DocHoliday1882

Follow up with final product... After several failures with thread, I switched over to a stamp. I designed a small stamp with MeshMixer (free) and printed it on a Formslab desktop SLA printer (not free). The first attempt I stamped it then added a white wash with some leather paint - I didn't like the results on this one because 1) the leather was too thin so the impression wasn't deep enough, 2) too much smudging and white ended up in the deeper stamped portions. The second attempt I used a thicker piece of leather (3/4 oz) and left it natural. My friend (customer) preferred this look after seeing both. Here is the final product on the cowboy hat. Not perfect but all things considered I'm happy with the result. I priced out a custom stamp from a handful of companies for $85-105. I spent a total time of 2 hours (designing, printing, washing, and curing) and less than $1 on the printed stamp, superglue, and a scrap piece of wood from my shop. If I print another I'll do a set of 3 or 5 for longer sections and less chances of seeing each individual stamp lines. Let me know what ya'll think.

Thanks @charon @Wuppie @AlexFJ @jimi @chrisash for ya'lls replies. I like the idea of the cuts - I'll try it with some thicker leather. Even with a pricking iron the leather was distorting. Sounds like tooling or 3D printing a stamp may be the way to go. I'll try it out and post results if they're worth a darn. Thanks again!

A friend of mine asked me to replicate this Greek key pattern on his belt for a new hat band. I've been working with the pattern for a while now with little success. Problems are: 1) replicating stitch width to create pattern (left to right distance when looking at the photo) - all of the patterns I've tried are way too wide so it looks like random stitching versus a pattern, and 2) leather tearing out between stitching - when I do get the holes close enough to resemble the pattern then it tears out as one piece. Anyone done something like this? Any tips are greatly appreciated.

Thanks chrstn53 and Art! Very helpful.

I picked this hand tool up at a local market for a few bucks. I know it is used for cutting due to the honing marks and edge but I am curious if it has a specific name. Does anyone know? Thanks in advance.

Troy, I was planning on a border stamp but this leather wouldn't hold the tooling. What is your preference design on a border stamp? I also had planned a design over the trigger/butt of the gun but decided against it after a test piece. The leather was purchased already oiled and waxed. Lesson learned. Good question about the straps. The original design had straps incorporated but my friend asked to remove them.

Thanks Bruce! I appreciate the feedback.

I'm fairly new to the leather working world and these are my first projects ever. I have been working on them over the last few weeks in my spare time - 100% hobby, not a professional. Rifle scabbard for a .22 lever action (10oz hand oiled and waxed veg tan) and rifle sling for 270 (8oz antiqued veg tanned). The hand stitching on the scabbard was a bear but finished it up after a handful of hours or so. Please offer advice, pointers, and feedback. Thanks for taking a look!

Neillo, looks great! Good job.

Really nice! Great work and great shop set up. Very jealous.

Thank you very much, Roy (and Al Stohlman, Craftool, Tandy).