I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the
skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the
pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I
very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My
question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in
the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about
the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely
leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill
or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool?
Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a
little pricey...
Couldn't you take the saddle to a shoe guy? I suspect they would have the proper leather tools.
On Wed, 14 May 2008, Ron A. wrote:
> I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the > skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the > pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I > very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My > question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in > the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about > the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely > leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill > or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool? > Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a > little pricey...
George S. Hugh 261 Hudson Annex (302) 530-9335 hug...@duke.edu
> I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the
> skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the
> pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I
> very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My
> question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in
> the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about
> the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely
> leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill
> or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool?
> Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a
> little pricey...
> I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the
> skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the
> pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I
> very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My
> question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in
> the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about
> the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely
> leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill
> or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool?
> Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a
> little pricey...
I agree with everyone who said take it to a shoe repair guy.
Except ... when I discovered the night before a brevet that the pre-
aged Champion Flyer that I was going to ride looked like it was
sagging from riding it in the rain, I didn't have time to do anything
other than get out a ruler and drill, measure and mark where I wanted
the holes, drill 'em out, and then use a leather boot lace to go back
and forth through the holes and tie it together. It looks perfectly
great, IMHO. Any small issues with off-center holes or non-perfectly
drilled holes are disguised by the leather boot lace, which completely
fills the holes and the spaces between.
On May 15, 12:20 pm, Lloyd <ldlem...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Mark the holes where you want them. Then take it to a shoe repair guy
> and he can punch them out in 30-seconds.
> On May 14, 9:28 pm, "Ron A." <rwander...@optonline.net> wrote:
> > I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the
> > skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the
> > pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I
> > very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My
> > question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in
> > the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about
> > the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely
> > leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill
> > or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool?
> > Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a
> > little pricey...- Hide quoted text -
Rather than use a drill bit, which could ruin the leather, you could use a sharp woodworking awl. Put a block of wood on the other side of the leather and go to town.
> I agree with everyone who said take it to a shoe repair guy. > Except ... when I discovered the night before a brevet that the pre- > aged Champion Flyer that I was going to ride looked like it was > sagging from riding it in the rain, I didn't have time to do anything > other than get out a ruler and drill, measure and mark where I wanted > the holes, drill 'em out, and then use a leather boot lace to go back > and forth through the holes and tie it together. It looks perfectly > great, IMHO. Any small issues with off-center holes or non-perfectly > drilled holes are disguised by the leather boot lace, which completely > fills the holes and the spaces between.
> On May 15, 12:20 pm, Lloyd <ldlem...@comcast.net> wrote: > > Mark the holes where you want them. Then take it to a shoe repair guy > > and he can punch them out in 30-seconds.
> > On May 14, 9:28 pm, "Ron A." <rwander...@optonline.net> wrote:
> > > I have a Brooks B-17 that I am looking to punch a few holes in the > > > skirts on each side and lace together. I own a second B-17 with the > > > pre-aged treatment that came new with the skirts laced together, and I > > > very much like the subtle difference in the feel of the saddle. My > > > question is -- does any one have any experience making the holes in > > > the skirt of the saddle with a drill and a sharp bit? I do care about > > > the appearance of the finished job - I don't want to hack up my lovely > > > leather saddle. Can I make a clean hole in the leather with a drill > > > or should I break down and buy the proper leather working tool? > > > Perhaps I'm being a bit cheap, but decent leather punches seems a > > > little pricey...- Hide quoted text -
> > - Show quoted text -
George S. Hugh 261 Hudson Annex (302) 530-9335 hug...@duke.edu
