[TheForge] Blacksmiths and UtiliKilts

[xlch58 at swbell.net]

Ries Niemi wrote:

> Sure would love to get one of the hand operated leather sewing 
> machines that another blacksmith, Joe Rollings sells- go to "leather 
> sewing machines" on this page.
>
> http://www.thingswestern.com/homepage.html
>
I have one of those, except mine doesn't have all the neat features:

<http://www.tandyleather.com/images/1216-00-L.JPG>

At fourteen dollars I can't complain.   One in the shop, one in the 
truck.  I use mine on just about every campout as someones neat folding 
chair will come apart at the seams and dump them on the ground (I can't 
help them though when the plastic joints break or the legs buckle at a 
rivet)  I always have a jones for handcranked equipment though, and have 
had my eye out for one like you posted for some time.

> To me, a sewing machine is just another tool. And I am, by nature, a 
> tooluser.


Couldn't agree more. 

BTW Jerry, you are still unique if only for having the distinction of 
actually using your blacksmithing skills to improvise a forge and repair 
a seventyfive thousand dollar machine in the wilderness before the CNC 
guys with the helicopter could get there.


Charles