Leather Straps – Part 2
2016.7.03
After letting the glue dry overnight, I started installing the straps on the top. And then I realized that I had glued one of the buckles in backwards…
They say hide glue can be reactivated with heat and moisture. I was going to find out. So I warmed up the iron and then used it and a wet rag to steam the joint. Then I pried it apart. I could wish it hadn’t kinked and wrinkled the leather… I should have been more careful about only putting the tip of the iron where I needed it. Well at least it came apart. So I put the buckle in the correct direction and glued and clamped the joint again.
Next on the agenda was a brass loop. This goes between the pairs of legs to help the strap wrap around each pair. I cut a short piece of leather and skived it to fold back on itself, similar to the buckle. This one doesn’t need any glue though, just screws. I purchased both 1–1/4″ and 1–1/2″ versions of the brass loops; the 1–1/4″ didn’t quite have enough clearance so I went with the larger ones.
Then there was more test fitting for the mating straps until at last I had the legs buckled in for the ride.
Leather I