Bootlace strap, works Great!

**Tim Anderson** · Jan-22-2012, 8:51pm

I had been looking for a strap and just couldn't bring myself to pay shipping on a length of leather. So using instructions posted here on MC by BRAD WEISS then modifying it to my taste I made my own. Really happy with the outcome. So thanks to Brad and his craftiness I have a Mandolin strap that cost me 45 mins. of my time and .10 cents for 72" leather boot lace from a garage sale.

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**MikeEdgerton** · Jan-22-2012, 9:34pm

Without the garage sale you might have two or three bucks into it

Nice job. I make my own straps with bootlaces and pieces of leather strap that I buy from a guy that sells saddles and other leather goods. It cost me a little more than .10 but I like the results.

**Kip Carter** · Jan-22-2012, 9:45pm

Which is about what I have into my homebrew strap. It features a leather strap from a Liz Claiborne purse I bought from the thrift shop and some leather boot strings.

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Works like a champ!
Kip...

**Tim Anderson** · Jan-22-2012, 9:50pm

I'm not knocking the guy that manufactures straps. I'm grateful there are effective means for some of us that like the hands on method. But mostly because I'm a cheap skate.

**Kip Carter** · Jan-22-2012, 9:52pm

Agreed.. me too!
Kip... (squeak)

**Tim Anderson** · Jan-22-2012, 9:53pm

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

Which is about what I have into my homebrew strap. It features a leather strap from a Liz Claiborne purse I bought from the thrift shop and some leather boot strings.

Works like a champ!
Kip...

Kip, I love it. the real question for you is did it come with some of that great smelling perfume?

**Kip Carter** · Jan-22-2012, 9:59pm

No but I really had a lot of fun with people seeing an older balding dude walking though the thrift shop with a shoulder strap purse in tow. Looked like a member of ZZ Top attempting to imitate a drag queen. Even had the shades on!

Kip...

**almeriastrings** · Jan-22-2012, 10:31pm

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

Looked like a member of ZZ Top attempting to imitate a drag queen. Even had the shades on!

Kip...

Cheap Sunglasses ,too, no doubt!

Great ingenuity being shown here!

**JeffD** · Jan-22-2012, 11:05pm

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

No but I really had a lot of fun with people seeing an older balding dude walking though the thrift shop with a shoulder strap purse in tow. ..

Its when you asked about matching shoes (for the laces I am sure) that the eyebrows went up.

**P.D. Kirby** · Jan-23-2012, 3:15pm

I have been making my own straps for years. Mostly because I like to do the work and partly because I'm a cheap skate as well. I live about a mile and a half from a taxidermist and he sells Buckskin in just about any configuration you could want from laces all the way up to a full hide. I prefer Buckskin to Leather because it is softer and of course cheaper. I respect the professional strap makers but when I see a price tag of $50 to $75 for a piece of Leather I can buy for $5 to 10$ or even less if I buy the Buckskin it makes me want to get into the strap business, but then it wouldn't be fun anymore.