
    423

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arron View Post
    That a great bag and very nicely made, Spyro. Is it hand or machine stitched? If it’s machine, what do you use?

    Any chance of an interior shot showing the lining ? Is the lining just fixed at around the top, and does it have pockets?
    Thanks, so are yours
    Everything as hand stitched. I'll try to avoid machines as long as possible, I already have too many because of woodworking.
    The lining is glued to the exterior and then rolled and stitched at the top, but there's plenty of stitching and rivets inside as well, it's not going anywhere







    There's no pockets currently, what I've done instead is I made a long-ish removable pouch and I hung from where the strap attaches to the bag.
    I still need to put some hardware on it, I'll upload a photo tomorrow and you'll see what I mean.

    Quote Originally Posted by Arron View Post
    I hadn’t thought of kangaroo for bags but I’ve been using it to make a few small things like these pen holders. Despite the shiny surface it is veg tan. I find it’s very easy to scuff and mark during the making process, but the edges do burnish beautifully.

    Cheers
    Arron

    0771DEC2-1B64-4359-BBEF-852CA837682B.jpeg
    These are great actually, lots of detail!
    I turn some pens and pencils every now and then, but when I give them to people I find they want to put them with their other pens and if they have a single pen case they take it out of that and invariably it gets lost. So when I make leather pen cases it's always for 2-4 pens, then the case kind of becomes an object of its own and people look after it more.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default

    Thanks. Is the lining held down internally - or just fixed at the top and then floating.
    The lining looks brilliant - raises the quality of the job immensely.

    Cheers
    Arron
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Bentleigh East
    Age
    50
    Posts
    423

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arron View Post
    Thanks. Is the lining held down internally - or just fixed at the top and then floating.
    The lining looks brilliant - raises the quality of the job immensely.

    Cheers
    Arron
    It's stitched at the top and glued everywhere. That's how you line leather with leather... I hope so anyway







    And then obviously stitched again on the sides and the bottom.

    This is how the interior pouch works





Similar Threads

  1. Out of the Shadows
    By Sir Stinkalot in forum BANDSAWN BOXES
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 16th June 2015, 09:12 PM
  2. RIP Jet Harris The Shadows
    By wheelinround in forum Music
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 19th March 2011, 06:39 PM
  3. barking at shadows
    By underfoot in forum WOODCARVING AND SCULPTURE
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 30th October 2008, 11:34 AM
  4. The Shadows 60's guitar sound
    By neilb in forum Music
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 9th February 2008, 03:45 AM
  5. Out of the shadows
    By Book Worm in forum WOODTURNING - PEN TURNING
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 10th September 2006, 06:22 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •