How to fix a leather saddlebag?
June 27, 2007 4:55 PM Subscribe
What is the best way that a rookie leather-worker can salvage a torn leather saddlebag?
I have a 100 mile trip tomorrow morning on my motorcycle. I have need to carry more than can fit in my backpack but one saddlebag's bottom has come unstitched. It is about ten inches of seam that I have to attach back together strongly enough to carry a saddlebag-filled-with-clothes worth of weight. Thanks for any suggestions.
I have a 100 mile trip tomorrow morning on my motorcycle. I have need to carry more than can fit in my backpack but one saddlebag's bottom has come unstitched. It is about ten inches of seam that I have to attach back together strongly enough to carry a saddlebag-filled-with-clothes worth of weight. Thanks for any suggestions.
Response by poster: A combination of one and three should work for me. Thanks Eringatang.
posted by iurodivii at 6:17 PM on June 27, 2007
posted by iurodivii at 6:17 PM on June 27, 2007
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1) Put another sturdy bag inside. Fill up that bag and secure it to the top of the saddlebag somehow (tie handles or something else creative).
2) There should be stitch holes left were the needle went through the leather. Buy some coat thread at the fabric store and a thick strong needle (tell them you're sewing leather and ask for help), use a whip stitch to sew it back together.
3) Line the area inside the bag with a big ol patch of duck tape to temporarily stick it back together. If you put duck tape on the outside, too, this will be even better, but it will leave a sticky residue. Put a garbage bag inside the saddle bag to keep your clothes sticky-tape-free. This might be not be a good idea depending on how hot the area will get.
With any of these options, a cobbler should be able to fix it for you properly when your trip is over.
posted by Eringatang at 6:05 PM on June 27, 2007 [1 favorite]