Post by Dracul on Aug 1, 2015 21:12:27 GMT -5
Hello again.
Now that I'm finally almost cured from surgery, I can get back to working on things! Since the surgery, and some discussion with 2ndBat, my brain got rolling on some ideas to make other German equipment...and redo others... I'm using this thread for numerous smaller items, instead of threads for each one.
Like the title says, its all "loaner" items. Obviously not museum grade stuff, because frankly, that would require more advance tools, correct material in correct colors, and then the cost of the raw materials would be about the same just buying new and not just worth the time. My methods are significantly cheaper, but while creating a close-to-proper look. I can be sure that its definitely better build quality than Chinese repros.
Now, I know people were interested in buying my breadbags and my drillich tunics, but I can't stress it enough that these things take way too much time to create. Sure, the prices of the raw material is low as hell, but the time it takes for me to make this stuff, the end price would far exceed Chinese repros and even some good repros. I'll do my best to explain that each for each one.
To start off, I just finished up two pairs of Gamaschen!
Two finished pairs, right next to a good Hessen Antique pair (left):
Materials used, already cut out and ready to be worked on. Each pile made a complete pair. Main material is a standard duck canvas from Joanns, the leather is "marine vinyl", and the buckles were ordered from At The Front. My only real complaint, is that the duck canvas they have is thin, not thick and rigid like the canvas the proper gamachen uses. However, it will be good for bread bags (expect a good update on that thread soon!)
Back side of the homemade gamaschen. I assembled the pieces in wrong order, for two of the halves. That is why here, you can see the buckle strap stitching on one, and not on the other. Luckily, none of the back side shows when being worn, but I caught myself for the other halves. I also cheated with the "spine." I sewn it into the inner piece so it would be easier to work with when sewing everything together and around it. Hence, that faint green stitch in the middle. On that note, I might start adding in another layer of marine vinyl for the spine to try and make it more rigid.
Evolution of my homemade gamaschen. From total crap, to pretty damned good. My first one, up top, was made by just free drawing a pattern from pictures online. Was made a long time ago, before I owned a good pair or gotten serious about making my own stuff. Back then, I just wanted a pair drafted up to use as a stopgap, and only using what materials I already had (left over from other projects). Only heavy cotton, dress faux leather, and velcro was used. The second one, in the middle, was made by using a repro to draw up the pattern, but didn't have the roller buckles or any other buckles that would suffice in sufficient numbers. Still was using the same heavy cotton forest green material from the first pair. Second one was substantially better; kidney shaped leather tabs on the inside, the spine, triangle tips on straps, etc etc. I could easily make it look pretty good by just swapping in buckles.
Obviously, I improved greatly, haha. Anyway, lets take a look at the costs involved here. A standard good pair of repro gamaschen usually run for about $20, a Chinese one could run for under $10. Material breakdown:
Canvas = $2.50
-1 yard of duck canvas = $10. Only need 1/4 yard is per pair.
Marine Vinyl = maybe $3
-1 yard of marine vinyl = $30. Only a small amount from the yard really needed.
Buckles = $2.40
-1 roller buckle from ATF is $0.79. Four buckles are needed for one pair.
Total material cost (rounded) = $8.00
Estimated time it took for a single one = 7 hours.
Took me about 14 hours to draft good patterns, and create two pairs. Things will go a bit faster in the future. This is what I mean though. For $12 more, you can get a good Hessen pair. That 7 hours of work doesn't equal to $12. If I wanted to make at least federal minimum wage off this ($7.25), I would be charging $50.75 for the work alone. This is why I'm real hesitant about trying to sell of my stuff. Trade away? Sure, but doesn't make to sense to sell something for that cost, when a more correct and rigid replica can be had for much, much cheaper.
However, on the flip side of this. One might ask "well, why not just cough up that 12 bucks extra for the Hessen repros?" Well, because, each one I make, which I plan on making many more for my loaner kits, I save that $12 for each and every one. I saved $24 on these two pairs, when I make six, I will be saving $72! That is why making these is indeed worth it! That can be used for to buy a used BAR-10!
From here on out, I have few others ideas in my head for loaner gear that I'm going to be working on in the near future.
Now that I'm finally almost cured from surgery, I can get back to working on things! Since the surgery, and some discussion with 2ndBat, my brain got rolling on some ideas to make other German equipment...and redo others... I'm using this thread for numerous smaller items, instead of threads for each one.
Like the title says, its all "loaner" items. Obviously not museum grade stuff, because frankly, that would require more advance tools, correct material in correct colors, and then the cost of the raw materials would be about the same just buying new and not just worth the time. My methods are significantly cheaper, but while creating a close-to-proper look. I can be sure that its definitely better build quality than Chinese repros.
Now, I know people were interested in buying my breadbags and my drillich tunics, but I can't stress it enough that these things take way too much time to create. Sure, the prices of the raw material is low as hell, but the time it takes for me to make this stuff, the end price would far exceed Chinese repros and even some good repros. I'll do my best to explain that each for each one.
To start off, I just finished up two pairs of Gamaschen!
Two finished pairs, right next to a good Hessen Antique pair (left):
Materials used, already cut out and ready to be worked on. Each pile made a complete pair. Main material is a standard duck canvas from Joanns, the leather is "marine vinyl", and the buckles were ordered from At The Front. My only real complaint, is that the duck canvas they have is thin, not thick and rigid like the canvas the proper gamachen uses. However, it will be good for bread bags (expect a good update on that thread soon!)
Back side of the homemade gamaschen. I assembled the pieces in wrong order, for two of the halves. That is why here, you can see the buckle strap stitching on one, and not on the other. Luckily, none of the back side shows when being worn, but I caught myself for the other halves. I also cheated with the "spine." I sewn it into the inner piece so it would be easier to work with when sewing everything together and around it. Hence, that faint green stitch in the middle. On that note, I might start adding in another layer of marine vinyl for the spine to try and make it more rigid.
Evolution of my homemade gamaschen. From total crap, to pretty damned good. My first one, up top, was made by just free drawing a pattern from pictures online. Was made a long time ago, before I owned a good pair or gotten serious about making my own stuff. Back then, I just wanted a pair drafted up to use as a stopgap, and only using what materials I already had (left over from other projects). Only heavy cotton, dress faux leather, and velcro was used. The second one, in the middle, was made by using a repro to draw up the pattern, but didn't have the roller buckles or any other buckles that would suffice in sufficient numbers. Still was using the same heavy cotton forest green material from the first pair. Second one was substantially better; kidney shaped leather tabs on the inside, the spine, triangle tips on straps, etc etc. I could easily make it look pretty good by just swapping in buckles.
Obviously, I improved greatly, haha. Anyway, lets take a look at the costs involved here. A standard good pair of repro gamaschen usually run for about $20, a Chinese one could run for under $10. Material breakdown:
Canvas = $2.50
-1 yard of duck canvas = $10. Only need 1/4 yard is per pair.
Marine Vinyl = maybe $3
-1 yard of marine vinyl = $30. Only a small amount from the yard really needed.
Buckles = $2.40
-1 roller buckle from ATF is $0.79. Four buckles are needed for one pair.
Total material cost (rounded) = $8.00
Estimated time it took for a single one = 7 hours.
Took me about 14 hours to draft good patterns, and create two pairs. Things will go a bit faster in the future. This is what I mean though. For $12 more, you can get a good Hessen pair. That 7 hours of work doesn't equal to $12. If I wanted to make at least federal minimum wage off this ($7.25), I would be charging $50.75 for the work alone. This is why I'm real hesitant about trying to sell of my stuff. Trade away? Sure, but doesn't make to sense to sell something for that cost, when a more correct and rigid replica can be had for much, much cheaper.
However, on the flip side of this. One might ask "well, why not just cough up that 12 bucks extra for the Hessen repros?" Well, because, each one I make, which I plan on making many more for my loaner kits, I save that $12 for each and every one. I saved $24 on these two pairs, when I make six, I will be saving $72! That is why making these is indeed worth it! That can be used for to buy a used BAR-10!
From here on out, I have few others ideas in my head for loaner gear that I'm going to be working on in the near future.
