fur sporran advice...cantle advice etc.

[rondo]

Okay, so I've have an African springbuck pelt that my wife traded a handmade crochet blanket for at the Santa Fe Rendezvous in 1999. I've decided to try my hand at making 2 fur sporrans. One for daily wear and the other for more formal evening wear. I just bought 2 cantles from Stillwater, one antiqued brass [day] the other a blemmed chrome for more formal wear.

I looked at a lot of threads about DIY but still am not finding the details [photos] of other DIY sporrans that are using late metal cantles...any suggestions on how to refine my search paramenters? Thanks.

Next...bright and flashy [chrome] just really isn't me. I'm considering having the blemmed cantle replated or perhaps powdercoated...Opinions suggestions? I'm considering gloss black powdercoat, or maybe cad or rhodium plating...your ideas welcomed.

Rondo

[Father Bill]

Next...bright and flashy [chrome] just really isn't me. I'm considering having the blemmed cantle replated or perhaps powdercoated...Opinions suggestions? I'm considering gloss black powdercoat, or maybe cad or rhodium plating...your ideas welcomed.

Rondo

If you want to try out a dull finish to see if you like it, there is what I think is called "dullcoat spray" used by model railroaders in a spraycan so that their model engines don't look like new plastic. For a couple of bucks, you could pick up a can, spray it on a test piece of metal, then try nailpolish remover to see if it comes back off. Also try the NPR on the back of the chrome cantle to see if it too is lacquered. If the tests all go well, then you might be inclined to spray the cantle, carefully masking all else, and thus simply tone down the glimmer. If the tests have all worked but you don't like the results, the NPR might then restore it to the way it is, leaving an experiment for under $5.

[AKScott]

The main two ways to attach a fur bag to a metal sporran are lacing and round top rivets.

I recognize lacing as traditional and functional, but I don't care for the look. A more aesthetically appealing than usual example is here:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-64708/

I think I like that one because of the geometry of the cantle. The lacing, to me, looks like it fits.

Several other examples in this thread:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...uidance-61075/

Personally, I think I prefer the look of just round topped threaded post backs (think rivet with blind screw threads), but that is just an opinion of mine. Lacing can look decent to me, but it has to be orderly and workmanlike.

EDIT: Found it. This is just my opinion. The pictured sporran is, I am sure a valuable antique and a potentially important historical example. To my eye it looks like a masterful piece of metal work and an excellent leather working job; I just don't care for the look of the whole. This is a place I would rather not see lacing.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...56/#post549878

[rondo]

Thanks Padre Bill and AKScott, the last link is one i hadn't seen before, nice examples of older sporrans. I would assume that connecting the bag to a modern metal cantle will be obvious [when i have the cantle in hand]. I am wondering about things like stitching: i guess i'm going to need an overstitch wheel and something to punch holes in the hide/leather with as a minimum and needles or is that what an awl is for? My idea at the present is to cut out a patern, measure and punch the holes then build the bag inside out and turn it when finished. Any other crafters feel like chiming in? Thanks.
Rondo

[Ryan Ross]

Thanks Padre Bill and AKScott, the last link is one i hadn't seen before, nice examples of older sporrans. I would assume that connecting the bag to a modern metal cantle will be obvious [when i have the cantle in hand]. I am wondering about things like stitching: i guess i'm going to need an overstitch wheel and something to punch holes in the hide/leather with as a minimum and needles or is that what an awl is for? My idea at the present is to cut out a patern, measure and punch the holes then build the bag inside out and turn it when finished. Any other crafters feel like chiming in? Thanks.
Rondo

That sounds pretty standard to me.

As far as tools go, you're spot on; a wheel for keeping the holes evenly spaced, an awl for poking the holes, and a couple of harness needles (with waxed thread) for getting the sewing material through the awl holes. You'll also want some kind of leather adhesive or small clamps to hold the pieces of leather together while stitching.

Folks like Artificer and turpin might hopefully chime in, as they are wonderful hand stitchers and sporran makers. Also, for further ideas, you might want to take a look at the Scottish Tartans Museum's gift shop page; under the sporran category, you'll find Ferguson Britt Sporrans- you might get some ideas about construction and bag shape from them.

[AKScott]

Personally I don't suggest hair on leather for a first project.

Lots of sporran patterns and leather stitching guidance looking on google rather than here. This is a good place to look for finished sporran pictures.

To the above list I would suggest a scribing tool of some kind. Roll the marking wheel up the scribed line so your seam allowances are uniform.

Stitching leather is not difficult, it is tedious. 3D patterns likewise are not difficult, the finesse is in learning how the leather is going to bend, especially where you have an angle and a bend in separate axes, like the bottom corners of a sporran.

[Downunder Kilt]

Artificer, a member here, posted a number of WIP (work in progress) threads in the not too distant past, in relation to sporrans that he was making at the time. I would suggest that using the search function, you could locate these and probably gain some very usefull information.

[rondo]

Tonight I cut out the front of the sporran from the springbuck pelt, 9" in length, and the gusset 3" wide. The width is 6.25 inches. I bought some heavy leather, enough to do the entire back of the sporran if necessary [think really stiff] and several yards of garment leather. Going to try both and see which works best. I'm taking photos as I work and will post when I finish.

Rondo

[T-Bone]

Rondo,
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...sporran-62100/
Here is a deer hide sporran I did last year. It is a little..uh..rugged compared to the horse hair I just did, but it might give you some construction ideas.

T

[rondo]

Thanks T-Bone. I saw that when you first posted it, I hope mine turns out as well as yours did...I'd be quite happy.
Rondo