Adventures in strap making

Duracuir1 · Jan 19, 2020

osc
If you're asking me, I usually print a cardstock pattern, trace, and use a box cutter / Olfa Utility Knife 👍 - I've used a variety of different ones (see below) and find myself always coming back to the Olfa Knife since I can just break off a blade and start anew.

Left to right:
Olfa Utility Knife (most used)
Olfa Art Knife (seldomly used; lots of others love this for corners / curves)
Japanese Skiving Knife "Nobuyoshi" 36mm (planning on replacing this soon)
Fiskar Rotary Cutter (mainly used for straight line cuts)

Very nice! I use some of the same tools, and buy some old ones whenever I find them. Old blades sharpen well with a barber’s strop or even with a piece of leather and polishing rouge. Great hobby! I finished the (above) speedy strap this morning and had fun with some experimenting. Trying to see how much I can pad an 18 mm snake strap!

osc · Jan 19, 2020

Duracuir1
Very nice! I use some of the same tools, and buy some old ones whenever I find them. Old blades sharpen well with a barber’s strop or even with a piece of leather and polishing rouge. Great hobby! I finished the (above) speedy strap this morning and had fun with some experimenting. Trying to see how much I can pad an 18 mm snake strap!

Nice! That's a ton of padding - how thick did you go? Does it bend well around the wrist?

I hear you on the strop and jewellers rouge - I find that one hobby (leathercrafting) then leads to another (knife sharpening) and then leads to another and another.... 😀

Canuck · Jan 19, 2020

DaveK
@Canuck, are you thinking of something along these lines, but with a mystery braid in the middle?

Do you have one of these around that you could provide me measurements for? I came across one in an antique shop, but it was mummified so who knows what it looked like in its functional days. The length and width and size of the loops would be valuable.

Just testing an assumption, this is worn with jeans and that one loop goes through a belt?

David,

That is the idea. The braid I have in mind is one piece of leather with a loop at each end, and braid in the middle. I think the one you are showing has a separate loop attached at the one end. I have had that type of braided pocket watch strap with braid in the middle, and a separate loop attached at each end. Useless. I’d even be happy with a braided center section and an integral tongue at each end with a dome fastener, to form the loops.. But it must be one piece of leather.

DaveK · Jan 20, 2020

I came across this during some research, shell cordovan watch strap blanks for under $11 CDN. Once I feel competent practicing on my recycled leather supply I might give these a try. Anyone here used OA Leather Supply? https://www.oaleathersupply.com/collections/custom-hand-cut-watch-strap-blanks-shell-cordovan

osc · Jan 20, 2020

DaveK
I came across this during some research, shell cordovan watch strap blanks for under $11 CDN. Once I feel competent practicing on my recycled leather supply I might give these a try. Anyone here used OA Leather Supply? https://www.oaleathersupply.com/collections/custom-hand-cut-watch-strap-blanks-shell-cordovan

Yep - I've ordered from them a few times, including those straps you mention. Great deal for cordovan instead of having to buy the whole piece 👍

Edwinowl · Jan 21, 2020

I did have a go a few years back and even had my own owl stamp made, sadly was just a fad and I sold my stuff mainly old ammo pouches which started to get quite pricey in the end

Duracuir1 · Jan 26, 2020

I found a six foot long

snake skin at an antique store. It was black. A good excuse to make some black straps!!!

osc · Jan 26, 2020

Cool find!! Those straps are looking real nice 👍

osc · Jan 27, 2020

We should organize a watch strap trade. Maybe put in requested dimensions and colour of watch and then let it be a 'secret Santa' type ballot.

Duracuir1 · Jan 28, 2020

Duracuir1

A couple more on the go. To be continued.

Complete. Once I decide on correct buckles I will add the hole(s). Underneath is an old pair of green suede chaps. Some of the leather is well worn, some is like new. It will make for some nice projects. Cost? $24!

JwRosenthal · Feb 2, 2020

@Duracuir1 was kind enough to send me the Speedy strap- I had been looking for a good rally strap for my Speedmaster for some time- perfectly perforated and the grey stitch is a great match to the dial text & indices.

Duracuir1 · Feb 8, 2020

Syrte
Lots of nice straps here and I’m a great fan of home made straps with vintage leather, but that was a nice purse... really a pity IMHO.

The last snake purse I bought was $3. They are not that desirable. But I recently picked up a leather bag for $15. It was in pieces. I restitched it. The only addition is the handle. I made the handle with the same leather that I used for my Tudor strap. Sometimes things are worth saving.

JwRosenthal · Feb 8, 2020

Think of all the straps you could make from that armchair! 😉

osc · Feb 8, 2020

Not an Omega but made a new croc strap to accompany my Stowa.

DaveK · Feb 16, 2020

Hi folks! Well, here is my first leather project off of the bench. I surprised myself wanting to make a pocket watch lanyard first, vs a wrist strap. The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess.

Step 1: Look at a bunch of pictures of lanyards online then treat the project like I treat most recipes - get a general idea of how it should look and then say “Whatever, I can make this easier/better/quicker my own way”. Then, agonize/enjoy thinking through a prototype

Step 2: I start with some lacing, skive it down half width and glue two pieces back to back, so I had two finished sides, instead of one rough one. Then, make cuts for a mystery braid.

Step 3: Watch this mystery braid video 20 times (

), scream, then watch this one twice (

), finally figuring out the process relatively easily

Step 4: install a button stud for the first time - pause to feel accomplished 😀

For attaching the lanyard to your belt

Step 5: realize I haven’t fully thought through the watch end yet, and decide I’d like to install a snap to finish that end, but I can’t get to the supply store until next Saturday 😬

Apologies for those of you who are eating dinner and didn’t expect to see my butt. 😉

Making these lanyards with pre-fab braids would be thinner and faster/easier, but I think I’ll like the heft of this in the long run.

Thanks to @Duracuir1 for the inspiration from this thread 👍

Question for the hive mind. I was tormented by the leather/ruler wiggling away while I was cutting (taking 3 light passes with the knife, so being gentle with the pressure). Weaver leather sells non-slip tape to line your rulers with, but shipping to Canada is $38US for $4.80 worth of tape. The tape must hold a project secure, but not mark leather, any ideas for alternates or Canadian suppliers? Thanks in advance
🍿

osc · Feb 16, 2020

DaveK
Question for the hive mind. I was tormented by the leather/ruler wiggling away while I was cutting (taking 3 light passes with the knife, so being gentle with the pressure). Weaver leather sells non-slip tape to line your rulers with, but shipping to Canada is $38US for $4.80 worth of tape. The tape must hold a project secure, but not mark leather, any ideas for alternates or Canadian suppliers? Thanks in advance
🍿

On the most finicky, best way I found was to mark the line I am about to cut and then use a skiving knife to cut (or push down perpendicular to the leather on the line). Something like this: https://www.rmleathersupply.com/col...-knife-razor-sharp-made-in-japan-leather-tool. Tandy ones aren't sharp enough out of the box in my opinion.

Alternatively, if you have a steady hand, a really sharp utility knife and can keep the leather from bending, you could also use the utility knife.

Canuck · Feb 16, 2020

David,

That is exactly what I had in mind when I first mentioned a pocket watch lanyard done with Mystery braid! I like it!

DaveK · Feb 17, 2020

osc
On the most finicky, best way I found was to mark the line I am about to cut and then use a skiving knife to cut (or push down perpendicular to the leather on the line). Something like this: https://www.rmleathersupply.com/col...-knife-razor-sharp-made-in-japan-leather-tool. Tandy ones aren't sharp enough out of the box in my opinion.

Alternatively, if you have a steady hand, a really sharp utility knife and can keep the leather from bending, you could also use the utility knife.

Thank you OSC. Nice that RockyMountain sell a left handed knife as well

Duracuir1 · Feb 18, 2020

osc
Nice! That's a ton of padding - how thick did you go? Does it bend well around the wrist?

I hear you on the strop and jewellers rouge - I find that one hobby (leathercrafting) then leads to another (knife sharpening) and then leads to another and another.... 😀

I finally gave the snake band with extreme padding to my jeweller. It bends nicely and the big man loves it!

DaveK · Mar 22, 2020

A while back I was at a thrift shop and picked up this nice wood display case for a corkscrew & wine-stopper kit for $3.99. The corkscrew and wine-stoppers were of surprisingly crap quality, and went in the trash. The case though, this is what I was after, and it was easily 10x superior in quality to the contents. And this is weird, who sells a crap product but puts it in a nice box? Anyway, I’m glad they did. I got home and put the case in the freezer for a few weeks, as I do with anything else that I drag home from a thrift shop.

Wait... what 🤨

A bit of backstory. Vancouver is a lovely place, and so many people want to live here. Unfortunately, bed bugs also love it here, in vast numbers. They come for the sunsets, lattes and yoga pants, I suppose. With that, all 2nd-hand acquisitions get the deep freeze, just to be safe. 👍

Anywho, with much more spare time on my hands lately, I pulled the case out of the freezer and set to repurposing it to house my small, sharp, and pricey leather working tools. With a bit of time, a razor and some pluck-foam, I was very happy with the results 😀

Before

After

And next, a silverwear box will become home to other bits and tools

Keep entertained and healthy everyone

Adventures in strap making

Duracuir1

osc

Canuck

DaveK

osc

Edwinowl

Duracuir1

osc

osc

Duracuir1

JwRosenthal

Duracuir1

JwRosenthal

osc

DaveK

osc

Canuck

DaveK

Duracuir1

DaveK

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