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Leather Strips and Straps
Belts, handles, laces and hinges start as strips cut from a side of firm vegetable-tanned leather. A strap cutter holds the width while you draw it along a straight edge; the edges are then bevelled, sanded and burnished smooth with a little gum and friction so they do not fray or fuzz.
Firm leather about 3–4 mm thick suits straps; thinner leather suits laces and binding strips.
Beginner
1 hour
Instructions
1
1
The leather
The leather
How the firm, vegetable-tanned leather is made.
2
2
Cut a straight edge
Cut a straight edge
Lay the leather grain side up on the cutting mat and cut one long straight edge along the straightedge, following the backbone line where the leather is most even.
Materials for this step:
Vegetable Tanned Leather0.1 sqmTools needed:
Straightedge
Utility Knife
Self-Healing Cutting Mat
Digital Caliper 6-Inch3
3
Pull the strips
Pull the strips
Set the strap cutter to the width, run its fence against the straight edge and pull it along the leather in one steady draw. Repeat for each strip.
Tools needed:
Strap Cutter
Tape Measure4
4
Bevel the edges
Bevel the edges
Run the edge beveler along both corners of each edge, front and back.
Tools needed:
Leather Edge Beveler5
5
Sand and burnish
Sand and burnish
Sand the edges smooth, dampen them with a little gum tragacanth in water, and rub hard with the wooden slicker until they shine. A touch of beeswax finishes them.
Materials for this step:
Gum Tragacanth (Kitre)5 g
Water0.05 liter
Beeswax5 gTools needed:
Sandpaper Sheet
Edge Slicker6
6
Punch and finish
Punch and finish
Cut the ends to shape and punch any holes the strap needs.
Tools needed:
Leather Punch SetUtility Knife7
7
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
Strap cutting troubleshooting.
Flow
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Materials
4- 0.1 sqmPlaceholder
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- 0.05 literPlaceholder
- 5 gPlaceholder
Tools Required
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- 1 vendor sell this, none ship to you yetPlaceholder
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