ThisIsMyFirstRodeo

So the pebbling down the entire length is all stamped?

Hey all, Well the title kinda says it all: here and there while I’m actively stamping, a thin milky liquid will rise to the surface. Yes, water rising probably means that I’m casing too much, but that’s not the question. I had thought that perhaps I hadn’t rinsed the soap off thoroughly from cleaning the leather before working it, but then I noticed it even when I hadn’t cleaned it first. Wish I had a pic to show, but it’s not something I think about when it happens, and I have yet to find rhyme or rhythm to encourage it. Thanks for any insight. —AZR

Bruce — Wow, thank you. Your experience, especially being much closer (3hrs or so) to me helps a lot. Most definitely individual wrapped candy, and SF definitely. But more importantly, the ideas for what we called an “elevator pitch” in school (I barely passed speech class…), and communication with the promoters/managers. The general ideas I’m gathering from everyone are how to successfully invite people into my stall, and create a connection, however brief. Definitely stepping out of my comfort zone, but necessary for the potential of success. Returning to ideas for setup, what are people’s thoughts regarding a couple cable spools stacked to create a rounder, with my concept being to bring people in to see what else is out of sight? I’m wavering though, as I don’t want something too big to see around or take up half of my tent. I haven’t bothered yet to flesh out how to keep the design clean. But, if it winds up looking a little too redneck, it won’t be leaving my garage. At face value, I like the concept of a rounder, but what are other’s thoughts? — AZR

I do have, if nothing else, some store-type plastic bags, though I may be able to finagle some paper bags. But thank you for mentioning them, they weren’t even on my radar. As far as refreshments of some sort, we are working with the local health department to determine if we even need a permit for fresh-brewed tea (tea blends are one of my wife’s products 😉). They’re severely understaffed though, and haven’t returned any of our emails or calls yet. If I can’t get a response I will go ahead and ask forgiveness if I have to, since I’ve been trying for permission and failing. My wife may also attempt some baked goods, which fall under the cottage foods act, don’t need any permit. The dry tea blends are also “cottage”, but for some reason, adding hot water is problematic… 🤦🏻 The book idea I had started kicking around, especially since I want to push my bookmarks out, though I am hesitant about another expense that may not sell. We’ll see though, I have a full library that I could probably part with. What do you do with your flawed (not ruined) products that people may but probably not notice, such as a scratch on a panel or overstamping? (One of my more popular stamps/patterns is notoriously difficult to maintain a line or correct once it wanders…)

Toxo: We’re in the American SW, in Arizona. Monsoon season is already petering out, and it should be sunny and perhaps a bit cool (by our standards at least). We will be set up in our 3m x 3m popup tent (good quality), and we do have enough tables to set however desired. Great idea for the vertical displays, and hey, it’ll give me another creative puzzle to solve with all of the random bits of salvaged wood and scrap in my yard! Thank you for the note to work with the promoter for table position, it honestly had skipped my mind. Thanks, AZR

I’ll start with the easy one first… Bladegrinder: yes, we are set to accept credit, Zelle, CashApp, and Apple. Fred: thank you for the idea of the candy bowl. It’ll also be just a couple weeks after Halloween, so maybe I won’t eat all my.. ahem… my daughter’s candy… I think it will indeed draw people and keep them closer to strike up conversation, especially because I’m not the best “people person” and I’ll need to push myself outside of my comfort zone. I definitely need to talk leather and find what the local demographic is actually looking for. Thanks! AZR

Hey all, So I’m biting the bullet and getting my business license. While I work on finding locations for retail displays, I’ll be selling at art/craft markets. But, my first market is approaching in about 2mos, and I have no clue what I’m doing. My initial thought is just to focus on small-dollar items (bookmarks, bracelets/cuffs, keychains, etc.), with the initial goal of covering the cost of my next Tandy run and the booth fees. We aren’t strictly selling leather, either. My wife packages her own tea blends and topicals, and my daughter is a budding crystal dealer (it’s actually her business, I’m really just an artist-in-residence, so to speak, and handling day-to-day operations while she’s in school). But this will legitimately be my first rodeo, so to speak, and I don’t even know what I don’t know, nor what questions I should even be asking. Any help, tips, advice, dos/don’ts are appreciated. TIA, AZR

That looks great! It would be time for tokonole or gum trag, or you could go with Nigel’s method, which he swears is not licking it off-camera before slicking. (It does work, though… 😉) -AZR

Thank you for tossing the idea out there. TBH, I don’t actually have a computer, anything digital that I do is through my iPhone. (I don’t dare touch my wife’s or daughter’s machines…) But, adding a $200 pc to a $300 engraver is still less than many clickers, especially if adding in the cost of the dies. Definitely not a prohibitive expense in the grand scheme of leatherwork. Thank you again, AZR

I do believe that you have given me the courage to attempt such shenanigans. And thanks for the bookmark suggestion, definitely works for my primary market here in town!

As far as your steel rule and hoop go, if I’m translating Aussie to American correctly, that rule is what I would call flat bar stock, and hoop would be steel strap at our “big box hardware stores” (aka Home Depot). If so, the hoop would probably be way too soft to hold form under a press. If you happen to have a forge, I suppose it *may* be possible to heat it and use some Cherry Red to case harden it once you shape it. (As a gun guy, I assume you might be familiar with it, but it’s basically gun bluing but for the brownish color instead of blue-black). If you don’t have one, you might be able to slip one under the missus’s nose if you build it yourself (I built my coal forge for about $50, well less than the cost of my anvil, and my 1st propane forge is made from an old propane cylinder and the guts of an old gas grill. But you didn’t hear that from me… 😉). And metalwork and leather have always gone together hand in hand. Wow I went way off topic really fast. I’m assuming that you have checked with metal supply houses (the commercial variety that supply pipes/rebar/i-beams/etc), welding supply shops, blacksmiths, co-op forges, farriers, farm/tack supply shops, and web forums. (Just the sources I can think of to at least get a lead to work from.) But I have been told that common things here are not-so-common there. Oh! BBQ/smoker fabricators! Might even be able to get some of there scrap (though there’s no such thing as scrap steel. Just ask a blacksmith 😁. No I’m not a blacksmith, just a bumblesmith…) Ooh squirrel! My daughter got me a little Vevor 1-burner forge, and it’s actually my primary forge now. I think she found it while it was on sale for ~$100. 10/10 recommend. Might even get hotter than my 2-burner. Thank you, I have a difficult time finding what I’m looking for through the 100’s/1000’s of search results!

How’s that Vevor press working out for you?

Thank you for your input, guys. I think I’ll try the stud sandwich first (lumber, guys, lumber…) and start with a mallet and move up. Like I learned from my time framing, When in doubt, use a bigger hammer… 😁 Luckily, it’s really only for small pieces, keychains/coasters/bracelets and the like, but anything that will help my efficiency. AZR

Hey all, So I have a bit of a conundrum… Is there a way to use clicker dies without dropping the money for a press? Possibly a deadblow mallet? I know the Vevor press is quite affordable, but it’s still $200 that I don’t have. My “shop” is just myself, my wife and daughter (so really just myself lol), so any time I save by skipping templates I can put into my forge. Or doing dishes. Depends if the wife is home or not… Thanks for any thoughts/advice/commiseration, AZR

Hey all, I’m looking for the Craftool 8540 wildcat stamp, or other similar wildcat stamp. Yes, a different stamp is listed with Tandy now, but a different post mentioned that there is some confusion on the product. Apparently the 8540-00 motorcycle wings stamp is branded as Craftool, but is actually made by a different company, whereas the 8540 model actually made by Craftool is the wildcat stamp I’m looking for. So, if you have a wildcat stamp that you’re willing to part with, whether the 8540 or something else similar, then I will make it worth your while to drop it in the mailbox. Shoot me a message, and we can work out the details… TIA, AZR