I worked on this "knock together" project to fill the time before starting another project... for four days.
I should have known I couldn't knock together anything.

I ended up countersinking washers into each of the holes where the hardware passes thru, as much for aesthetics as anything else, all though the washers will act as bearings and reduce wear on the wooden surfaces.

I also looked for a knob for the carriage bolt that will apply the draw pressure on whatever work piece is in the jaws... the little hardware store in town didn't have anything like that.
Meh... I decided to make a hardwood knob that would be easy to spin on and off, quick release so to speak. Didn't want to use a wing nut. PITA and always have been in my book. Takes forever. Plus, a wooden knob has class. Using a forstner bit just under the size of the nut, I drilled a hole the right depth, and then marked the sides of the nut in pencil. I cut the slot with a very sharp chisel. Necessary with the white oak I used for the knob, which I had cut out on the bandsaw and shaped on the belt sander. I then tapped the nut in place with a mallet, and countersunk a washer on the off side after drilling the hole for the carriage bolt to pass thru. The stain was applied and the grain popped.

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After the leather was prepped, I glued it to the jaws, then put a couple pieces of scrap wood in the jaws and clamped them shut on the wood to put an even pressure on the leather overnight to insure good adhesion of the glue. The next morning, I considered the project complete. I'll apply a light coat of wax, perhaps. I may leave it off to avoid the chance of contaminating the projects this "tool" will be used on.

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I hope this Lacing Pony will serve me well as I venture farther into leather work in the future. I plan to make a few more knife sheaths, perhaps a holster or two, and maybe a few other nice leather projects. I have been watching videos on basic carving techniques.
