Adventures in strap making

Duracuir1 · Dec 3, 2019

More creations... watch roll; backpack... that will hold this old watch box...

Mauzer · Dec 3, 2019

Nice to see your enthusiasm!

Would definitely add some emotion/value for me, if I made the strap myself. How did you learn how to do this? Did you follow a certain tutorial/tread?

Duracuir1 · Dec 3, 2019

Mauzer
Nice to see your enthusiasm!

Would definitely add some emotion/value for me, if I made the strap myself. How did you learn how to do this? Did you follow a certain tutorial/tread?

Hi. No tutorial. Tried and tested I suppose. My first straps were thick and only had one layer of leather. These tended to stretch. I now use 2 or 3 layers and bought equipment from a shoemaker’s widow. She gave me some good tips too. Easy way to get the desired shape is to buy plastic patterns and cut around them. You can buy online. For the bag and watch roll, I drafted my plans on paper first. Let me know how you make out!

marco · Dec 3, 2019

These straps look excellent , well done.
There will be a market here if you ever want to go that way.

Mauzer · Dec 3, 2019

Ok! Well, I’m not familiar with working with leather at all. So I think I’ll search for a tutorial and what kind of basis tools I need.

I guess this will be a project for next year, maybe around spring 🤔😗

bubu16 · Dec 5, 2019

Duracuir1
I worked in shoe repair as a teenager and began buying leather tools about ten years ago. Have been using the tools and getting better with the straps over time. The love of watches has helped! Thanks for your comments! Just a hobby at this time!

Do you have a sewing machine? I am just using a sharp knife and mine are not as good as yours- not even close. Do you have templates that you can share? Thanks and well done.

Cozmopak · Dec 5, 2019

marco
These straps look excellent , well done.
There will be a market here if you ever want to go that way.

Ditto to that. Very impressive work and this is certainly future market territory.

Duracuir1 · Dec 5, 2019

bubu16
Do you have a sewing machine? I am just using a sharp knife and mine are not as good as yours- not even close. Do you have templates that you can share? Thanks and well done.

I do have sewing machines but you can simply buy some punches and make your holes to sew by hand. It’s more precise for something as fine as a watch strap. You can find watch strap templates online. It simplifies the task and eliminates the need to measure and taper. Have fun and send me pics!

Duracuir1 · Dec 5, 2019

Here are a few shots of my little workshop (it has attic stairs and a cot upstairs!). A few of my tools... I made the leather strips that hold the hand tools. I attached leather to a wood strap and a smaller leather stri

p snakes through to hold the equipment. Have a look at an old baseball glove and barber’s strop. They will one day become watch straps...

Jcarroll164 · Dec 5, 2019

Impressive stuff, well done. Good shed too!

marco · Dec 5, 2019

Hey @Duracuir 1 where are you situated ?
I can see you getting some PM orders. There is a small business for you just waiting to be expolited here on this forum. " No money" might have to change to "not much money" ! An expensive Xmas gift to Mrs D might be in order.
With your initial posting you have started something, the guys here are tolerant and appreciative ( mostly) and will understand that this is a hobby so production time is slow.
Please consider turning your obvious skilled hobby into a lucrative sideline.
Whatever you choose well done and best of luck.

Duracuir1 · Dec 5, 2019

marco
Hey @Duracuir 1 where are you situated ?
I can see you getting some pm orders. There is a small business for you just waiting to be expolited here on this forum. " No money" might have to change to "not much money" ! An expensive Xmas gift to Mrs D might be in order.
With your initial posting you have started something, the guys here are tolerant and appreciative ( mostly) and will understand that this is a hobby so production time is slow.
Please consider turning your obvious skilled hobby into a lucrative sideline.
Whatever you choose well done and best of luck.

With such kind comments I may have to make you a complimentary strap so that you can “test drive” it and report on the quality.

ilayd · Dec 5, 2019

Indeed some nice watch straps here. My dad used to work with leather and make some leather goods (wallets, and leather jackets at one time). He's got a few basic tools around now, but Im not sure which ones. Would you mind PMing me or listing out here the type of tools you use to make these? I'll have to see if my dad has them to either try it myself or get him to make some as well. Thanks!

marco · Dec 5, 2019

Duracuir1
With such kind comments I may have to make you a complimentary strap so that you can “test drive” it and report on the quality.

Well I certainly wasn't angling for that generous response but yes I can critique a sample. I don't think that is needed we can see the finished product there is only softness/ flexibility that cannot be determined by an image.
I have many disappointing straps and I guess other OF members have the same experiance, nothing worse than a stiff strap and because most of us "rotate" our watches they take a LONG time to break in, like it doesn't happen.
Thanks.

Duracuir1 · Dec 7, 2019

Couple of belts for my jeweller. How is this related to watches? Well he gave me these cool old Rolex books from the 1950s. Good trade!

JimInOz · Dec 7, 2019

Nice exchange!

I'd be interested to read Volume IV. I wonder if they mention John Harwood at all?

😉

NYCwatchgal · Dec 7, 2019

Duracuir1

Nice straps!

Duracuir1 · Dec 7, 2019

JimInOz
Nice exchange!

I'd be interested to read Volume IV. I wonder if they mention John Harwood at all?

😉

They do! Nice books. Illustrated with drawings. Seems that these books were limited in numbers and likely given to jewellers.

Professor · Dec 9, 2019

Quite a few of humanities great minds developed to their best potential in the trenches of WW2. Many other great minds ended up as scattered bones in those same trenches. Adversity can ignite creativity.
great work on those straps. I like to repurpose old leather as well.

Duracuir1 · Dec 12, 2019

Today I used a $3 purse from Goodwill. Cut it up and used a small piece to make a black 20mm strap with metallic green stitching. I used a brown leather underneath and added a bit of padding. It is as smooth as an old purse! Have a look! I will see what it looks like in the ayem when the sun is shining...