BUILD A BELLOWS BUSINESS

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Oftentimes, when working with leather, you'll find that one side of the hide has an attractive rough finish. When I have such a piece for the boot, I use it "as is". Otherwise, I tuck in the 1/2" hem on both the front and back boot edges ... at the points where they meet the flat faces of the bellows. By cutting small notches as shown, you can easily fold the hem under and glue it down.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Now, you're ready to coat the skirt hems and the matching narrow side edges of the bellows' paddles with contact cement. Let them dry, and then carefully press the skirting into place along one paddle. Go on to do the same with the opposite half. (The glue assures that your bellows will be airtight all around, producing a real windmaker that will please the most demanding customer.) With that done, bring the extended ends of the skirt around and across the nose of the tool, and cut them off evenly where they meet over the midpoint of the nozzle hole.

The final steps are easy. Nail decorative upholstery tacks along the narrow edges (and across the boot lip, if you like the look), spacing them about 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches apart. (Be certain that they match, in both location and number, from one side to the other!) Cut out the piece of leather that blocks the nozzle opening, and-after coating the threaded end of the brass coupling piece with glue-twist that component into the hole. (You may need to use a wrench.) Then screw a flare nut onto the coupling. Cut a long thong from matching scrap leather ... tie it through the hole in the grip ... and you're ready to make those coals glow!

BELLOWING AS A BUSINESS

After you've made your first bellows, how, you might well ask, can you best use the newly acquired skill to make money blow your way?

Well, first dream up five or six different styles that you enjoy making, looking at, and using. Then, to produce these and future beauties efficiently, plan to make several at once. Cut enough paddles for, say, six finished blowers. You can assemble them, two at a time, at your leisure. While the glue on one is drying, you can proceed with the next step on the second bellows. After you get in a little practice, you should be able to assemble two windmakers in about an hour.

It's best to give each of your styles a colorful title, such as "Sirocco", "Zephyr", or "Blowhard", so merchants can order them by name. Come up with a memorable moniker for your business, too ... it'll help folks remember, and recognize, your distinctive products. I chose "Buffalo Wind Bellows", a tag that I feel evokes images of the great Western outdoors.

The next step is to take color photographs of each style you make, and to place them in a small folder or album. Carry this sales tool-along with two or three samples of your favorite models-when you head out to market your wares to retailers.

If you wish, make up a single, photocopied page of instructions to give out with each purchase. (You might include simple suggestions on the care of wood and leather, as well.) This sheet will help keep the name and address of your business in the eyes of prospective buyers, retailers, and interested friends of those who've already discovered the delights of your product.

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