Author Topic: Making a Leather Guitar Strap  (Read 11455 times)

Offline sbwhart

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Making a Leather Guitar Strap
« on: February 17, 2010, 04:33:00 AM »
Visited a friend and fellow madmodder yesterday and he showed me the processes you go through when making a leather hand tooled guitar strap, took a few pics so thought I'd show them to you Guys.

This is what you start with a nice bit of cow hide.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3340.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Cut a 3 " strip and shape the ends:- the patterns are made from floor vinal floor tile.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3343.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Sponge the strap down with a bit of water to give it some flexibility while you work with it, then chamfer the edges back and front.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3345.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Roll a groove around the edge, this is where the strange properties of leather show up the rolling process streaches the leather, the first side you roll becomes longer and the strap goes into a banana shape when you roll the second side they are evened up and it straightens.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3354.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Her I'am having a go, note the fine head of hair.  :D

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3351.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Selection of embossing tools.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3347.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

The embossed strap with tools mallet and hand.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3349.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Name stamping.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3350.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Staining the leather two stains were used to give a two tone effect.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3356.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Stitching around the outside of the strap, this stops strap from streaching in use

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3358.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Stamping the holes for the adjusting strap.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3361.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Stain the edges black and a good polish with wax and thats it job done

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3362.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Her's a couple of nice knife sheathes.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Modmodder/100_3341.jpgMaking a Leather Guitar Strap

Rays web site http://www.barefootleather.blogspot.com/

Whilst there I worked on Ray,s stud riveting machine got it working better but not 100% having a think about it  :scratch:

A real pleasurable day that you get when you visit good old friends,

Ray/Val thanks for your hospitality

Have fun

Stew


A little bit of clearance never got in the road
 :wave:

Location:- Crewe Cheshire

Offline NickG

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Re: Making a Leather Guitar Strap
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2010, 06:34:06 AM »
Nice, never seen that sort of thing done before.

 :thumbup:

Nick
Location: County Durham (North East England)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Making a Leather Guitar Strap
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2010, 08:52:37 AM »
Another insight...... Thanks Stew!  :thumbup:

David D
David.

Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline Bernd

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Re: Making a Leather Guitar Strap
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2010, 09:31:22 AM »
That was great Stew. Thanks for posting.

Interesting how something so complicated looking is so easily made.
Route of the Black Diamonds

Offline Brass_Machine

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Re: Making a Leather Guitar Strap
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2010, 08:20:42 PM »
I love stuff like this. This is what this site is about. All the things we make, mod and do....  :headbang:

Eric
Science is fun.

We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad.