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Over the years I've noticed something.......... why does everyone do a "before & after picture" on their social media, you should think differently if your doing this....... so here's my top tips for getting a good presence on social media 1. AFTER & before pictures. always publish your before and after pictures the other way round.... especially on Instagram then you'll have a nice looking feed of fresh repairs, not a dull feed of worn out shoes. same for facebook. a Fresh & minty repair as picture 1 carries far more impact that a worn out sole. 2. Never re

I've got two pods outside local supermarkets, you do get the convenience brigade, but noticed a large amount beginning to see through their ridiculous price structure and the bullshit. I went into the nearest one (he didn't know me) and asked if he could replace a buckle on a belt, just to see if they take on this type of work! He said, and I quote. "You can't get that done, it's a sealed unit" It was a straight forward unpick stitches, replace and restitch. Even Joe public can see through this type of idiot. Why not just say, no, sorry no can't do that!

Just and update on this cutter in case if anyone else need this ... Based on Graham's advise I ordered a RAISE Cutter for my machine direct from China at £50 cost including carriage. EST sent me the direct link from the Supplier on Aliexpress. I have been using it for 3 months now, The cutter is perfect and really good quality at really good price ( £200 cheaper than a supplier here) So just want to say thanks Graham and EST for helping with this and if anyone want this cutter let me know will message you the Link..

@cowers lane 583& @grahamparker plus everyone else the ruling is retail space where you may come into closer contact with customers but in your workshop area behind the screen you will be ok (assuming no customers allowed in that area. Go outside the counter to help some then you don a mask. In England, staff working in retail, leisure and hospitality in England have to wear a face covering in indoor areas of their workplace that are open to the public, and in areas where they are likely to come within close contact of a member of the public from September 24 Plus as @St.Am92 m

made this Biker girl belt bag.

Just the shoulder strap to do with this job. VID_20030707_013907_974.mp4

Why not, we had a contract to supply 7000 treffolyte labels to a power station. We ended up supplying all sorts Toilet Rolls, Soap, Safety glasses fire extinguishers basically anything they wanted we just added 20% onto the cost price as they didn’t want to open accounts all over town. The total quote was originally around 35k when finished they had spent well over 100k. We will supply anything if we can get it cheap enough.

Silca LF23r is the one you need:

Kenny only supplies Bi-lock and Anker stock. Tony who also use to work at Codringtons sells most of the other products under the trading name Loktonic https://loktonic.co.uk/

Been making dome replacement straps for a Ted Baker bag. The bag itself is leather but the straps were plastic. They got stuffed in a pram wheel. Making the replacements from English Bridle. Customer very fussy. £35.

I agree with a lot of the comments, after 35 years in the trade ,stitching & patching comes as second nature , easy money but not as lucrative as keys , shoe repairs will always be 60/70 % of our trade , but keys are more profitable. Wish we were all in Graham’s position, but I still get a kick out of great full customers appreciating a quality repair I tend to take most stitching / patching / zips home to my workshop & do I them on an evening , Undisturbed .

The only thing I disagree with is "the days of doing shoe repairs all day have gone" I agree there's a downward trend at the moment, but I believe it will be back, especially for the strong independent. I love the fact you've got a dedicated room for your sewing and you make time to do it. I could make a separate business just doing this type of work, because the usless in our trade can't or can't be bothered. We'd all like to cut a key every 30 seconds, yes We'd all be millionaire's, but the fact is non of us are.

miminmum price for zip 25 , reattach shoulder strap 5 ,patching depends on time spent doing it , as for some turning it away more fool them its money for old rope

So got my smart pro back from Hickleys it’s been back to advanced diagnostics I’ve had it all week and t has been working ok had loan machine from Hickleys so not lost any work happy days

I’ve got 2 , (one pod ) Within a short distance : tend to pick up lots of work they don’t want or can’t be bothered to do . After 30 years in the shop I don’t tend to bother about them, just concentrate on your own business, quality & service

Just arrived in Turkey we reopened the 11th May and it’s been so busy that we needed to take a break and enjoy some sun.

Silca Lancer for mortice.

bet you had a sniff though

Bit more done to messenger bag, & I've had a go at a bumbag.

once made leather cuffs and ankle cuffs with loads of spikes rivets and d rings for a sretching rack (bit rude) not for me by the way

As in when I cut on a universal blank It's strange how when someone like myself a no body puts up a querie regarding Something I have noticed with the machine I'm using or with original Keys being or having much deeper cuts I get slated Makes me wonder y bother Verry clicky site Thanks for all the great comments

HD LF43

We are currently out of stock of the Triumph CL lock, however we get our stock from Fast Key for this lock. It does have a smaller pin of 35mm Product Code - 9100135 Steven OS Keys

Over the years I've witnessed so many of us turn up our noses at, fixing bags, equestrian items, zips and the like! Why, it's probably the most profitable service you can offer and with so many of the "big boys" refusing it, a great chance to showcase your skills and improve your profile! Just sayin...

First thing that come into my head

if you don't want to be in the shoe repair trade, thats fair enough, but to say you haven't got time because your too busy is poor management, you obviously need more staff.

If I'm busy, I tell customers I'll ring them when they're ready, you normally get to do them quicker than you think. Comparing doing a load of keys instead is a narrow minded attitude, cherry picking is the way to disaster!

i bought a clase patcher last year best money i ever spent the 3 nearest independants dont do sewing ( heel bar boys) its money for old rope ive increased the range of thread colours i do got loads of different velcro patching leather buckles etc. theres huge proffit in shite

Looks like one of the shlage blanks

https://www.sks.co.uk/jma-abus-cylinder-key-blank-7472

Had so many over the years but the oddest single request from a customer was a second hand shovel, maggots & a hair dryer. Till this day i believe it to be windup. I'm always happy to help but fuck me that was out of left field

SIlca GBL1r is the blank for them. Rick.

might join and post it there for possible information http://www.antique-locks.com/

Abus used to produce a lock that looked similar to this.

Shoe repairs is just starting to recover , we had our best week since lockdown last week.

We have had one of our busiest years for a while, in terms of the keys but lock side has been quite quiet as our contractors and financial institutions that we deal with are still closed, we stayed open for the local hospitals and police force. I finally got a couple of weeks of with we're just back from traveling around the Highlands, surprisingly had really warm weather. Steven OS Keys

Well guys I have found my backup files so everything is good, but hey cheers for all that help and sympathy you guys are the best

Sorry I'm using Vistool, but can never understand why some of you guys don't backup your files to a USB stick.

Just opened an account and placed an order with Pantograph Services, so easy to deal with. They are my new best friends.

I've just spoken to Amanda at www.theengravingworkshop.co.uk . This was the engraving website and sister company of Mastergrave, if you need anything that they used to sell then give her a call on 07565 975081 anything they are not stocking they will get for you. All accounts will be pro-forma (don't blame them either!)

I Use JT1 and shorten it. Works perfect.

Is the dongle connected to a parallel port on an expansion card or direct on the motherboard?

When I was a young apprentice at Automagic back in the seventies, a customer came in to the Kings Cross branch and asked us if we sold stamps, the manager told the woman that we stopped selling stamps when the Post Office stopped repairing shoes!

I think the problem will be a lot of companies bought when the prices were high due to limited stock now it's settled it's very easy to buy and getting cheaper by the day so any stock has to go asap

We call it a 'Driver" (drives rivets in) It looks like a file but doesn't have teeth like a file.

Should just about make it, you, not the knife...

Still going strong got this when I was sixteen still going strong just need five more years out of it

Exactly the reason the shoe repair trade is dying a death. If they came into my shop I would repair for a tenner.