scratched my breitling

[gary hubbard]

gutted . put my super avenger on tues morning found a massive scratch on 1 of the top lugs . had a trip to goldsmiths they quoted £400. to send it to breitling to be polished . after getting up off the floor . had an idea went to diy store got myself a dremel with all the polishing wheels . did it my self . took me all of 10mins . £35.00 it cost me happy boy.

dremel is goin to come into good use . starting to make my own leather watch straps

[Tanguero]

Glad you fixed it, but what possible use does a dremel have in leatherwork

[RemainAllHoof]

nice one stop and brave stop wouldn't have done it on a Breitling as my first attempt exclamation mark

[gary hubbard]

use the dremel with sanding disks on to thin the leather ends to a wedge this is so you can fold the end over to form the spring bar hole . then hand sewn round out side of the strap this is my 1st attempt

Edited by gary hubbard on Wednesday 2nd March 11:13

Edited by gary hubbard on Wednesday 2nd March 11:15

[RemainAllHoof]

So THAT'S how it's done. I did wonder, actually!

[bry1975]

Your AD was trying it on £400 would be daylight robbery!

Imo you're better of using a slower spinning pistol drill, Dremel run at way to fast a speed, most of the polish is simply burnt up. With Dremel's high speed range they're much better for drilling with VERY thin drill bits.

These days I prefer to remove scratches by hand but with the right kit as you have more control less chance of rounding the edges etc etc.


Bry

[gary hubbard]

ta thanx got to do a bit more polishing tonight . will slow it down a little . will that some pics its got the smallest scratch at the mo .before i started polishing it you could run ya finger nail over it and ya finger would stop . so it was deep . but you can only just se it in the right light now . i should get rid of it all will some finer cutting compound

[Tanguero]

gary hubbard said:

use the dremel with sanding disks on to thin the leather ends to a wedge this is so you can fold the end over to form the spring bar hole

I 35+ years of (hobby) leatherwork I have never used sanding disks for skiving, but if it works for you then go for it. I just use a curved razorblade skiving knife to shave down the leather on the inside of the bend which leaves a nice smooth surface. Don't you find the sanding disk leaves a ragged "furry" surface where it tears the fibres?

Nice neat strap though.

[Tanguero]

RemainAllHoof said:

So THAT'S how it's done. I did wonder, actually!

Not usually!!!!

[gary hubbard]

Tanguero said:

I 35+ years of (hobby) leatherwork I have never used sanding disks for skiving, but if it works for you then go for it. I just use a curved razorblade skiving knife to shave down the leather on the inside of the bend which leaves a nice smooth surface. Don't you find the sanding disk leaves a ragged "furry" surface where it tears the fibres?

Nice neat strap though.

have noticed that but only doing it for myself. didn,t want to put any serious money into it .but thanx for info . just doin it for something to do .iam a upholsterer and car trimmer so got most of the machinery and leathers

[bry1975]

Have you tried Micro mesh abrasives?

Bry

[Tanguero]

I use one of these, it does a very neat job and you may find it easier than the dremel.