Thank you! It's an aluminium rod with rounded/tapered ends which a friend made for me. He was the recipient of the blue bag so was happen to help with said rods :)

Much too kind! My goal is to make one your bags but feeling a tad fearful to take something like that on. However, I hope to tackle one before August which is when I will be visiting family and have someone in mind for a bag. In regards to the opening of the bag, I can not take credit. It was a pattern I downloaded. My brain isn't wired to make a pattern so I work off what I can find.:) As for the handles, its on a small storage cabinet in the kitchen which I had made and selected the handles. I recall them giving me the info on where they buy their hardware which I will dig out and message you with.

Thank you ALL for the feedback and advice. Going though a very busy work period so will properly test it out and see how I get on with the bevel down method. I did try it a few times, be it rushed, and it was hard going. It is razor sharp to say the least however it feels like its working against me cutting into the leather. Thank you again, Perry

hmmm..He stated just that, bevel side down. I could send it back but it's in the US and I am in the UK. They are quite sought after so could sell it. Waiting a year for this to arrive so a bit of a downer. First world problems :)

Fantastic work and thanks for sharing. I'm in a bit of a slump in staying motivated and seeing this has given me a bit of much need motivation.

Thank you Nica :) The last image pouch doesn't have a strap or handle but a belt loop or clasp to hook onto a belt could easily be added.

I am by no means able to comment on this as I'm still learning to thread a needle. However, putting my engineering mind at work, would skiving or sculpting the underside of the top layer help with the forming of the double dip? Less thickness on the underside along the stitching line, but not to the edge, should then cause the leather to complete the dip and come back to full thickness at the edge thus giving a look that the belt has that you show above. Hope this makes sense... I also hope I am not confusing things or commenting where I shouldn't :)

I ended up picking up an idea I saw by attaching a small L bracket to the clam and having it screwed to the table. It makes it easy to remove in seconds and frees up space in my limited working area. I used M4 size but going to M6 might have been a better idea as the bolt is easier to grab. I also ordered an extended Allen key that I keep on the table for a quick removal/install.

Good day All, I had another go at a practice pouch with the advice above taken on board. While it's not anything that special, it did turn out better than I anticipated. Just waiting on my button hole punch to arrive and a bit more finessing of the edges. I have learned one very valuable lesson. I don't like doing round objects :) I'm looking for metal rings/forms to assist in cutting curves but thus far coming up empty handed. I hope to have time to do some simple rectangular practice pieces over the weekend. Thank you again, Perry

@Leathercraft Masterclass , yes, the whole thing! I've applied some Tokonole and it did help. Same the whole hide is like that but lesson learned. I didn't realise that the glass slicker mentioned was a pain of glass as I took it initially as the 'normal' edge slicker. Another thing to order :)

Thanks Fadi for the above. Much appreciated. Is there a thread you recommend? Philip calls out WUTA in his course guide which I've literally just ordered a spool to try out. As for the irons, I used KS 7psi with Nigel and at home I used Amy Roke. I do have KS irons arriving any day now which I purchased as my main set but got the Amy Roke ones a few weeks back to allow me to get started. They also came recommended as a good one to have on hand for thicker hides where a larger hole would help. Lastly, you are correct. my cuts were not great. I used a metal form on the first one to get a clean curve and the second one with a paper pattern which I made from a stock that was clearly too thin. Thicker stock on order. Amazon etc is loving me at the moment :) I'll be tackling the larger pouch again over the weekend and taking everyone's input on board, Thanks again, Perry

Apologies for the mixup. I subscribed to the full year project which includes all the videos/courses, or so I thought. So Mastermind is only for the products highlighted in the video section?

Thank you Nica, much too kind. I reviewed both pieces and then compared the leathers etc. The second one was a thicker hide and that rough flesh side didn't help. I then zoomed into the stitching and couldn't figure out why one is cleaner than the other. It turns out that the first one was stitched with Tiger thread and the second with Amy Roke. I did a practice straight piece and to me at least the stitching was again cleaner with the Tiger. If you really zoom in you can see stretch marks and white showing through. I shall try the same template as the first pouch again as it is bigger and easier to handle :).

Many thanks ddunn68. I have Tokonole on hand and will give it a try on a scrap piece. Thanks the tips!

I ordered the brass hardware, Amazon, and hope to have this fitted. Even with the tension bolts out, it's still as a board. I searched/ordered 'brass threaded rod' and gone for the 8mm which Philp calls out. Then just 'brass dome nuts' and 'brass wingnut'. I used brass washers as well vs. the leather ones mentioned as I don't yet have the punch tools to make it. I'll post a pic of my take on dressing the clam once it's fully complete. I will experiment in putting a thicker piece of leather at the bottom between the two parts which should in theory relive the tension. I noticed it all tightening up when I reinstalled the bottom bolt. I hope this makes sense! And yes, for what they cost, one would expect it to just work.

Hi @marinella , It's actually 4mm and edited the post above. This is what I ended up purchasing - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263572252103?hash=item3d5e2165c7:g:tD8AAMXQBNlRgMYN Again, took this on advice so hopefully someone else can comment and confirm if this is safe. I tested it last night and seem to be working well. Thanks, P

Many thanks @Fadi ! I have started on a small pouch. I took a 1:1 course with Nigel Armitage to cover the basics. For me personally, I know I get discouraged quite easily if I don't have the basics explained and even just handling the tools and having that explained took a ton of the confusion out of the equation. I then found Leathercraft Masterclass along with many other channels and this one struck a cord with me, hence joining :) Since posting I have undertaken dressing up my clam and hope to post pics of it soon. Just wanting on the fancy brass hardware. I have also started on a simple pouch and plan on knocking a few variations of these out as practice. I just need to remind myself that this is all new and not to expect perfection. Lastly, your points about things here being advance are true and I did review what all was available to me if I joined. Perhaps it's odd but I will plan on tackling some of the parts i.e. have a go at wrapping a handle or tackling some of the parts of a full project. Again, as practice and to see what it is I like and don't. Main goal is to have a go at the medicine bag. My sister would love that, but I'll wait a bit before trying that one out! Thanks again, Perry

Hope you don't mind me opening up an older thread but was looking into this myself. I got a tip that might be useful, or better yet, confirmation that this is safe for my new irons! Have you ever noticed some lorries having panels of clear plastic by the rear doors? They are also used in warehouses etc. You can buy replacement panels off eBay for not much. £16 for a roll and by the look of it, should last well over a year. I ordered a 4mm version as this is the thickets I could find, cut a square and glued it on a piece of soft wood. Got this idea from Nigel Armitage so can only assume if he uses it, it should be safe.

Not quite plywood @Leathercraft Masterclass . The frame is metal and the body/cockpit is made from ash. Walking through the factory is amazing in regards to the smells, sounds etc. Thank you for the warm welcome!