Messages

My mother-in-law is a big quilter.  I just sent her a picture of it.

Nice job!

Rich,

I still occasionally move topics because they're not posted in the right place.  When I made some changes to the site a couple of years ago, I tried to make it easier to find specific posts, but people still don't read the instructions on how to post.

Oh well.  There were some on here that felt we just needed the general discussion board.  I find that I usually go there first when I stop by, and usually don't even make it to the others!

I could delete some of them...any suggestions?

Chris,

That's great!  Glad to see you're still going strong with the RV business.

I just got an email from Sailrite about a week ago and thought about you when I saw it.  Take a look at this and tell me if you think it would be good to attach your sunscreens with.

http://www.sailrite.com/YKK-SNAD-Clear-25mm-Adhesive-Backed-Flexible-Base-Stud

There's also a video on using these.
http://youtu.be/BMgFqxHSk1A

While looking for some leather pictures, I ran across some pictures of my first boat seat.





Some leather trim on canvas.





Ax head cover.





Enough for tonight!  Later.

Oh, I forgot to show you a couple of leather pieces!  Here ya go.

First gun holster.  This is for my 40 Springfield XD Subcompact.  The first 2 are wet forming.









First knife sheaths.



This is Python inlay.



This is for a Gerber Multi Tool.








This is a radio strap and holder I made.

Thanks to both of you for the comments.  I'm going to try to address everything in one post.

Don't feel too bad about not having the Bosch foam saw.  I watched eBay until I found a good buy on a used one.  It came with 2" blades...almost useless!  I don't remember where I got the 12" blades from.  I think I just did a search online until I found the best deal.  I also had to replace the foot plate on it.  Some of the little rollers were missing and I couldn't find the rollers, so I just got a new foot plate.

Hadn't thought about using the "SWOOP" method of foam replacement!  :)  I'll try that next time.

The springs were in excellent shape.  I was surprised on a seat that old.  His truck has about 250,000 miles on it and it's just an old work truck for plumbing.  I definitely won't be replacing his headliner or carpet or anything else very soon.  I think his truck is actually dirtier than mine.

I also have a couple of different sanders I can use on smoothing the foam.  I use them on motorcycle seats.  On this seat, I actually didn't sand it any more than what you see in the picture.  I used a 1/2" of sew foam under it so I really didn't need to.

For the seat back, I used Velcro.  That's what was on the original.  If you look at this picture, you can see where they made a horizontal stitch line down the middle of each piece of Velcro.  I really didn't like the look of that stitch line so I just used the vertical stitch lines to hold it in place which worked just fine.

The original with the horizontal stitch line:


Mine, without:


One thing I usually do is put a piece of heavy truck tonneau vinyl between the spring and the foam to prevent the springs from cutting into the foam.  I realized I didn't do it after I had the cover on and hog ringed in place.  Oh well, it was in really good shape anyway.

Chris was trying to keep cost down so he didn't really care that I didn't use carpet like the original.  Don't really know the purpose of using the carpet anyway?  Since I didn't have any, I didn't spend the extra money to order it.

French seams versus welt.  To me, welt is SO MUCH easier, so again, in order to cut time and cost I went with the welt cord.  Personally, on a work truck I'd just as soon have welt.  :)

This vinyl was pretty stretchy, so I didn't really worry about which way I cut it.  It was just a little too narrow to cut it across, so I cut it up the roll.  As far as the seams, I really like to make them more like roll and pleats and sew that extra seam from the back, but that would have taken more time.  I probably had about a day and a half to two days in it total.  It always takes me a little longer because I have to factor in work days at the fire station and taking care of my son when he's out of school.

That was the first set of head rests I've done.  I watched a couple of YouTube videos to get some ideas on fastening it on the bottom side.  I wound up cutting some stiffening card board to put on the bottom to staple to.  That worked really good.







I think I hit everything.  Thanks again for the compliments and suggestions.

I've been busy making mostly motorcycle gear and doing leatherwork lately.  Just looking at some posts and thought I'd share a seat I just finished.  This is only the third truck seat I've done.  Nothing fancy, but he likes it better than sitting in a hole!

I haven't been posting as frequently over here because I've been teaching myself to do leatherwork so I've been spending most of my time on the Leatherworker.net forum.

There's been some recent development on a new upgrade for the digital servo motors.  The one on my Highlead has a knob for adjusting speed, but the digital ones have an L.E.D. readout with touch buttons to move up or down in speed.

They also have a laser beam inside that is used to control the speed of sewing when you press on your foot pedal.  It seems that they were VERY sensitive with very little travel in the pedal to go from stop to wide a$$ open!

If anyone has one of these new motors, it's worth the time to check out this thread and video about the upgrade/modification.

I just got a new Cobra Class 4 yesterday and the speed control is absolutely FANTASTIC!  8)

Here's the links to the thread and video:

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=41483&st=0&p=258131&hl=+servo%20+motor&fromsearch=1&#entry258131

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=41916&st=0&p=260742&hl=+servo%20+motor&fromsearch=1&#entry260742

Video:
http://www.swflholsters.com/358/sewing-servo-motor-diy-smoother-speed-control-mod-paper-gradient/

I hope this helps if you have one of the new digital brushless servos.  Mine is working soooo good, I may buy one for my Highlead....and I'm not having any problems with it!

Hey Everybody!

Thought I'd chime in about my Highlead too.  I've had mine about 2 years now and love it.  I've sewed 9/10 oz. Latigo Harness Leather and just cut the sleeves off of my fire dept. uniform shirts and hemmed them up last week!  It sews pretty much anything I want with hardly any adjustment.  Only occasionally do I ever adjust the bobbin tension.

I just received a new leather machine yesterday.  It's a HOSS!  Cobra Class 4 with electronic needle positioning.  Just got it set up last night but haven't played with it yet.  After coffee, that's what I'll be doing.  Been wanting to branch out into holsters and leather biker gear like saddlebags and such.

June, you'll get used to the servo and reverse.  One thing I really like using the reverse for is positioning the needle when I'm doing precise work.  If I want to end up in the hole I started on, all I have to do is press down on the reverse lever while rotating the handwheel and I can put the needle exactly where I want.  I also use the same technique for putting the needle exactly in a corner for making a turn.

I've got some info to share on the new digital servo motors but I'll start another thread to share that info.

Hope everyone has been doing well!

 So i had to drive back later and wayste more time when i could have been sewing. I ended up working late to make it up.

Mike,

I think you'd already done your part by driving out to give him an estimate.  When he called and said to go ahead with the job, I'd have told him to come by the shop and finish the paperwork and give you the downpayment......or added for a second trip (gas, and time).

Last really big ticket item I bought without talking to the wife first, was my new Harley Road King.  It cost me a NEW CAR for her!   :o   ;D

Kyle,

I hope your infection is getting better.  I'd never heard of it before so I Googled it.  Man, that can be some nasty stuff.  Take care of it and do what the DR says.  I would think that your customers would understand something like this.

I hope he didn't expect you to replace it under warranty.   :o

Maybe he learned a lesson and will buy his vinyl from you from now on!   ;D

I know I've read about the marine people having problems with water leaking through seams.  I just got an email from Sailrite about a video they uploaded on YouTube.  I just watched it and it looks like it might help you marine people out.  ;D

http://youtu.be/jTa3tVlBgq4

With all the boat dealers that have gone by the wayside I have more mechanical repairs than I can keep up with. I can usuallly make more money per hour, day or week turning wrenches, however there are a lot more expenses such as special tools, diagnostic software, service manuals, inventory. Also, the liability, it's a lot easier to sink or blow up a boat wrenching than making a new cover or some seats.

It comes down to the fact that I enjoy canvas and vinyl work more. I've been wrenching on boat motors since 1984 and I'm tired. The biggest challange is being able to say NO to people that need my ability so I can focus on what I want to do!

Sounds like you've answered your own question.

I've really enjoyed learning to do upholstery.  I've gotten into it gradually, starting with a couple chairs and then some auto upholstery.  I've always wanted to go more towards the automotive area rather than home furniture.  Then I kinda fell into a niche market making gear for mostly one specific type of motorcycle.  Now, I've got more than I can do and it's doing what I want.

I've also started doing leatherwork which ties in with the motorcycle work.  It's nice to be able to ride motorcycles and also make a little money doing something you enjoy.

If you do what you enjoy, I think you'll continue to get better at it which will lead to more work for you.  And, you'll be doing what you want to do.  Not too many people can say that they have a job they really enjoy.

Good luck with your decision.  I hope it works out for you!   ;D

I never did order these bulbs last year.  Somehow I ran across this post and decided to order them.

$1.86 for 6 bulbs plus $5 flat rate shipping FEDEX.  That's cheaper than I could buy 1 from Sailrite, and that doesn't include the shipping!  Heck, I couldn't hardly drive my truck to town that cheap.

I figured since it was going to cost $5 for shipping, I just ordered 4 extras, just in case.  Knowing me, I'll lose them before I need them!