Apple juice tank

Rockenstein · #61 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 04:21 PM

The leather is finally on and laced up...

I'm certainly no leather craftsman extraordinaire by any stretch but it's not so messy I suppose for my first kick at the proverbial can

The last little job is to make up the brass slosh guard parts for the cap vent, get it assembled with a fresh gasket and this apple juice tank should be good to go.

Here's some pics...

Rockenstein · #62 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 04:57 PM

Here's an neat story...

I was having a hard time poking a needle and thread through 2 layers of leather when I was making the straps for my tank so I went to the sewing shop for a thimble...beside the sewing shop is a thrift store that I just had to venture into and in there I see an old and lonely looking Singer Spartan straight stitch sewing machine on the bottom shelf at the back of the store for 10 bucks.

I of course brought it home just because

So I dusted it off, checked it over good, aligned the motor & belt, oiled it up, wound a bobbin and threaded the thing. After a dozen or so test runs so as to get the tension dialed in the darn thing sewed through 2 layers of old couch leather without even breaking a sweat! Not only did I sew my tank straps but that night I made my son a leather pouch for his iPhone too...lol...he's even using it! A few minutes of serial number research on the www says the old Singer is a 1959 model that was made in Clydebank Scotland and from what I read it's a well like little machine and I have to say I do like it very much myself. The wife has a newer model sewing machine that has so many buttons and dials labeled in some secret women only code that I decide to just steer clear of it for the piddly leather strap job I wanted to do but I did not fear the simple old Singer at all. Matter of fact I got quite the kick out of using it because my mom had a similar machine when I was a kid and she taught me how to sew on it...I did much reflecting on those long gone moments with my mom that night. She made many outfits for herself and many outfits for me to wear to school on her old Singer(s)...lol...I still remember how much I hated that itchy material she sometimes used.

Cheers...

Venice Motor Bikes · #63 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 05:42 PM

DOOOD.... I got a old 1950's Singer too!! THOSE THINGS ARE HEAVY!!!

fasteddy · #64 (**permalink**) 11-02-2009, 11:53 PM

Rockenstein, that tank it great. Looks like a leather shop made it. Top quality!

Steve.

silverbear · #65 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 09:16 AM

Very nice job. It looks professional. A very good older machine to use for leather is a Viking made in Sweden by Huskvarna. The old green ones are excellent for leather, vinyl and upholstery fabric and are not very expensive. They have a gear down device which is like four wheel drive in low range. I've gone through multiple layers of elk hide. The additional benefit of going slow is that you can see what you're doing if something starts to go awry. I think your apple juice tank is a fantastic success. Now we need to see it in use and know that the attachment point will hold up under vibration. I am very impressed with what you've done.This winter I'll be covering another tank with leather using a different method and will show pictures along the way.
SB

Rockenstein · #66 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venice Motor Bikes

DOOOD.... I got a old 1950's Singer too!! THOSE THINGS ARE HEAVY!!!

Yea mine is quite the tank too...stands to reason...they were made out of cast iron in an era where quality really was job 1

Rockenstein · #67 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the compliments fasteddy and SB...glad you like the looks of the end result. Was a learning experience for sure!

Russell · #68 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009, 08:48 PM

With the leather wrap, it looks super. When I saw your apple juice thread, I knew that is what I needed to get rid of my standard HT tank.
Put it in my, behind the seat Brooks bag (just don't have the patience or probably the talent for the custom leather). Thanks for the idea.

Rockenstein · #69 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 05:24 PM

Here's the slosh proof gas cap vent part I came up with...

Consists of a short length of 1" nylon rod turned down to size, drilled 1/16th and 5/64ths in a couple places and then I made up a leather gasket to seal things up...pretty simple deal and it should work just peachy. Next time I get outside to paint something I'll spray the cap itself with some flat black.

I think that's all folks...if any serious issues pop up or I add something else to the tank I'll post

Drilled holes were hi-lighted with a sharpie so they could be seen clearly in the pictures.

Outrunner · #70 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockenstein

The leather is finally on and laced up...

I'm certainly no leather craftsman extraordinaire by any stretch but it's not so messy I suppose for my first kick at the proverbial can

The last little job is to make up the brass slosh guard parts for the cap vent, get it assembled with a fresh gasket and this apple juice tank should be good to go.

Here's some pics...

Hey Rockenstein, I am very impressed with your idea's and the detail and
craftmanship that you so obviously show. Even your photo's are very clear.
The leather cover you made looks so cool, I just love to see the various inventive ideas that come up on this forum. Great job!