SHORTENING A HANDBAG CHAIN
All the links in our bag chains and chains by the meter are non-welded , so you can very easily shorten your chains and this also allows you to make different creations decorated with chains. On this page you will find 5 tutorial ideas for mixing chain and leather .
1. BAG CHAIN AND LEATHER SHOULDER STRAP - LEATHER BAG HANDLE & CHAIN
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- Using cutting pliers, cut a few centimeters of the bag chain (all our bag chains are 120 cm, adjust it according to your size, taking into account the remaining 23 cm of the leather strap). Be careful to cut it in the middle so as not to have one end larger than the other.
- Fold each end of the short leather strap over 3.5 cm and secure the half-round ring.
- With a round punch cookie cutter or pliers, make a 3 mm hole (on both thicknesses of strip) 2 cm from the edge.
- Install the T3 double cap rivet with the correct installation set and the method of your choice: pliers, press or impact handle.
- All you have to do is open the links at each end of the bag chain and close them on each half-round ring.
Deco Cuir advice: in order to give a “more finished” look to the leather strap, we invite you to work the edges with a Deco Cuir edge finish (color of your choice).
- Prepare the edges with light sanding (500 to 1000 grit)
- Apply the dye to the edge of the leather (using the tool of your choice: roller pen, cotton swab, awl, etc.).
- Repeat the operation 2 or 3 times.
- Rub beeswax on the slices and polish with a cloth.
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2. BAG CHAIN COVERED WITH A FLAT LACE
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- Pass the 5 mm wide flat lace between each link of the bag chain. Be careful if the bag chain is too long for you (120 cm), you should remember to shorten it before passing the lace (see our video "Removing links from a bag chain").
- At each end of the chain, fold the lace on itself.
- With a round punch cutter or pliers, make a 2 mm hole (on both layers of lace).
- Install the T1 double cap rivet with the correct installation set and the method of your choice: pliers, press or impact handle.
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To learn how to install single or double cap rivets, we invite you to watch our video: “3 methods for installing a rivet” :
3. LEATHER & CHAIN BAG HANDLE - VERSION 2
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- On each side of the short strip and 1.5 cm from the edge, trace, with a silver pencil, a square measuring 1.5 x 1 cm .
- Cut out this square with a cutter.
- Pass the bag chain through the short leather strap. To reduce the length of the chain or pass the chain more easily through the hole (if the carabiners do not fit) we invite you to open a link with 2 flat-nose umbrella pliers.
Deco Cuir advice: in order to give a “more finished” look to the leather strap, we invite you to work the edges with a Deco Cuir edge finish (color of your choice).
- Prepare the edges with light sanding (500 to 1000 grit)
- Apply the dye to the edge of the leather (using the tool of your choice: roller pen, cotton swab, awl, etc.).
- Repeat the operation 2 or 3 times.
- Rub beeswax on the slices and polish with a cloth.
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4. BAG CHAIN BY THE METER AND EYELETS: A BEAUTIFUL MIX
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- Place 2 rolling eyelets on the flap of your bag (we invite you to watch our video on methods of installing eyelets).
- Pass the bag chain by the meter through the eyelets.
- Open one of the links at the end of the chain and close it on the other end of the bag chain.
To learn how to install eyelets, we invite you to watch our video: "The different types of eyelets and their installation methods" :
5. CHAIN ON THE FLAP OF YOUR BAG - EDGE OF LEATHER
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- Using a compass, draw a line 0.5 cm from the edge of your bag flap.
- Then, hit the claw for lacing all along the line.
- All you have to do is wrap your bag chain all around the flap. To start your lacing, we advise you to leave 1.5 - 2 cm of lace then wedge it and stick it (with neoprene glue) in the lacing (see photo).
