kevinhopkins

Great use of the meander tool, and I really like the nice simple lines! Kevin

Hi Josh, I think it's looks great.... For what it's worth, I think it's worth money... but that would depend on how much. And also for what it's worth, to sell your work well, it's a good thing if your pcs are very well finished. Can't really tell from the picture, but it looks like a sander would help, along with some yankee wax. Kevin

THey look great! You might want to consider some sort of edging on the bkle straps, but on working spur straps....what the heck...it wouldn't last long anyway! Nice job! Kevin Hopkins

Hi Zach, As a quick simple.... you need a way to cut, punch, and sew. Cutting could be a very sharp exacto knife, with the ability to polish and buff the blade periodically. Hole punches could be a few drive punches, maybe a rotary punch, and a slot punch. Sewing could of course, be a machine, but if not, you might want to start with a stitching groover, a spacing wheel, some small harness needles, thread of your choice, and a stabbing awl. You'll probably need contact cement, a few rivets, maybe some eyelets, a mallet, and a solid surface to work on. I could go on, but that's kind of basic. Hope it helps a little bit... And by the way, watchbands can command a pretty good price if you do good work. You might thing about exotics as you go along... Kevin/Springfield Leather Co

Hello Vector, It's possible that you might need a better knife... I'm sure we all have our preferences, but in our shop, we actually use a silly little exacto knife for a majority of cutting. But we also have an old 5 in one for cutting large heavy things, and of course, there's times when the ol' utility knife is used. But the main deal is having a sharp blade. Keeping it buffed on a wheel with rouge on it makes a huge difference. And on tight curves, sometimes it's good to use a round drive punch where it gets tight. Depending on what you're doing, sometimes it can be helpful to have the edge of your leather off the edge of your workbench, and cut from the bottom. Like i said, we'll all have our preferences, and I'm sure there's a lot more ways and ideas out here...those are just a quick few. Kevin

Hi Josh, Actually, I'm writing a book on the subject. If you'll email me at Kevin@springfieldleather.com I'll send you my ramblings thus far. Since it's free, you can't go wrong. And I'd appreciate your feed back on it.... Kevin Hopkins/Springfield Leather

A really cool bib????

Hello Keltrey and all... About those tools, as many of you have commented, the craftool brand seems to have taken a step down in recent years. The steel that's being used isn't the same quality that it was. (obviously) The craft Japan tools seem to be quite good up to this point. THe only problem with them, is that they don't make the full range of tools. As to the hidecrafter tools that bend or still bend, and as to the barb wire tools from craftool that bend, the steel content is different yet. They've got zinc in them, and even tho they've got a heavier shaft, will still bend under heavy use. Many of those tools are made by a U.S. based company that has a factory in china. I won't disrupt the industry by revealing what the cost of those stamps truly is, but suffice it to say, there's a pretty good profit margin in them! I know, because I sell all of them. So far, the Craft Japan tools are the ones that we don't have any problems with. And you'll never have a problem with the Barry King line, or any of the other similar lines. Of course, they do cost a tad more.... Kevin/Springfield Leather

Hi, I've not heard of it, but I can tell you one thing for sure. Anything that says that it cleans, conditions, water proofs, etc, etc, is going to be a pretty generic product. If something is waterproofed and stainproofed, I don't really see how it could be conditioned very realistically. Kevin/Springfield Leather co.

This is the short version I was sort of a hippie in a rock band in the 70's... Needed a guitar strap, so went to Tandy and got sold a qt of neat lac, a strip of 10 oz alum tanned latigo, and about a hundred dollars worth of all the wrong stuff. Made a strap tho, and our rhythm player decided he wanted one. Then the music store that we traded with wanted to try selling my straps, so I kind of got into it. Next it was wallets, bags, lots of figure carving, clocks, sheaths, belts, holsters, and anything else that anyone wanted. Dad hung up anything I'd make in his restaurant. (the only one in town) Stuff flew! Got busted for drugs, decided a new life was in order, decided to try leather work. I learned that it's one thing to do leather work for money, but it's another matter to do it for a living!!!! Got down to my last 10 bucks, went to tandy for a few supplies, and saw a sign on the door that said "Asst Mgr" wanted. I applied that afternoon, and got the job that evening. 6 months later Tandy offered me the Battle Creek Michigan store, which I turned down, and 3 months later they offered me the Rochester Mn. store, which I accepted. Spent 2 yrs there, then went to Fargo ND, (of all places) for 5 yrs, then came to Springfield Mo in 1983. Started a small leathe working company out of our home in 85 called Hardwork Leather. Made just about anything possible for the tourist industry located in Branson Mo. Tandy decided to close the store chain in 99, so I offered to buy our location from them, and they agreed. We purchased the loction from the landlord, and now have 5 units (about 10,000 ft) in a strip ctr on Glenstone st. We moved all our equipment to the store, and called it Springfield Leather Co, and are enjoying our 10th year. I learned just enough about sewing machines, clickers, splitters, skivers, strap cutters, and a bunch of other strange machinery to be dangerous. Dealt in used sewing machines for a number of years. (then came to my senses) Went from 5 employees to having 24. Still can't hardly get my head around it.... The thing I like most about this place is that we get new leather at least 3 or 4 times a week! It's like a continual leather party around here! Most of the employees have been here a while, and it seems like they've all become folks that would almost rather work for leather than for money! (almost....not quite) But basically, there's a love of leather here. And for what its worth, between Bo Riddle and myself, (mostly Bo) there's a lot of leatherwork experience that's here for the asking. We certainly don't know it all, but there's a good chance we know someone who can provide the info that you might need. Kevin Hopkins Springfield Leather Co

Hi... It's kind of a right/left hand thing, mainly for comfort and ease of stitching. Anything that actually holds your project well will work, but most of the old time ones were slanted. Kevin Hopkins

I think it looks great! I'd hang my Les Paul on that any day! (my playing probably wouldn't justify the strap) If you don't mind a tip, do your edges on a belt or drum sander. It's really super quick, and gives you a really professional edge. Especially with a little wax on a wheel afterward. Kevin Hopkins/Springfield leather co.

Great job, Cowboy! Jim would have approved! Actually, Jim is good friend of mine, although anymore, I only see him about once or twice a year. He's really gotten to be a good leather carver... Which is where you're headed too! Kevin Hopkins Springfield Leather co.

Hi...Very nice! I think you'll find with leather tooling that it gets easier as you go! First coaster is tough, second, not quite so tough, and on and on... Keep going! Kevin/springfield leather co.

Any help I can be, I'm happy to try. Kevin@springfieldleather.com

Hi Robert....sounds like you've done what all of us have done at least once. It reminds me of what I tell my beginning leather students that are always fearful of not beveling perfectly, or some such thing. I tell them, "you can always dye it black", and you'll still have a good belt! And by the way, the liquid latex will take off some dyes if they're sprayed on, but if the dye has been put on with a dauber, forget it.... Kevin Hopkins

I've got a pro-boot maker in our shop (Bo Riddle). He uses mostly USMC, and Bick 4. The things that you can do with leather dye (any kind), alcohol, (not the drinking kind) and Bick 4 are just amazing. Dyes will mix with Bick 4 conditioner, (probably with lexol too). That in itself will resolve a ton of problems relating to getting dye jobs to stay even. My suggestion would be to give Bo a call. He'd be happy to talk with you, and you'd be glad you made the call. He's at our store Tuesday thru Saturday, and he tends to take off a bit early on Saturday. 5-ish... 800 668 8518. (Springfield Leather co) Best wishes, Kevin Hopkins

Hi...Incorporating can open some doors for you, but it also places a number of obligations on you. When I first started our business, a business friend told me something that really proved to be wise. He said we needed three things without fail: A good lawyer, a banker that you trust, and an accountant. He was right. I think the accountant thing is probably the most critical, and the most difficult. Kevin/springfield leather co

Hello Patina, Depending on where you're at, you might consider Ohio Travel Bag Co. If you only need a few, you might email me, and I might be able to help since we order from them about every other day. I can also check their catalog for you if you can't find them on their site. Kevin@springfieldleather.com

There's a product called Bon-tex that works well too. It's cheap... about 5 bucks for a sheet that's about 4 ft by 3 1/2 ft. We sell it to a great many prisoners that do leather craft for their pattern making. Kevin@springfieldleather.com

Hi...there's just no way around it....someone needs to measure something! preferably a belt that she wears currently... Kevin Hopkins

Hi... Any of the simple tandy instruction books are pretty good, and will more than likely get you started. I've got them if you don't have close source. And I think I've laced a trillion wallets and other things, for whatever that's worth. kevin@springfieldleather.com

Hi Columbo, Just remember, there isn't one machine that will do it all. If there was, there would only be one machine. Look for one that will do most of what you really need to do. If you keep going forward, you'll more than likely end up with 2 machines anyway. Kevin/Springfield leather

Hi Pink Chaps, Actually, there is a secret... the problem is that it costs an arm and a leg. It's a machine, and it's expensive! Other than that, we're all left to our own creativity. Lots of good ideas here. (the one I saw in Leon Mexico ran about 5000.00 US) Kevin Hopkins

hello Hobby Tom, I learned something from my wife (maybe Luke did too) back in the early 80's when we were doing belts out of our garage... My wife could edge them really fast, and so could I, but I had the same problem that you do. I asked her how she did that.... She said, Kevin, ya just gotta learn to be careful! I've learned that the word "careful" when related to leather craft, has a different meaning then the average use of the word! So which ever way is easiest for you to get it on carefully, that's what I'd do! (for me it's a sponge) actually, anymore I'd just as soon use yankee wax and a flat leather wheel. Gives you a factory finish. Kevin Hopkins