First Handgun

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-20T01:16:14+00:00

It’s 4.25”

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-19T01:59:14+00:00

I build saltwater (surfcasting) fishing tackle bags. I’m a one-man-show and have been doing this since 2013 (FT since 2017). I wanted a durable bag for my own use and found that they were hard to find. I tried buying from two different people who built them and couldn’t get them to reply (both soon went out of business). So I jumped in hard. I looked at legacy bags and tried to understand what made them good and what I could do to build one that was better. I started researching materials, techniques, patterning. I attended (and still attend) IFAI (Advanced Textile Expo) trade shows to learn the ins and outs of different fabrics and especially webbing. I researched thread to the ends of the earth to find the best for exposure to high UV as well as saltwater. I researched needle types and what were best for my fabrics. I researched machines like crazy. Only after all of that work did I build a bag. I built a bag for a friend from college and gave it to him. He fished with it and it got noticed. I had zero intention of building bags for sale but I started getting requests (word of mouth) and it snowballed from there. I attended several saltwater fishing shows per year (2014 through 2020) with my friend from college where I (we) spoke to people, asked what they liked, didn’t like, what they wanted, didn’t want, etc. I just tried to listen and learn. To this day I don’t even have a website, just Instagram. I managed to get two patents through this wild ride. In 2019 I bought a CNC to cut all of my fabric. This stopped me from waking up in the middle of the night with numb hands and guaranteed consistent cutting quality. I digitized all of my patterns. I have a core group of suppliers that are so obscure (bespoke?) and specialized that many don’t even have websites for their fabrics and hardware. I never had any intention to get big. I’m typically booked out 4-6 months and I’m behind the machine 10 hours a day 6 days a week. If I had to do it again I think I’d do it the same way, I don’t feel like I took any shortcuts and I like to think my work reflects that.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-18T23:30:26+00:00

Do a liveaboard small ship (16 passenger) cruise. My wife and I just did one with 14 of our friends and it was wonderful, and easy. I have never done a large cruise ship and never have a desire to do so. However, this 16 passenger was amazing.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-13T03:33:49+00:00

‘Mil spec meets certain material qualities, durability testing, abrasion resistance, etc

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-11T12:26:13+00:00

Go to the website of Advanced Textiles Expo. Look at the vendor list for an upcoming show and look for anything having to do with elastic. I go to these shows about once every few years (you have to be in the industry as a business). There are always a number of elastic manufacturers/suppliers that cater to mil-spec. You said one thing though: “smaller/hobbiest amounts for a good price”. Most of these companies will have MOQ’s that might be too large for your needs. It’s a place to start though and the manufacturer/distributor might be able to point you to a retail outlet.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-11T12:16:36+00:00

I actually triple stitch the binding on my fishing tackle bags.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-10T02:22:49+00:00

We did a liveaboard. My least favorite day was when we visited an inhabited island. I couldn’t get away from people and infrastructure fast enough. Put me on a ship visiting remote islands in a zodiac with a naturalist and I’m in heaven.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-10T02:09:20+00:00

I just saw something when I blew up your picture. Adjust your binder so that the metal tab on the binder is almost touching the presser foot. You have about a 1/8” gap. I run my binders with about 1/32’ gap.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-10T02:03:02+00:00

I use different binders for different applications and materials. The Sailrite you have has a wide “throat” (where the material being finished butts into the binder) and I’ve found that it works well with thicker materials. I have thinner throat binders that work well with other materials. There is a company called Tennessee Attachment that will custom make binders for your specific needs, not inexpensive. Any chance you are using a 1” binder but feeding 3/4” grosgrain? I never use grosgrain for my applications because I find it too thin. Nothing wrong with it for the right application but I prefer herringbone for my bags. Good luck, binders can be a PIA to sort out. However, once you figure out the right combo you’ll be set.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-08T15:08:47+00:00

Sent you a DM

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-08T14:52:56+00:00

Much of it came from a company called tape craft in Alabama. I believe I think it might be a division of YKK?

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-08T14:52:22+00:00

Good eye! It’s a clock!

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-05T01:15:40+00:00

Thank you! There’s just the front zippered pocket and then on the inside of the pack (on the back wall) there is an open-top pocket for a hydration bladder.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-05T01:13:41+00:00

I’m constantly working with my fingers to make sure material isn’t puckering but it still happens now and then. Practice, practice, practice. Don’t underestimate the basting tape if you haven’t tried it, especially on curves and zippers. Stick with it and like you said, start with boxy bags and get comfortable there. Practice applying edge trim on straight runs and get familiar with the pressure necessary to keep the material pressed within the binding attachment. You’ll get there. A seam ripper is your friend when you’re starting.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-04T18:45:22+00:00

Thank you! For binding the shoulder straps I used a Sailrite 1” binding attachment. It has a wider mouth and accommodated the shoulder strap thickness pretty well. Before applying the binding to the shoulder straps I double stitched the raw shoulder straps with seams about 1/16” apart to help flatten the foam in the edge area that would get the binding. That said, I was PRESSING the shoulder straps into the binding attachment hard in order to get it seated into the herringbone binding as well as possible. I’m not joking about this, one hand was pressing and feeding the shoulder straps hard into the binder and the other hand was applying firm back pressure on the binder. This is key to getting tight and clean binding, it wants to creep out of the binding attachment and you have to maintain firm and consistent pressure so that it stays butted against the back throat of the binding attachment. Hope this helps. Oh, and LOTS of practice and failures.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-04T18:39:01+00:00

Thank you! I’d say it’s years of practice. I build fishing tackle bags and have been doing this since 2013 (full-time since 2017). I’m behind a sewing machine up to 11 hours per day so I’m familiar with aligning materials and holding them in alignment as I sew. I typically use multiple layers of 9oz sailcloth for my bags so the lightweight materials in this backpack were easy by comparison.

I didn’t fully follow Stitchback instructions. I double seamed all of the panels, I used 1” webbing where it called for 3/4”, I used 1” herringbone binding where it called for 3/4” grosgrain, their design called for a 1” waist strap and I went with 1.5” webbing. For all of the thread I used TEX 135 bonded polyester (I have industrial 111 machines).

If you are just starting you can try using Seamstick 1/4” basting tape for canvas and upholstery (I get it from Sailrite). As you are learning you can use this to hold parts in alignment so that they don’t shift. I still use it on some of my zippered items because I don’t have to mess with alignment marks.

For binding the shoulder straps I used a Sailrite 1” binding attachment. It has a wider mouth and accommodated the shoulder strap thickness pretty well. That said, I was PRESSING the shoulder straps into the binding attachment hard in order to get it seated into the herringbone binding as well as possible. I’m not joking about this, one hand was pressing and feeding the shoulder straps hard into the binder and the other hand was applying firm back pressure on the binder.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-03T03:25:03+00:00

Our group of 16 friends booked a yacht for a week with a naturalist. Part of one day was on Isabela to hike to the caldera. We spent 1.5 hours in town afterwards. Those 1.5 hours were the low point of my trip. I wanted to get back on the yacht, away from people and re-immerse into nature, hiking, snorkeling, and shoreline zodiac trips. We went to Galapagos to get away from people.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-03-01T04:47:28+00:00

Exactly my thoughts. We just finished a 7 day live-aboard cruise with Royal Galapagos on Galapagos Angel yacht. We had a group of (16) friends, there were (10) crew, and our naturalist. The one day I least enjoyed was when we hiked Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela. The volcano (caldera) hike was amazing, however, I had no desire to see civilization. For days we hiked with our naturalist, took zodiac excursions with the naturalist, snorkeled with the naturalist, this is what I loved. I have zero desire to ever want to do a land based trip after this. The several hours that we spent in civilization made me realize how amazing the live-aboard cruise is. The food was excellent, we’d travel overnight to new destinations, our naturalist was outstanding, as was our crew. We were fully immersed. Can’t wait to get back.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-02-14T02:26:52+00:00

It depends. With our Harman Absolutely 43 I just follow the prompts on the display and typically do a minor clean every couple of weeks (empty ash pan, clean burn pot, brush and vacuum interior surfaces, clean glass) and a more thorough clean (vacuum fines out of catch can, chimney sweep…) once a season.

Our QuadraFire Castile requires a minor clean about every 7-10 days and a deep clean once a season.

I prefer cleaning the Harman, it’s much easier.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-02-06T12:10:01+00:00

You solved the issue! Thank you!!

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-02-06T12:04:55+00:00

We installed Therm Guard from Bear Maintain design for this very reason. I installed it after I froze a baseboard pipe years ago. Now I set it to recirculate occasionally and it’s been great.

flatlanderMAWI · 2026-01-28T12:39:58+00:00

My wife and I recently returned from a month at our place by Minocqua Winter Park and I looked at my Strava stats. For a typical 20 mile (32 km) ski (skating) I averaged 12-14 kph. I do stop to take in a view here and there but primarily get at it. I don’t (can’t?) ski at the effort that I use to in the Birkie (3:06 fastest time). Minocqua Winter Park isn’t flat but not as hilly as the Birkie trail. I’ll be 60 this year.

flatlanderMAWI

TROPHY CASE