Today I acquired...........

[addjunkie]

The problem is when you get to my bloody size things start looking like a pair of drapes if you're not careful and you actually need to see the tailor in person.

For example I need about a 52" jacket to go over my shoulders and chest, then im going to need about 8" of material cut out of the belly area or it looks like a dress (i tried on another larger gentleman's jacket that was in production, it swamped me round the gut but fitted the shoulders).

Similarly the trousers are not straightforward.

Nothing quite like a good made to measure suit, Ive had a couple in the past, and my uniform when I was at sea. Shame its another dying trade. Biggest issue ones body and fashions change. Dread to think what a decent made to measure suit costs now.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I may have just bought the matching D-Bit grinder for my pantograph, and had a little Roland CNC engraver that "works as far as I know, but we can't remember where the software CD went to test it now" thrown in for good measure.

Bit of googling later, and it seems like the software is still downloadable from Roland and will run on a modern machine (under protest).

On the face of it that would make the pantograph redundant, but given it has a much larger capacity and travel (especially in Z) the two compliment each other...

I can make templates on the Roland, then use them on the Pantograph to pattern-mill complex shapes, which is a big improvement in workflow over getting my mate to laser cut templates which I then have to pick up, and make appropriate followers for.

 

[brightspark]

More new tyres for the Merschedes, backs this time
Great big things but if you measure those 4 big grooves thats 60mm in total where there is no rubber!
View attachment 490592

ditch finders

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

i'm having a suit made for my wedding due to my "manly stature"

I'd say you've had a right result there. I did mention to the mrs a cheap flight to the far east inc. a tailored suit and shirts would probably be cheaper than what i've just payed.

Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials!

If it's any consolation, by the time you'd paid for 2 flights to Changi, 5 days in a hotel, and 5 days of Singapore's exorbitant food and drink prices, plus a suit made as a rush order from a decent tailor, you'd be looking at about 2k, so probably not far off what a "provincial" (i.e. not Saville Row) tailor in the UK would start at...

(But you would also have been on holiday into the bargain I suppose).


In terms of quality my £200 Vietnam special is absolutely not as good as I would have got from the one remaining local tailor in Sheffield, or if I'd used one of the "good tailors" in Singapore or Hong Kong that our far east sales reps swear by...

But the little back-alley tailor in Vietnam had my measurements on file, and had made clothes to fit me before so I could be fairly confident it wouldn't end up being a complete fiasco, and it's still significantly better than off the peg.

My son in law ordered suits from and on line made to measure place in the east! 3 weeks later 5 suits turned up as described and were decent and good value.

Was that from iTailor.com?

I have heard good things about them from one of our Middle East guys who uses them because they don't seem to make suits big enough for him (ex American Football player) in the country he's in, and he doesn't quite have the confidence to go native and get a dishdasha/thobe made as formal wear.

 

[Turbo]

My niece is getting wed this year and I've been told I'm wearing a suit. I'm refusing as the next time I wear a suit I'll be in a wooden box heading into a bonfire and chances are it won't fit by then. So buying a suit to wear for 1 day is a waste of ££ that could be spent on something more useful like tools!

It will be a dig through my limited collection of good trousers and picking a pair that still fit. Then select a shirt that fits and thats it. There has been another discussion about a tie, it will be on during the short civil ceremony and photos then be removed and never seen again!

A nice waistcoat has been mentioned as a compromise. Apparently a leather or denim one are not suitable for a wedding! I'll see what I can find in a charity shop but I'm not too worried.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

The problem is when you get to my bloody size things start looking like a pair of drapes if you're not careful and you actually need to see the tailor in person.

For example I need about a 52" jacket to go over my shoulders and chest, then im going to need about 8" of material cut out of the belly area or it looks like a dress (i tried on another larger gentleman's jacket that was in production, it swamped me round the gut but fitted the shoulders).

Similarly the trousers are not straightforward.

You have just described exactly why I couldn't get anything to fit off the peg.

From what I can tell UK shops work on the assumption if you're a 50" chest you must also have no shoulders to speak of, a belly like a space hopper and stubby little arms.

(Don't get me wrong I have a fair bit of gut on me, but it's still smaller than my pecs)

Trousers I find I need a longer rise, and more room in the thigh and calf than is standard for my waist size, otherwise I find a "standard" cut pair of suit trousers fits like skinny jeans.

Dread to think what a decent made to measure suit costs now.

I was quoted "at least £2,200 depending on options, perhaps a little more to account for the extra fabric a gentleman of your stature requires" for a bespoke suit from my local tailor.

If I had that kind of money to spend, I would happily pay that as the bloke is a proper craftsman... But I don't, so I didn't.

Nothing quite like a good made to measure suit, Ive had a couple in the past, and my uniform when I was at sea. Shame its another dying trade.

I was thinking about this in the context of how tailoring in Singapore is very cheap, when so many other things there are eye wateringly expensive.

And I can't help thinking that it's all a bit chicken and egg.

If more people still went to a tailor rather than M&S or some out of town store, then there would be more tailors about, and they'd have enough trade to offer much more competitive prices... Which would make it more viable for people to go to a tailor.

As it is, the guy I spoke to here in the UK has to pay for his premises, business rates and pay himself a wage on about one purchase every two to three weeks, repairing robes for local barristers and judges, and offering an ironing service as a sideline... It's honestly a wonder he can make ends meet!

It kinda dovetails into something I noticed when I was in Spain and Italy recently... In the UK we seem to have optimised our society for convenience, speed, and cost; at the expense of quality (of life, food, and goods).

 

[Turbo]

I once got a bespoke suit made many years ago in Thailand. The catalogue was clippings from various designer catalogues and magazines of big name designer suits. You pick one then decided on the material from the rolls in the shop. After I was measured I paid a deposit and a few days later I had the most comfortable suit I've ever worn. Jacket, trousers, waistcoat and 2 shirts for around £50 I think.

When I got home my dressmaker Auntie had a good look and said it was incredibly well made, no doubt in some back street sweat shop in Thailand!

 

[DAPPH]

What kind of absolute animal uses a ratchet to unbreak a bolt?
Breaker bar first.

What I understand you call a breaker bar

is what I know as a swingle to be used for running up free moving nuts .

Notice there is a small pin holding the shaft to pivot the square drive , the pins have a nasty habit of shearing or wrenching free as the jaws of the handle come apart when you put a bit of pressure on them .

I'd rather use a simple hex impact socket and 1/2 or 3/4" short tee and decent Tommy bar to crack off such nuts when ever possible .
Mind you, I have bent several 1/2" Tommy bars with my bare hands, no extender tubes on them & sheered off a few short Tees in my time Old school 1960's & 70's Britool & Elora stuff at that
Never managed it with a two foot long 3/4 tommy bar or 3/4 short though

 

[DAPPH]

I had to undo a rear hub nut on a Fiesta once, that did in fact take a 13ft scaff tube on the end, the nut gave up in the end with a loud crack ( and yes I was undoing it the correct way round )

When you get tightness like that try putting a bit of pressure on th tube and giving the tube a fair smack with a 2.5 pound engineers hammer say six inches back from the nut , the shock wave on the already stressed nut often break it free at the first tap
Another tip is if possible in the socket square drive use an extension bar and sit it on a jack or axle stand so it is parallel to the ground so when you put the pressure on the socket is square over the nut, then use a hammer on the bar or extension tube down by the nut . Only ever had one whel nut that evaded me , some darling had put a lh threaded 2 inch wheel stud in a right hand hub . The spanner for them was a chunky high grade steel hex tube on a four foot long two handed cranked inch thick tensile steel bar

Other mechanics had sheared the stud's 1/4 " locking pin so everything went round .. I burnt it out with an oxy acet torch ,

A bespoke suit straight from the tailor in Vietnam who made me some inexpensive shirts overnight when china southern lost my baggage last year.

Needed a suit for three weddings this summer, was appalled at the price of suits these days (which didn't fit me very well either), so I WhatsApped the tailor and was surprised to be quoted £207 delivered, barely more than the cheapest 2 piece suit you can get from M&S.

A certain amount of arseing about with customs later, it fits perfectly, looks great on and has really good movement (I usually hate wearing a suit).



One slight hitch, the linen fabric which was mid-blue in the photos when I chose it, is much more of a powder blue in real life.

There is a concern that it matches the bridal party's dresses just a bit too well for one of the weddings, and I may have to find an alternative for that one, my partner is enquiring on our behalf.

Given how cheap, quick, and good the service was if I need to get a second one I may use them again, but choose a much more conservative colour.

PM me his details please I could be in the market for a decent suit , three proper collared shirts & some reasonable 55mm wide ties .

 

[DAPPH]

Nothing quite like a good made to measure suit, Ive had a couple in the past, and my uniform when I was at sea. Shame its another dying trade. Biggest issue ones body and fashions change. Dread to think what a decent made to measure suit costs now.

I was given an estimate of around £1400 , shirts & 1 pair of extra trousers about £350 more from an Indian guy advertising bespoke tailoring in the Times a couple of years ago , where I would have had to travel to Birmingham or London three times to get measured first fit then final fit .

Luckily Covid came along and stopped me ..

 

[Brad93]

My niece is getting wed this year and I've been told I'm wearing a suit. I'm refusing as the next time I wear a suit I'll be in a wooden box heading into a bonfire and chances are it won't fit by then. So buying a suit to wear for 1 day is a waste of ££ that could be spent on something more useful like tools!

It will be a dig through my limited collection of good trousers and picking a pair that still fit. Then select a shirt that fits and thats it. There has been another discussion about a tie, it will be on during the short civil ceremony and photos then be removed and never seen again!

A nice waistcoat has been mentioned as a compromise. Apparently a leather or denim one are not suitable for a wedding! I'll see what I can find in a charity shop but I'm not too worried.

My dad bought a tailored suit from the charity shop for £40, im sure he found an old £20 note in the pocket too!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Arrived Yesterday.

A decent SEL double Steam Engine.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

On the way home , from a medical check up, we stopped in Salisbury for a coffee and a visit to a good shop.

 

[bricol]

What I understand you call a breaker barView attachment 490639
is what I know as a swingle to be used for running up free moving nuts .

Notice there is a small pin holding the shaft to pivot the square drive , the pins have a nasty habit of shearing or wrenching free as the jaws of the handle come apart when you put a bit of pressure on them .

I'd rather use a simple hex impact socket and 1/2 or 3/4" short tee and decent Tommy bar to crack off such nuts when ever possible .
Mind you, I have bent several 1/2" Tommy bars with my bare hands, no extender tubes on them & sheered off a few short Tees in my time Old school 1960's & 70's Britool & Elora stuff at that
Never managed it with a two foot long 3/4 tommy bar or 3/4 short though

I've got a Halfords one that was well used by the time it came into my possession when the last place of work closed down - 20 yrs later, I'm still waiting for that pin to break. Admittedly either the pin, or the holes, or both are worn, but it' just keep on going.

As does the Kamasa ratchet I bought from BAPP in Brighouse aged 17 . . I'm 55 this year. I think mainly because the aforementioned breaker bar is used first.

 

[sako243]

Needed a suit for three weddings this summer, was appalled at the price of suits these days (which didn't fit me very well either), so I WhatsApped the tailor and was surprised to be quoted £207 delivered, barely more than the cheapest 2 piece suit you can get from M&S.

At least having some Scottish heritage I get to have a kilt. They are certainly not cheap things but at least they pretty much work in any scenario so they're nice and multi-purpose.

 

[Blobber]

ditch finders

Shrinkflation innit! bit like Toblerone's with every other piece missing

 

[Brad93]

You have just described exactly why I couldn't get anything to fit off the peg.

From what I can tell UK shops work on the assumption if you're a 50" chest you must also have no shoulders to speak of, a belly like a space hopper and stubby little arms.

(Don't get me wrong I have a fair bit of gut on me, but it's still smaller than my pecs)

Trousers I find I need a longer rise, and more room in the thigh and calf than is standard for my waist size, otherwise I find a "standard" cut pair of suit trousers fits like skinny jeans.



I was quoted "at least £2,200 depending on options, perhaps a little more to account for the extra fabric a gentleman of your stature requires" for a bespoke suit from my local tailor.

If I had that kind of money to spend, I would happily pay that as the bloke is a proper craftsman... But I don't, so I didn't.




I was thinking about this in the context of how tailoring in Singapore is very cheap, when so many other things there are eye wateringly expensive.

And I can't help thinking that it's all a bit chicken and egg.

If more people still went to a tailor rather than M&S or some out of town store, then there would be more tailors about, and they'd have enough trade to offer much more competitive prices... Which would make it more viable for people to go to a tailor.

As it is, the guy I spoke to here in the UK has to pay for his premises, business rates and pay himself a wage on about one purchase every two to three weeks, repairing robes for local barristers and judges, and offering an ironing service as a sideline... It's honestly a wonder he can make ends meet!

It kinda dovetails into something I noticed when I was in Spain and Italy recently... In the UK we seem to have optimised our society for convenience, speed, and cost; at the expense of quality (of life, food, and goods).

Mine wasnt quite that expensive. £1500 and a shirt was £165. Not had the fitting yet

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Trick I found with tailored suits is to get several pairs of trousers made in different (larger!) sizes while you're at it.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

At least having some Scottish heritage I get to have a kilt. They are certainly not cheap things but at least they pretty much work in any scenario so they're nice and multi-purpose.

Being that one half of the family is Scots, I have debated a kilt and bonny prince charlie/doublet over the years...

But am very conscious of coming across like a prick on account of how terribly English I sound (and never more than when I am speaking Scots or Doric).

Mine wasnt quite that expensive. £1500 and a shirt was £165. Not had the fitting yet

I would say you did pretty well there yourself, that's a very good price for here it the UK!

 

[badabec]

My dad was from Wick, Caithness (site of the first industrial estate). He would not be seen dead in a kilt, nor would any of his family.
As for tartans and clans, all a fiction.

Watch Pauline Calf's wedding video, the best man's suit was an inspiration to us all.