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This is a question that needs addressing. I feel that many of the videos that are out there are misleading inasmuch as hard thick leather is used or the amount of work involved in burnishing is understated. I too have found that the initial sanding raises so much more fibres than expected and I realise that a lot more work is needed to be done and wished I'd left it alone in the first place.

Thank you for your answer. I saw that file too but cannot find the parts, strange enough. I wil send a picture and explain more my question.

OK I'll bite .. how about Ebay . Plenty of ' Faux ' Louie Vuitton on Ebay ...LOL . Also sell scrap Fabric remnants 'claiming' authenticity . also.. Amazon ... Louis Vuitton I always under the impression the LV designs, materials, and patterns are all proprietary owned international copyright. Now doing your own ( LV Artistic Interpretation ) is legal as long as zero reference or labeling is made as Louis Vuitton. I have bought LV knockoff items overseas markets.. LOL, BUT The only way to buy or sell from, or have authorized fabrics Milled Louis Vuitton, is from LV . I don't think that even selling LV remnant fabric bolts or scraps is actually legal to do under LV Lic. agreements. LV might or might not be aggressive as Disney with their Lic. fabrics. Disney is pretty ruthless, and I know someone who was sent a cease and desist from Disney lawyers, after purchasing a large amount of leftover remnant Disney print fabric bolts. .

Will do and report in some time (not all the time in the workshop, where I usually dye leather). Hmm..I never considered it using before dying as I had NFO in my mind as it's finish, not a prep. liquid. But certanly will make some tests in the future, as will test this aswell. Haven't had problems with customers for stiff belts, but I don't prefer it being so stiff, it nearly stands up alone (if holding in 1 hand). Will keep in my mind. I also use resolene vs. water 1:1 ratio (often, not always, depends if I'm not lazy enough to mix it :D ). But there's this great leatherworker I've admired, also on this forum (I think), Road Agent leather. In video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-QAUSqSrRs), he is using Pro dye, NFO and Fiebing's PRO RESIST (which I assume, is simmilar finish to resolene). And here's the idea I got, that I can use NFO with PRO DYE at first. No, but will check! Thank you. I don't have California sun, but might consider drying it as such. I got Fiebings Leather Balm With Atom Wax, but didn't gave it a chance yet. Will do soon, as only thing at Resolene I dont like most, is it's gloss. I'd prefer more matt finish.

I recently picked up a bench mounted belt sander for cleaning up my work. It seems like I’m making more dust then actually making my work look better. What grit belt do I use? Also do I apply pressure? I’ve been putting my leather on the table and moving it back and forth. I’ve been working with 3 layers on 2-3oz chrome tan leather. Thanks tj

Thank you. I followed the video and now she’s sewing great.

I like the jig idea. Centered and spaced correctly, all at once.

I use these ; Two pins with a hole centred on them. Fits virtually any size of strap or belt. Just put each pin against the belt and the hole is the centre of the belt. I've made 3 of them, just for handiness sake Swivel it and the centre of the strap or belt can be marked. The circles are at 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. If you want 3/4 inch between holes move the guide so that the 3/4 circle is over your last hole

I couldn't picture that shaft until I went back and looked at one of mine. Now I see it runs in the lower part of the arm! Another lesson learned for me. I, too, will have to double check where it gets oiled.

Use wing dividers. Will get you centered everytime.

For punching belt holes and not having problems . . . take 2 or 3 hours out of your day and make this little jig. It will darn near end all your belt hole problems . . . May God bless, Dwight

You may want to figure out where you are expected to oil that shaft 😉

Damn, but I figured it was a long shot. Thanks for the feedback, guess I'll keep looking then.

A hard lesson. I remember when I was learning to skive (book binding). I decided the knife I had was the problem. So I saved up and bought a nice skiving knife from Chartermade. Beautiful tool. Showed up pristine and ready to work. Took it to the bench and basically had the same problems. Realized I probably just needed to practice. Nothing wrong with having great tools. I've learned a really great tool can let you focus on the skills because your problems will just be you.

DMT Diamond stones (not the hatched pattern ones, the full width kind, metal bed). I tried water stones, sandpaper, etc. Both work, but the diamond stones let me focus on just the sharpening as I was learning. The 3/4" and 1" skiving knives from Lisa Sorrell. Those things came to my door screaming sharp, no break in or touch up required, so I could focus on learning the inlay work, not the sharpening.

Is leatherworker.net a tool? It's been a great learning resource for me.

Besides books, especially by Al Stohlman my other things are; A Tandy Pro-Press. I use it a lot, for pressing stamps, as a clicker press, for making sewing holes with chisels Sets of sewing chisels with different spacing; 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm and my stitching pliers and lacing pliers A couple of sewing clamps; a light-weight one for taking out to places and a larger heavier one for use at home base My special stamping table Which is adaptable for various jobs

Thank you!

please post pictures of your machine from the rear and when tilt back from the underside and how you have installed the foot lifter.

yes, that's right, both machines were only fixed/sitting on those rubber feet.

Ah, but they haven't. Only the two top dogs resigned but those responsible for the wrongful editing remain in their jobs

Looks good from here . . . May God bless, Dwight

yup all the tool answers above need special knowledge to use them and care for them correctly, and it can all be found in a book. Also, the saddler will have a different answer than the shoemaker or the guy who makes watch straps lol. What each of us envisions as leather work usually is diferent. And I'll add this forum as a great tool also.😁 You can see those who take the critiques and advice seriously improve as time goes on, while those who blow off the help or ignore helpful tips and good advice just don't improve as fast or as well. It's not the tool in the hand, it's the hand that drives the tool. A knowledgeable craftsman with mediocre tools can outperform the ignorant man with the best tools.

I wanna thank @Dwight for recently sharing some of the knife sheaths he built. He inspired this design for some fixed blade knife sheath I made for a local knife maker. Welt on all edges. I also engraved the sheaths, as well as one of the blades and handles. I used my laser to create the template out of 1/8" acrylic. If you are interested in a template let me know.