#metrogradegoods

[gearinsitu]

Both coal and diamonds are carbon. It just depends on how much pressure one can withstand before coming out as a gem. #Leathermantools #skeletool #edcgear #metrogradegoods #leathermanmod #victorinox #sak4edc #hammerjammer #olightcarbonfiber #carbonfiber #customknife #benchmade #minifreek #spydercodogtag #everydaycarry https://www.instagram.com/p/CmUFLaJusX3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[metropolicity]

#Makevember Day 6: Slick. I’ve been working in leather off and on for the past 10 years or so. The craft of cutting, sewing, dying, stamping, finishing etc is a time honoured tradition dating back to when us humanoid bipeds could hold a spear and throw it at a wild boar. Leather is hardwearing, luxurious and shows age and patina like no other material. Skipping all the rigamarole about cutting etc etc (another Makevember day), I made myself a nice tool to slick the edges of leather projects down. A slicker creates friction, heat and compresses exposed leather fibres on cut edges. Commercial motorized and handheld slickers are made from very hard and oily Cocobolo wood, so I did the same. In fact, the same cocobolo that I made my mallet handle from. I rescued a vintage sewing machine motor from the mid 1960’s (made in Canada!). The motor is high speed but low torque, so I machined the Cocobolo wood on my lathe and then attached it onto the motor’s spindle. I made the base with some scrap walnut so the foot pedal can be stored. The process of slicking involves using a hunk of natural rubber to rub off all the excess glue from the edges, using a small sponge to lightly damped the edge, using the slicker to lightly buff out the edge to compress the fibres, some wax (bees or paraffin) is applied, some more slicking and then finally a little bit of hand rubbing wth a canvas cloth. I look forward to crafting some more leather this holiday season with this new tool. #makersgonnamake #slicker #leatherwork #wallet #metrogradegoods #leather #diy #tooling #cocobolo https://www.instagram.com/p/B4h462Jgc55/?igshid=12fs05ftzdv87

[metropolicity]

I have been meaning to get this one done for quite some time, inspired heavily by the Japanese style Wa-handles usually found on forged kitchen knives and chisels. I found some Hydra frames on my very dusty shop floor and went to work. I made a 2" long tang from the frame and then crafted a handle made from some wavy rock maple, with a rosewood top cap and the same rosewood end cap with some fibreboard for some contrast. The handle was finished with 3 coats of rub-on poly for that satin, matte feel. The frame itself was ceramic media tumbled, then hammered and polished at the tips and finger/thumb choil areas. Some brass hardware finishes the look. #slingshot #wahandle #knifemaking #handhammered #metrogradegoods #makersgonnamake #faux #trompeloeil (at Winnipeg, Manitoba) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xabb0AEkH/?igshid=1hyllbms864s5

[metropolicity]

This is going deep in my obsession with Mutlitools (which to be fair, lead me into sewing and Skinth). I made a new maintenance station to replace my super old and gross one I made from a hunk of nylon with some holes in it. Did you know there are 4 different kinds of fasteners on Leathermans? The concept behind this is the bit in the bed engages the bottom bolt head and the Vic ratchet can undo the top bolt. #edc #multitool #metrogradegoods #leatherman #surgery #workstation https://www.instagram.com/p/BtbIxYQhrul/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hi3jl216ls8n

[metropolicity]

Back and forth and back and forth. #laseretched #boardgames #graphicdesign #industrialdesign #metrogradegoods #makersgonnamake

[metropolicity]

2019, you were pretty great. Leaving the decade with a lot of new changes ahead. #newcar #newbaby #comingsoon #ajennericbaby #metrogradegoods (at Winnipeg, Manitoba) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6N40dVgS2f/?igshid=73u87if9hdzk

[metropolicity]

Still looking for that unicorn gift or rare stocking stuffer? Compact, travel cribbage boards available for $25! Comes with pegs, new deck of cards and EVA foam zip case. Available in black, red and blue! PM for pick up details. #metrogradegoods #cribbage #cribbageboard #makersgonnamake https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_TRSVgbS7/?igshid=1cffuyu22kddz

[metropolicity]

Making modern art before errands. Dying leather is..messy. Flip/Flop wallet for @thisnigel. #wallet #edc #leatherwork #atelier #vegtan #rorschach #figurestudy #monogram #metrogradegoods https://www.instagram.com/p/B50XBxaAN_M/?igshid=1s232l5rx8lun

[metropolicity]

#Makevember Day 27: Expierment I strive to make unique things, or if they aren’t unique in function, at least unique visually. I’ve always wondered if a bit of acrylic, etched really deeply on the laser would make a good deboss tool for leather, the answer is a resounding: yes. This little stamp is only 1” wide but has a LOT of small details that were captured and depressed into the leather. I definitely will be trying this more for even more custom bits and bobs. #makersgonnamake #materialresearch #leatherwork #leathertooling #deboss #metrogradegoods https://www.instagram.com/p/B5X5O4UgPyp/?igshid=1m47h6b0ygu3i

[metropolicity]

Day 22 of #makevember, upcycled an old iPhone 3G into a permanent digital flipclock with a simple frame built with brass stand offs, M3 screws and some thumb screws. #upcycle #oldtech #iphone3 #flipclock #lasercut #midcenturymodern #clock #diy #imadeit #metrogradegoods #woodworking

[metropolicity]

I am feeling #makevember is gonna push the limits of my productivity. New pattern of a medium size messenger bag, almost sized for LPs. Loving the transition detail of the flap to the body, usually it’s terminated with a right angle so I changed it up so it’s curved and built inside out. #messengerbag #cordura #recordbag #diy #imadeit #patternmaking #industrialdesign #sewing #metrogradegoods #skinthig #skinthsolutions

[metropolicity]

Working on assembling a new batch of #crib boards for travel and the incoming cozy coffee season. Stay tuned for a release! #metrogradegoods #makersgonnamake #15for2 https://www.instagram.com/p/B1_XjMPA9q6/?igshid=1afzjmdt8kfzn

[metropolicity]

Spider-Man does what a spider can. #slingshot #metrogradegoods #3dprinting #makerbot #filament #spiderman

[metropolicity]

Brown and red. Love the cognac colour of the dye job. #leatherwork #wallet #cardholder #metrogradegoods #makersgonnamake #rainyday

[metropolicity]

This is curvy AF! Love the finish on this #slingshot #3dprint. #metrogradegoods #makerbot

[metropolicity]

Missed shooting a #slingshot, so I am taking shots between orders today. Broke out the OG Oren that I made close to a year ago. #metrogradegoods #shooteveryday #cuttingtable #sewing #poppingcans