Anyone into leather?

[Dapph2]

Matchless ..
Thinking on , they might well have been made from thick sheep skin as they were so pliable when issued new & full of grease . So a soft grey leather apron might be where you will find your leather .

.Such as this £10 eBay item number:357827657541

 

[8ob]

Too supple, and I need 8-10 square feet, or round feet.

You may get that out of a secondhand leather couch, just thoughts.

Bob

 

[Dapph2]

I'm sure our couch leather is plastic sprayed donkey skin and it is very thin

 

[oldbikedavey]

There used to be a saddlery outfit in Epping, Batchelors, but it is doubtless a coffee shop or something similar by now.....

 

[tom2207]

They have actually lasted very well, 1944 was quite a while ago, the inner mounting flange has come away on almost all of them and some other damage, not that bad but really worth replacing at least every 80 years!

best get a couple of sets then ,,, you dont want to be rummaging around for them next time either

 

[OJCar]

From the photos of the ones you have removed.
Treat the leather with Neatsfoot Oil if they are stiff and butt weld stitch them to repair.
Need a Sail Makers Palm and Needles or a Speedy Stitcher.
https://jimmygreen.com/1067-sail-sewing

Job for when the weather is too awful for outside work.

 

[Mick Annick]

I had a set of circular forge bellows refurbished years ago with some thick new sections let in, I took them to a saddler who didn’t bat an eyelid.

 

[Pete.]

If you get them made from a synthetic material they may last another 80yrs

 

[Seadog]

Chrome leather was used for the gaiters that I bought for my IIA back in the mists of antiquity.

 

[Seadog]

There used to be a saddlery outfit in Epping, Batchelors, but it is doubtless a coffee shop or something similar by now.....

That's been closed for donkey's years.

 

[Cobbler]

Anyone into leather?
Mmmmmm, wrong forum I think

 

[8ob]

I think @Matchless is on track with his shaped wooden template and wet leather, a matching die for the wooden tooling might work. Sort out a form of production and may even get sales out of it to recover costs.

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

I think @Matchless is on track with his shaped wooden template and wet leather, a matching die for the wooden tooling might work. Sort out a form of production and may even get sales out of it to recover costs.

Bob

Thick leather pressed hot and wet then kept in the press till dry might do it.

 

[Dapph2]

If you use Neatsfoot oil ( made from lambs legs ?? ? ) vermin might just decide it is a tasty feast when soaked into leather

 

[Jackimus]

I haven't been to Soho for a long time.

 

[Seadog]

Anyone into leather?
Mmmmmm, wrong forum I think

There is someone on here that is, toddy I seem to recall.

 

[OJCar]

If you use Neatsfoot oil ( made from lambs legs ?? ? ) vermin might just decide it is a tasty feast when soaked into leather

Cattle legs.
Never had a problem with vermin on the leather I've softened with Neatsfoot.
Your mileage may vary.

May well be that the leather has not gone stiff and does not need softening.

@Matchless About how many K series using these gaiters are there left in the world?

 

[zzr1200]

Anyone into leather?
Mmmmmm, wrong forum I think

Perfect question for those of a certain inclination........

 

[Dozzer]

@Matchless
You need to find a good tannery, and they should be able to help with the best hide for that.
Good friend of mine makes falconry hoods and have helped/watched him form them using wetting & steam + hammer and a forming block, and many hours of hard work.
So you probably want a wet press or you could try using vac forming

the Series landrover ones wouldn't be any good the were just a cone of leather with no real form, just laced together.

 

[zzr1200]

I need to make eight leather gaiters for the rear axle on my 1944 6x4 Austin K6, I tried Cheshire Leather but they declined to quote, Halfords are out of stock so it looks like I may be making them! 8" od, 4" id, about 2 1/4" high, rather like a Bundt cake mould, I would need to get someone to sew a strip around both edges to stop the leather pulling out from under the clips, and a flap at the joint, I suspect they are formed in one piece and then cut to enable installation over the axle tubes, I am thinking that I would turn up a piece of hardish wood into a flat bottom donut shape and fit say three legs to get it up off the bench, then drape a circle of wet leather over it and attach weights to the lower edges, but what leather?? I want it to retain it's shape but to remain pliable. Veg tan, Chrome tan? cow, cat, monkey.......... I have no real idea what I am looking for!

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You could try messaging my son who's a member here. ....... @the mushroom

He's into making wallets and other things out of leather, but I understand he knows how to charge......

or you could also try here...

The Leather Room

UK based leather supplier stocking - veg tan leather, sheepskin nappa, chrome leather, oil-tanned leather, bullhide, leather pieces, remnants, scraps.

identityleathercraft.com

or

PS. There used to be a Saddlers in Otford, Kent near the duck pond, don't know if it's still there