tjkoko

It's been discussed previously at this forum and I need to know THE place where I can send my Brooks B17 to be laced.

John Lesar

Do it yourself? There must be a ton of info out there.

Tim_Iowa

You need a leather punch. They're $10 at the craft store. Obviously, it will be a low-quality tool, but it will work fine for this job. (My girlfriend does crafts like this, so I borrowed her nice punch).

Then, punch some holes, and thread a shoelace.

I put 5 holes spaced around the bottom curve of the flap, about 1/2 inch from the edge. I used a brown cotton shoelace, and tucked the knot back under the seat.

I only have one B17 that sagged enough to need lacing, and it's because I used some neatsfoot oil to break it in. That stuff softens the leather too much and isn't good for a Brooks (figured that one out).

None of my remaining three B17's need lacing. I use Obenauf's LP; it conditions and protects the leather without softening it.

tjkoko

The seat has broken in nicely after 800 miles but I'd like to reduce the flare of the "vertical walls".

Tim_Iowa

I wouldn't recommend it, then. Lacing the seat compromises the natural stretch of the leather (characterized, in part, by the flare of the vertical walls). Lacing returns a sagging seat (looks like a hammock) to an approximation of the original shape.

Unless you used some leather softener, I doubt that your 800 mile B17 has a hammock shape. It should still look flat when viewed from the side. Lacing such a seat would bow out the top and emphasize a central ridge, which would probably make your seat less comfortable (due to added perineal pressure).

If you decide to give it a try anyway, I'd recommend that you lace it pretty loosely.

Phil_gretz

The B-17 has a much lower quality piece of cowhide than it used to, thinner and more prone to stretch and losing its tone. The modern B-17 will flare after little use.

The above advice was correct -- do it yourself. You can also use a rotary tool with a sharp drill bit, too, but make sure that the holes are large enough to allow the tips of the laces to pass through with only a minimum of effort. Use waxed mens laces, too, for friction. Draw the laces only tight enough to regain the shape that you want, without causing the "hump" in the center. You'll see by trial and error. PG

tjkoko

The seat, indeed, appears flat and was purchased in 2003. I may, then, try a Brooks Swallow. No vertical walls, there.

tjkoko

I'm not certain of the veracity of my statement but perhaps due to the mad cow scare about 10 years ago, the hides are now harvested from younger cattle.