My First Sporran

[Chas]

Wonderful work and a great colour - truly a work of art!

Regards

Chas

[tyger]

Good work. I am looking forward to seeing some more in the coming months.

I have used contact cement as a joining agent for many years, on many many applications from cloth to leather to rubber and even metal. Contact cement is tough and pliable.

[SFCRick]

Very nice work indeed.

[Tobus]

For your first attempt, that is outstanding. I know people who have been doing leatherwork for decades who couldn't do it that well. Nicely done!

I have to second Tyger's statement. There's a big difference between rubber cement and contact cement. We generally only use rubber cement for a light temporary bond before stitching something down, as it just doesn't have any 'holding power' by itself. Contact cement, though, is incredibly strong if applied properly to leather that's been surface-prepped for it.

You'll want to roughen the mating leather surfaces (don't be afraid to scratch it up like it just came from a chick fight!) before applying the contact cement. Put a thin layer on both sides, let it get tacky, and press them together.

If it were me, I'd also back it up by putting some small stitches through both pieces. They can be cleverly hidden in the recesses of your swivel cuts. Just a couple of stitches in various locations should do the trick.

[artificer]

I have to second Tyger's statement. There's a big difference between rubber cement and contact cement. We generally only use rubber cement for a light temporary bond before stitching something down, as it just doesn't have any 'holding power' by itself. Contact cement, though, is incredibly strong if applied properly to leather that's been surface-prepped for it.

You'll want to roughen the mating leather surfaces (don't be afraid to scratch it up like it just came from a chick fight!) before applying the contact cement. Put a thin layer on both sides, let it get tacky, and press them together.

If it were me, I'd also back it up by putting some small stitches through both pieces. They can be cleverly hidden in the recesses of your swivel cuts. Just a couple of stitches in various locations should do the trick.

*** for all the above. I would never trust glue to to a permanent job of bonding on anything. A few stitches, well hidden in the recesses and done with matching thread will (in addition to the contact adhesive) do you right.

Great work on the fox, and a wonderful first bag!

ith:

[TheNaughtyScot]

For your first attempt, that is outstanding. I know people who have been doing leatherwork for decades who couldn't do it that well. Nicely done!

I have to second Tyger's statement. There's a big difference between rubber cement and contact cement. We generally only use rubber cement for a light temporary bond before stitching something down, as it just doesn't have any 'holding power' by itself. Contact cement, though, is incredibly strong if applied properly to leather that's been surface-prepped for it.

You'll want to roughen the mating leather surfaces (don't be afraid to scratch it up like it just came from a chick fight!) before applying the contact cement. Put a thin layer on both sides, let it get tacky, and press them together.

If it were me, I'd also back it up by putting some small stitches through both pieces. They can be cleverly hidden in the recesses of your swivel cuts. Just a couple of stitches in various locations should do the trick.

I'm going to try to pierce the ears and nose to stitch it down. I hope that the holes won't be too big, particularly with the thickness of the leather. Thanks for the tip about the contact cement.

-Ian

[artificer]

I'm going to try to pierce the ears and nose to stitch it down. I hope that the holes won't be too big, particularly with the thickness of the leather. Thanks for the tip about the contact cement.

-Ian

If you REALLY want small holes that don't show you can make your own awl using the handle of an Xacto tool which holds a 'pin' (for lack of a better word).

Use one of your stitching needles, break off the eye and fit it into the clamp end of the Xacto. Now you've got an awl which is the exact size you need. You may have to pull the needle through with a pliers, as it'll be a tight fit.

ith:

[Tobus]

I'm going to try to pierce the ears and nose to stitch it down. I hope that the holes won't be too big, particularly with the thickness of the leather.

Being that this is not a structural stitch (i.e. it's not holding any weight), you should be able to use small needles and regular thread (not waxed/thick thread). I would use a glover's needle, which can be found at any leatherworking shop.

[artificer]

I would have recommended a glover's needle, but for the fact that every time I pick one up I manage to drive it deep into my hand (though it does go through many leathers quite nicely as well )

I steer clear of them now.

ith:

[The Kilted Chaplain]

Very Nice,
I especially like the way you designed the flap to close with the piece of leather cord over the metal "button".