Modifying Brooks Saddle
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Ron A.
May 14, 2008, 9:28:05 PM5/14/08
to randon
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...
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...
hug...@duke.edu
May 14, 2008, 9:35:15 PM5/14/08
to Ron A., randon
Couldn't you take the saddle to a shoe guy? I suspect they would have the
proper leather tools.
George S. Hugh
261 Hudson Annex
(302) 530-9335
hug...@duke.edu
William Beck
May 15, 2008, 6:39:11 AM5/15/08
to randon
A shoe repair place is a good idea. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure that
you would want to use a leather punch -- not a drill.
you would want to use a leather punch -- not a drill.
Greg
May 15, 2008, 10:19:52 AM5/15/08
to randon
Lloyd
May 15, 2008, 12:20:32 PM5/15/08
to randon
Mark the holes where you want them. Then take it to a shoe repair guy
and he can punch them out in 30-seconds.
and he can punch them out in 30-seconds.
NickBull
May 15, 2008, 4:25:50 PM5/15/08
to randon
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.
> > little pricey...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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.
>
> - Show quoted text -
hug...@duke.edu
May 15, 2008, 4:30:42 PM5/15/08
to randon
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.
George S. Hugh
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