-
Tired of adverts on RWI? - Subscribe by clicking HERE and PMing Trailboss for instructions and they will magically go away!
Vietnamese Strap Makers on Ebay
- Thread starter Ruski91
- Start date
I use a scalpel, it's easier to hold without accidentally removing parts of a finger:cry2: And the sharp point makes it easy to get the end square.
ShiroTenshi
Mythical Poster
- 7/12/11
- 6,809
- 259
- 83
It worked. I send him the message a awhile back again and he offered to make 2 keepers for me and offered to split the shipping cost 50/50 so I paid $3. All is good and its nice of him, but just wondering if Vietnam post cost USD $6 for something that weights almost practically nothing? Not complaining but just curious.
Just received a new strap from Tuan. He called it "Red Wine" croco. The color is very beautiful, it's actually more red than brown, but I just can't capture it by my phone camera. And, stitching has significantly improved.
And group photo :kiss:
And group photo :kiss:
This is what I bought for my Pam straps. Just $12.30 free shipping. You might want to use one of your current strap as a hole guide, just lay it on top of the new strap and mark the holes. Good Luck.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/18176824188...49&var=480715031950&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/18176824188...49&var=480715031950&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Right, so I finally received my AP back from servicing and was super keen to try and fit the new strap onto it. The key word here is try, because when I began the process it became perfectly clear that, although the strap was the correct width and the lug holes were in the right spot, they were unfortunately too shallow and simply wouldn't fit properly.
So, given the low cost of the strap, I thought I'd try and manually deepen the lug holes. I took the sharpest blade I have and tried to whittle away the leather, but I have to say that it wasn't a successful attempt. Firstly, crocodile leather is damn tough, and secondly my cuts weren't neat enough to leave a usable strap. I now have newfound respect to guys that work with leather and make such accurate and tidy work!
Overall, I'd say this strap was a failure, however nothing that couldn't be fixed by having a professional make a slightly deeper hole. I might try and see if a local leather worker can make a better job of it than I can. If you want Tuan to make you an AP strap, I would say that he has the overall proportions down accurately, but not the depth of the lug holes. Just something to consider.
If you are interested, this was the schematic I sent him to work from. The donor strap was a 2014 Noob Safari.
So, given the low cost of the strap, I thought I'd try and manually deepen the lug holes. I took the sharpest blade I have and tried to whittle away the leather, but I have to say that it wasn't a successful attempt. Firstly, crocodile leather is damn tough, and secondly my cuts weren't neat enough to leave a usable strap. I now have newfound respect to guys that work with leather and make such accurate and tidy work!
Overall, I'd say this strap was a failure, however nothing that couldn't be fixed by having a professional make a slightly deeper hole. I might try and see if a local leather worker can make a better job of it than I can. If you want Tuan to make you an AP strap, I would say that he has the overall proportions down accurately, but not the depth of the lug holes. Just something to consider.
If you are interested, this was the schematic I sent him to work from. The donor strap was a 2014 Noob Safari.
Just received a new strap from Tuan. He called it "Red Wine" croco. The color is very beautiful, it's actually more red than brown, but I just can't capture it by my phone camera. And, stitching has significantly improved.
And group photo :kiss:
The Red Wine is a beauty!
[MENTION=94279]whoischich[/MENTION] hope you have better luck with your local leather worker.
Mine wasn't perfect either. The hole to attach the deployant was to narrow. I used small swiss army knife to make it bigger. Not very neat, but at least it's hidden under the clasp when I put the watch on.
I thought my schematic was also very clear... But no regret because of the leather quality & the price. I might make another order with Tuan.
Mine wasn't perfect either. The hole to attach the deployant was to narrow. I used small swiss army knife to make it bigger. Not very neat, but at least it's hidden under the clasp when I put the watch on.
I thought my schematic was also very clear... But no regret because of the leather quality & the price. I might make another order with Tuan.
Yeah if you need a simple strap - Tuan is your man. Anything fancy and it's luck of the draw. The stitching on my hornback is particularly rough, I'd stick to normal leathers as well.
Crabber
I'm Pretty Popular
- 12/7/12
- 1,440
- 435
- 83
Just got my Hornback from VNhandcraft...on the one hand for $45 it's awesome value, soft, looks good on the surface. However upon close inspection you see you get what you pay for, inconsistent crooked stitches in places and there are some silver imperfections for some reason. Overall give it a B+
This is the tool that Tuan suggested to make buckle hole bigger :thumbup:
If that wasn't meant as a joke, I gotta admire the guy for trying to work with whatever archaic means available...
If that wasn't meant as a joke, I gotta admire the guy for trying to work with whatever archaic means available...
Right, so I finally received my AP back from servicing and was super keen to try and fit the new strap onto it. The key word here is try, because when I began the process it became perfectly clear that, although the strap was the correct width and the lug holes were in the right spot, they were unfortunately too shallow and simply wouldn't fit properly.
So, given the low cost of the strap, I thought I'd try and manually deepen the lug holes. I took the sharpest blade I have and tried to whittle away the leather, but I have to say that it wasn't a successful attempt. Firstly, crocodile leather is damn tough, and secondly my cuts weren't neat enough to leave a usable strap. I now have newfound respect to guys that work with leather and make such accurate and tidy work!
Overall, I'd say this strap was a failure, however nothing that couldn't be fixed by having a professional make a slightly deeper hole. I might try and see if a local leather worker can make a better job of it than I can. If you want Tuan to make you an AP strap, I would say that he has the overall proportions down accurately, but not the depth of the lug holes. Just something to consider.
If you are interested, this was the schematic I sent him to work from. The donor strap was a 2014 Noob Safari.
I have a pair of rotating hole punch pliers (eBay £3 or so) and I measured the two larger at 3.2mm and 4.5mm.
As you have the slot width at 4.5 it should be easy to deepen that with a neat round end. Nothing to lose to try maybe?