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Construction Process VIII (Final part)

 Stitching the parts together This is the final part of the construction process series.  This is where all the parts are stitched together.  The lower leather part with the upper parts.  The vamp and the back leather part. For this task start by threading the needle.  This needle is a different kind.  They are called Osborne Braiding Needles at DICTUM ( https://www.dictum.com/en/sewing-tools-materials-bbc/osborne-braiding-needles-708419 ) and threading them is easier than using the saddle-maker's needles.  They hold two "teeth" that I suppose they hold the thread in there.  I am not sure if I did it right but for the whole project it did hold the thread pretty nicely without disengaging the thread at any time. I first passed the thread in the V shape lamina passing both teeth and then the short part of the thread again in the V shape lamina passing only the first tooth and that's it.  This needle does not hold a sharp/pointy edge and is perf...
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Custom Leather Stamp

 Custom Leather Stamp

Imprinting my logo onto the leather was a separate project to be done.  I have used a 20mm diameter steel rod to do so.  Mild steel.
One has to choose from the beginning if this stamp is to be used imprinting using a hammer or a press.  This will determine the length of the steel rod.  I have chosen to use it with a hammer given the space and tools I have at home.  Doing so the length of the rod is about 80mm which makes it quite voluminous having a large mass and thus inertia.  Has to be used with a medium sized hammer.  Small hammers will bounce back at this rod mass so keep that in mind.



A Dremel 300 tool was used with variant rotary tools for engraving the cat’s paw. From stone tools to metal ones (which were almost destroyed in the process. I did not hold any tungsten tools. Generally the process is only to bring in contact the rotary tool at high speeds and make the contact with the metal rod only brief and firm. Thus no high temperatures occur. This prolongs the life of the rotary tool.
It is also better to anneal the steel rod before the process and harden it later on if needed (for leather work there is no need to re harden the rod but still). Annihilation process will make the steel rod softer and even prolong further the life of your tools. Though the heating process of the steel rod only on the side where the stamp is to be made requires quite a lot of gas or coal (better) and in my opinion for such a small project is not important.



And just a small video testing this tool stamp.



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Construction Process VIII (Final part)

 Stitching the parts together This is the final part of the construction process series.  This is where all the parts are stitched together.  The lower leather part with the upper parts.  The vamp and the back leather part. For this task start by threading the needle.  This needle is a different kind.  They are called Osborne Braiding Needles at DICTUM ( https://www.dictum.com/en/sewing-tools-materials-bbc/osborne-braiding-needles-708419 ) and threading them is easier than using the saddle-maker's needles.  They hold two "teeth" that I suppose they hold the thread in there.  I am not sure if I did it right but for the whole project it did hold the thread pretty nicely without disengaging the thread at any time. I first passed the thread in the V shape lamina passing both teeth and then the short part of the thread again in the V shape lamina passing only the first tooth and that's it.  This needle does not hold a sharp/pointy edge and is perf...
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Initial design and testing

  There is no need to spend your expensive leather for testing designs each and every time.  Use some fake leather or otherwise.  It is much cheaper from original leather and does pretty nicely the job. On the next picture one can see from left to right, first the paper used for all the blueprints.  In the middle the fake leather used to test and construct the first testing shoe, and on the right a roll of industrial floor cover used to make a more permanent type of blueprints (just copied the paper ones to those plastic ones form this roll) Tests will be frequent and wasting lots of paper for start and fake leather material is a fact.  I thought myself that by just having this experience of my previous construction of moccasins that this one would be a straightforward case.  Which was not.  I guess that is for every project done from now on, on moccasins and true enough for every different foot trace.  Thus if someone asks me what to do with thos...
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The Tools

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