Leatherwork help, please.

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Leatherwork help, please.
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mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 1:24 pm Post subject: Leatherwork help, please.
I'm making myself a pair of leather framed specs (late 15th century). I've got suitable leather, some linen thread and lenses but I have no 'tools'. I need some sort of punch to make the holes for threading: not one of those wheel-type punches but a single punch that you hammer to get through the leather. Where's the best place to get one? Or does anyone here have one to sell?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 1:25 pm Post subject:
you want an awl. Go and find a big darning needle, mount the eye in a wooden handle, and sharpen the point. That will do the trick just fine. A slightly oval or triangular profile is an option, but often a plain sharp point is more than enough. You should be able to poke it through the leather by hand on a wooden chopping board

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 1:31 pm Post subject:
I knew ther was a simple answer! WHile I've got you: what material knitting needles should I be using for knitting?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 1:39 pm Post subject:
brass, bronze, wood, bone -though of those, for your dateline, we only have surviving metal ones. Its reasonable to assume the others based on what we think we know about how it all develops. If they are for dk and under, go for metal, if for aran or heavier, wood is a good option

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 2:05 pm Post subject:
Cheers me duck. I'll have to save up for some then!

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 2:17 pm Post subject:
I have found the shoes for you btw, will bring them with us next weekend, but they definately exist!

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 4:22 pm Post subject:
What a star.

Rusticwood

Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 2154
Location: All over the South West

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 4:34 pm Post subject:
If you don't want too much hassle use a bradawl if you have one

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 5:17 pm Post subject:
I'll have to have a rummage in the old chap's toolbox. If you see what I mean.

magnet

Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 41
Location: Northumberland

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 6:41 pm Post subject: leatherwork
https://www.leprevo.co.uk/ try here for tools and materials...........Magnet

Rusticwood

Joined: 01 Dec 2009
Posts: 2154
Location: All over the South West

Posted: Thu Sep 06, 12 8:55 pm Post subject:

mochyn wrote:

I'll have to have a rummage in the old chap's toolbox.
.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 12 7:05 am Post subject: Re: leatherwork

magnet wrote:

https://www.leprevo.co.uk/ try here for tools and materials...........Magnet

That's a bit of a phwoooar site, isn't it? Loads of things I'd like on there. For this project, though, I need something that I can use in public in our Was of the Roses re-enactment site.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 12 7:08 am Post subject:
Le Prevo are re-enactor friendly, just avoid the elephant print gilded stuff They often have suitable leather in their bargain section, and are reall helpful if you need advice on a particular project

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 12 7:11 am Post subject:
Ah! I didn't spend long enough ogling, then... I was scared I'd make an impulse purchase... And edited to say: Damn you, Sally Pointer! More ways to spend money!

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 12 7:17 am Post subject:

they usually have a fairly good range of vegtan, which is the default re-enactment accepted standard if you can't get something tanned in dung or fish oils (it really is still out there, Gareth has a bag made out of some disgustingly authenti-tanned stuff, which is lovely, but definately different from most modern leather!), and some of their plain brown kipsides are fine for small items. Go for their goatsides for bindings on stays or books. Vegtan is nice if you want to natural dye your leather too

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