Friday, January 21, 2011

Guitar Straps

Many years ago, when I wanted to make my first guitar strap, I searched for the leather tabs for the ends. Since I found none ready-made, I decided to make my own. First I drew out the right shape for the leather on a piece of cardboard, traced around it onto the leather and cut it out by hand. The next upgrade was to have the pattern made for me out of sheet metal so that many repeated tracings would not wear it out. Then I graduated to having a die made to cut out the leather for me. This requires the use of a hydraulic press to do the cutting. At the time, I worked in the sample room of a leather tannery and this was a piece of equipment that I used everyday and I was allowed to make use of it for my own purposes. The tannery has since closed, but there is a local leather shop which has a press that I rent time on.

Clockwise from center: Finished Guitar Strap, Leather Shears, Cutout Leather Tab, Metal Ring, Plastic Slide Buckle, Hole Punch, Die for Cutting Leather Tabs

The process starts with a leather heavy enough that it doesn't stretch, but supple enough to easily fold in half.
I cut out the tabs from this leather using my die on the press, fold them in half through the rectangular metal ring and glue them using barge cement. Once the glue dries, I then punch a hole and insert the shears into this hole and cut a slit of about 1" upwards from there.
What I weave and sell most of is guitar straps, so I find myself in production mode making the leather tabs regularly. Many other weavers over the years have contacted me to ask where I buy the hardware. The answer is not as simple as they wish. Because of this, I have considered making a guitar strap "kit" for sale to other strap weavers who just want to make one or two for friends and family.
It would consist of the two completed leather tabs (already folded and glued, with rings, holes and slits) and a slide buckle for adjustment. I'm wondering what would be a reasonable amount to charge for this. Since I assemble many of them at a time in stages, it's hard to know how much time I spend on each one.
 What do you think? What would you expect to pay?
Here is a link to my guitar straps gallery on Flickr. This includes only straps woven in the last few years, because that's about when I learned to photograph my own work and upload it for web use.

5 comments:

  1. I'd consider it if I wasn't in another country as I suspect I'd get hit for import duty :/

    I also make my own - from leather "splits" but handsew the folds over. it looks neat, but not as neat as yours do. But needs must!

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  2. Guitar straps are the only kinds of inkle bands that my husband makes. He sews the leather ends, and uses plastic pieces that he bought by the dozen.
    I think your idea is sound, and there could be a ready market.
    Up to $10 sounds reasonable to this midwesterner. I don't know if that would cover your expenses and time.
    I will keep watching to see if they become a featured item!

    Naomi

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  3. I just got two end kits from you. I really liked them and the price is right. I make quilted flannel straps for friends and family. So thank you for making these available to the public. I'll be getting two more here in the next week or so. :-)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jennifer! We're keeping my husband busy!
      The trick for me is finding the right kind of leather each time. I'm kind of selective and can't always find the best stuff.

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  4. I just got two end kits from you. I really liked them and the price is right. I make quilted flannel straps for friends and family. So thank you for making these available to the public. I'll be getting two more here in the next week or so. :-)

    ReplyDelete