Leather monogramming system

This post will share the process developed last week to make a better method of monogramming our guitar straps with LARGER LETTERS and the subsequent jigs i made to pull it off consistently.  The guitar straps we’ve been making have the benefit of being swiftly height adjusted as we have already explained at length on our website.  The aspect of these straps that we didn’t expect to take off was personalization through monogramming.

Personally i think a strap gets unique by being encrusted with fur or tassels.  imagine a strap made of cellophane or chainmaile, or one made of bones or telephone wires.  heck just make it bright pink lizard skin and i would consider that “personalized.”

that’s me, i think being on stage is a blast, and its a combination of having something to say mixed with shear entertainment/performance.  Theatre + Honesty.   so you can imagine some of my surprise to know happy people have been when they have ordered a strap with their name on it.   or perhaps with a quote, a poem, or some numbers of significance to them.  It’s so much easier to make someone happy that way than to make some metallic fire-breathing guitar strap that is ultra-show-offy.

we started making these a year ago and they have been a nice hit at music festivals, online, and direct calls to us, but recently we got a call for LARGER LETTERS.  This  might seem like a simple request but when you are using various leather types its very hard to get reliable letter impressions without the leather rejecting and “popping the letter back out” at you.  The clients strap was black chrome-tanned leather.

Previous to this method products were hand hammered with 3/16″ machinist letters. One benefit of these small letters is that they really bite the leather well.  this is important when trying to impress letters into chrome tanned leather like the back shown above.  Chrome tanning is a different chemical process than vegetable tanning (the others shown above).  quick note: the tanning process doesn’t determine the color options so don’t think, for instance, that tan-colored leathers must be vegetable tanned.  it only refers to the process of stabilizing the leather as it is changed from an animal hide to a stable (ph neutral) clothing material.

That said i took my chances and purchased some 1/2 inch letters and decided to strike some chrome tanned leather as hard as possible in hopes that the letters would not “pop out” afterward.  Unfortunately after two guitar straps later, the leather just kept rejecting the letters after a little bit of  manipulating and rubbing.

clearly this was not going to be the level of quality i want us to maintain.

so the next option was to pick up letters that i wanted to use (aesthetically) and then find a way to make them work!

stamping leather

I picked up a set of  1/2″ open face letters from Tandy Leather.  I’ve tried to avoid these higher-priced commercial letters in favor of higher quality handmade stamps from a the 19th century but this letter set was both readily available and i liked this style of font for the purposes of our guitar straps.

These letters took to damp vegetable leather perfectly, but of course the chrome tan wouldn’t have it.  An alternative was to use the letters as a guide on the chrome tanned black strap leather and attempt a few coloring options.

The test was a quick mark with white paint and a quick test of gold leaf.  i chose and oil size for the gold and dutch-metal leaf for the test.  i though both of these were too high-contrast and “regretsy.”

i moved onto some basic 101 hand-tooling of the leather to see if embossing the letter or submerging the letter would make it begin to work for me.

although seeing a strong impression on vege-leather was satisfying, the tooling was bound to clash with the rest of the black guitar strap after completion.  And i was going for a straightforward monogramming section on the strap as opposed to a more showing tooled leather panel.

so i tried another option to see if it would satisfy tstampinghe goal.

this one involved a quick test of hand coloring.  it is of course far more labor intensive, but the results are always more interesting.  with some careful looking might see the little errors in the hand-coloring process that make it harder to delegate; frankly it takes time and skill to produce clean repeatable results without errors.  its the type of thing that i would have to charge extra for the client that knew this was the look they were going for.  remember, my goal was to create a benchmark for lettering in style and consistency.

and that is why i had to begin a process of jig making.

selecting jatoba for the base strikepad and a old guitar neck for the prototype jig, i planned a simple system of removable lettering guides.

the purpose here is interchangeable templates that offer a rabbet (woodworking term) of different widths.  When these templates are pressed together to the base striking surface (the orange colored jatoba wood) they create slot or groove into which a piece of leather can slip underneath the upper template.

the strap section slips under this upper template and as you can see the lettering can be done in a perfectly straight line and at different locations up/down along the strap.  For instance, if i wanted the letters to be a quarter inch from the lower edge, i would replace the upper template with a 1/4″ template and so forth for text stamped at 3/8″ or 3/4″ and the like.  here’s the jig at work.

i really liked how straight the text could be and how simple it was.  traditionally the alternative was a system like that of a letter press machine.  it’s more setup intensive and more expensive to supply yourself with the many different size type stamp holders.  This option was clearly going to work.  The prototype was a success.  I began a far more thorough version of this jig and so too with more options for my upper templates; more widths and possible positions for text to be easily stamped into leather.

I drilled out the old rivet from loop hanger on the clients guitar strap.

and ran back out to the shop to begin a completed version of the jig with templates made from spanish cedar wood.

these were then hand planned for consistency and perfect flat surfaces.

the handplane of choice was the Stanley Bedrock #8 from the late 1800’s.   the bottom of the plane was flattened using a machinists trick on a granite surface plate so that it is flat within 1,000,000 of an inch!

Remember, your wood is only as flat as your plane!   if a high quality final product is the goal, than all the prior stages that build up to it must also be done with the utmost care and quality.

that said it is fitting to refer again to the Tandy Leather Co letters i bought.  The quality was average.  and in several cases (no pun intended) a needed to retool the edge of the stamps.

here, you can see that the letter E (as well as several other of the letters in the set) were fashioned at a consistent height from the lower edge of their surround; the character was not centered on the guiding block.  that meant that certain letters were either too high or too low along a line of text.  a bit frustrating to see on a new letter set, but with a file i was able to correct the complete set to a consistent location on their arbor.

The good news:  the strap and its letters looked great.

the words for crisp and straight and ready for finishing.

i used a number of products to complete the look:

1) i beveled the edges

2) i burnished the edges

3) i applied neatsfoot oil to return the suppleness and flex into the leather

4) i used black dye for depth of color

5) i added acrylic for the smooth gloss of the edges and to blend any irregularities

6) i finished the strap with resolene for that luster.

the strap looks great.  all the feel that is ideal to the touch and the rivet and sewing along the added strap body give it a look that is a vast improvement from the prior monogrammed straps.  it is a real upgrade from the basic version offered before.

It’s now cleaner looking, repeatable and larger.

—matthew rogers

Thank you Tommy Ogle for the opportunity to give your strap this upgrade and to have the opportunity to perfect a little more of our methods here at Wallpusher Guitars.  I am genuinely happy to have the opportunity to offer this level of attention.  Thank you all for being a part of the Wallpusher family and the journey we are on.  We are so excited about our new ideas here.  til next time.

Tune in to Guitars

Keep up with the latest guitar news on playing, vintage collecting, and innovative new guitars like Wallpusher. The art of guitars today is “tuned” to several publications. Here are the best places to go for info. Acoustic Guitar is a magazine

founded in 1990.  Consisting of magazines, e-newsletters, digital services and books, it made the leap to an online companion in 1995 (acousticguitar.com).  This site hosts sheet music, song transcripts, reviews and interviews. Guitar World (guitarworld.com) is a magazine located in New York, NY; offering tuning advice and products.  This magazine prints articles on artists/guitarists, rock albums and videos; also blogging on different brands.

Finger Style Guitar (fingerstyleguitar.com) covers all styles and music types of guitars.  Located out of Bedminster, NJ; this magazine is in fact connected with Facebook and Twitter.  While covering all musical genres, Finger Style Guitar features a style of playing that consists of plucking strings with fingers. Vintage Guitar Magazine (vguitar.com) has been published monthly since 1986.  It consists of information/history on instruments, entertainment, interviews and famous players.  Connecting with maintenance, it contains descriptive articles on instruments, gear, music and artists.

Prime and bass acoustic guitars
Image via Wikipedia

TC Guitar Magazine (tcguitar.com) connects musicians to types of playing, tuning, accessories and tips to left handed players.  This publication gives links to buying guitars and guitar lessons. Canadian Musician (canadianmusician.com) has covered Canadian artists, technique, gear and new releases/products since 1979. This publication covers guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, brass woodwinds; also featuring vocal, song writing, recording, artists, blog and schedule of events.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Leatherworking Internship

As spring draws to a close and internships wind down, we are so proud of all the hardworking students who have devoted their time to learning a new skill at Wallpusher.

Leatherworking is an ancient art, and our interns have worked hard to master sewing, die cutting, riveting, and more. Working with our brand new vinyl strap design, available on Etsy for $29, interns worked to integrate the two materials seamlessly and create a beautiful affordable product.

We’ve had students apply to our internships from Massart, Montserrat, Gordon College, and more. You can find our postings at the links below.

Gordon College (Massachusetts)
Image via Wikipedia

Carving http://www.gordon.edu/apps/pjobs/ViewJob.cfm?ID=39161

http://www.collegecentral.com/CCNEngine/JobSDetl.CFM?SecTag=ZEDNfQC6cN&JobID=1853268

Wallpusher is a private business offering solutions for musicians. If you are interested in attaining the skills to create things you think should exist, then Wallpusher is the place to look. The intern will be assisting in several tasks at Wallpusher that will help them to learn the more refined elements of leatherworking including preparation of the leather, basic cutting and sanding, shaping with a plane and chisels, etc. On-site, intern will work with the master woodworker on prototypes, assist with the setup and dismantle of projects; create designs, and complete tasks as assigned. The purpose of this leatherworking internship is to acquaint the individual with the coordination and implementation of certain aspects of leatherworking and product design and fabrication through experience with a professional leather

worker and guitar maker at Wallpusher in Ipswich, MA.

Matthew Rogers has taught at the MFA, MassArt, and Gordon College. His guitar making classes are of the highest quality. Matthew has collaborated with world-renowned guitar makers on innovative designs. Alongside the creative solutions that Rogers has introduced in his design company are prototypes for guitars that unleash the potential in every instrument. For more information visit www.wallpusher.com. Please email info@wallpusher.com with your resume and cover letter if you are interested, please be sure to put “Wallpusher Internship”.

Leather

http://www.gordon.edu/apps/pjobs/ViewJob.cfm?ID=39162

http://www.collegecentral.com/CCNEngine/JobSDetl.CFM?SecTag=ZEDNfQC6cN&JobID=1905454

http://www.salemstate.edu/3256.php

Wallpusher is a private business offering solutions for musicians. If you are interested in attaining the skills to create things you think should exist, then Wallpusher is the place to look. The intern will be assisting in several tasks at Wallpusher that will help them to learn the more refined elements of leather working including preparation of the leather, basic cutting and sanding, shaping with a plane and chisels, etc. On-site, intern will work with the master leather worker on prototypes, assist with the setup and dismantle of projects; create designs, and complete tasks as assigned. The purpose of this leather working internship is to acquaint the individual with the coordination and implementation of certain aspects of leather working and through experience with a professional leather worker at Wallpusher in Ipswich, MA. Matthew Rogers has taught at the MFA, MassArt, and Gordon College. His leather working classes are of the highest quality. Matthew has collaborated with world-renowned designers and tailors on innovative designs. Alongside the creative solutions that Rogers has introduced in his design company are prototypes for leather products that unleash its potential. For more information visit www.wallpusher.com. Please email info@wallpusher.com with your resume and cover letter if you are interested, please be sure to put “Wallpusher Internship”.

Business

Wallpusher is a private business offering solutions for musicians. If you are interested in attaining the skills to to market and advertise things you think should exist, then Wallpusher is the place to look. T

In this 12-week internship program you will be offered an opportunity to be involved in meaningful work/projects; be exposed to daily operations; attend informational sessions; participate in networking activities with professionals, and business leaders. You’ll learn from the best minds in the industry and have a unique opportunity to use your Marketing knowledge and skills in an environment dedicated to maintaining industry superiority.  You will be introduced to useful tools and resources that will help you grow both professionally and personally throughout the program. So why wait, APPLY NOW!

he intern will be assisting in several tasks at Wallpusher that will help them to learn the more refined elements of marketing a product line in the arts and entertainment industry. On-site, intern will work with the marketing head on networking projects; create designs for advertising, and complete tasks as assigned. The purpose of this marketing internship is to acquaint the individual with the coordination and implementation of certain aspects of marketing and through experience in marketing the products sold by Wallpusher in Ipswich, MA. For more information visit www.wallpusher.com. Please email info@wallpusher.com with your resume and cover letter if you are interested, please be sure to put “Wallpusher Internship”.

This is an ongoing internship, we are looking for people to begin as soon as possible.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Another happy customer: Jim Trick

Another happy customer: Jim Trick, came to the shop for his custom adjustable guitar strap the other day.

What’s in a strap? Your guitar strap is perhaps the most important accessory to your guitar playing, and should make your playing easier, not harder. Wallpusher Guitar Straps are designed to give maximum flexibility to the player, so they can change the height of the guitar at anytime during play. If you want to make your playing easier and more fun, you can order your own handmade guitar strap on our etsy page.

Jim Trick with his Wallpusher Guitar Strap

We had fun with Jim, showing him the shop and many guitars in different stages of production. He played us several of his newest songs, and really loved the ease with which he could change the height of his guitar for solos or rhythm playing.

He was impressed by all the stages of making a guitar, and loved seeing the tools we use. He tried his hand at a Japanese Pull Saw, and did a great job! We ended the night with a ceremonial trashing of the old guitar strap, Jim was so happy with his new Wallpusher strap, he won’t need the old one again!

We love sponsoring our favorite musicians, and Jim is definitely one of them. We met Jim and his wife Alison at Soulfest 2009, were impressed by his playing and stage presence. Jim is an accomplished acoustic guitarist / singer who is able to weave real life stories into melodies ranging in style from contemporary folk to acoustic rock. Jim sings and speaks at concerts, retreats, colleges, churches, Mens ministries,  Singles groups, keynote addresses, leadership training, workshops and youth groups. Find out more about his work and talent at www.jimtrick.com or listen to his latest album on myspace.

If you want to make your playing easier and more fun, you can order your own handmade guitar strap on our etsy page.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

New Cow Guitar Straps for Spring!

Welcoming Spring with Whimsical Cow Pattern Straps! Find out more at our Etsy page!

This guitar strap is like no other in that it can be adjusted during play. The design offers one handed adjustments for the player to raise or lower the guitar in seconds. This guitar strap is so simple, so basic – yet so perfect. The price is perfect too. Musicians everywhere love the ability to effortlessly adjust the guitar or bass higher to solo and then drop down easily on stage. Light, beautiful, easy to clean, easy to store, not big and bulky. Handmade by artisans from 100% organic leather.
Sometime you just have to get back to the basics. Sometimes, it’s the simplest design that works the best.