kevinhopkins

Hi... Cowhide or horse will work as well, and so will goat. The trick is to get a piece of leather, no matter what kind it is, that is tanned so that it will actually make good lace. It needs to be tight grained. After a little experience, you'll know what to look for. Sorry you can't get kangaroo....it certainly is the best in my opinion. Kevin

Hi....you might try dampening your leather evenly before you put the stuff on... don't know if that will help or not, but it does with some products. Another thing might have to do with the way that you're wetting your leather, or even just the leather itself. If you've got a pc of leather that has been plated fairly heavily, and if you're wetting your leather just in the area that you're tooling, you can get results like what you've posted. It's really amazing the difference that the tannage can make in the accepting of dye.... That's one of the reasons that folks are always touting Hermann Oak and Wickett and Craig. Those sorts of issues are minimal with those leathers. Anyway, It's kind of hard to know without being able to hold the piece in hand, but those are a couple of things that could affect things. I'm not a huge fan of the eco flo stuff, but I think the all in one is the best of the bunch. Sorry I can't be more help, and best wishes! Kevin

Very pretty! I think you've got the swivel knife figured out! Kevin

Really nice!! it is kind of addicting, isn't it... Kevin

Glad you found this place Doc.... It's a great source of info! Kevin

Hi Pete.... it is a great forum! And if you ever find a source for that mylar film, i'd love to know it. I've been hunting for that stuff all over the place, and just can't seem to locate it. Kevin

Hello Zenaca, There's a good chance that your hides are dried out a bit, but some persistent treatment with some good leather conditioner can help quite a bit. Bick 4, Lexol, saddle butter, Dr. Jacksons, Black rock, all will help. Once you do your tooling and get the pieces all trimmed to the shape that you need, that would be the time to treat the leather from the back side. You might have to do it a couple of times, and apply some heat from a hair dryer to get it to really penetrate, but it should help greatly. And make sure that your chisel or punch is sharp. If it's a chisel that you're using, make sure you don't drive it too far thru the leather, because that will also cause the leather to split. Best wishes, Kevin

I like an end grain too.... it's easier on the cutting edges, and doesn't give you the grief of a poundo board. Kevin

Hi...Double butts are always good. We cut all of our blanks from hermann oak sides if that's of any interest to you. It's hard to find a better tooling belt in my opinion. But anymore, some of the double butts are very good too. Kevin

Hi... Normally, a glass slicker would be an actual pc of glass that is fairly substantial, and it would have a rounded, polished edge. Tanneries use one in an industrial operation to take wrinkles out of a veg tanned hide during the finishing process. I've seen saddle makers use them as well. I'm sure theres more about the darned things than I know, but at least that's my 2 cts worth! Kevin Hopkins

Hi... The stingray thing is kind of unique... First of all, you don't what to use one of those great big skins to make wallets. The stones are too big, and the skin is to thick. You want to use a very small skin, because that's about the only way that you can sew thru the darned stuff! Those small skins are for sale from us for 14.99 up to about 24.99. As far as quality goes, that's usually related to the tanning and finishing process. The smaller skins are almost always nice, because they're tanned primarily for the accessory market. Usually, the skins for the boot industry are nice too, but they'll be larger, and always more difficult to work with, if you're making accessories. The really big ones are used primarily for bike seats, saddle seats, and the like. It takes a reeeeeaaaaalllly big sting ray to generate those. We've been offered stingray wallets direct from overseas from 20 dollars up to 100 dollars each. It really depends mostly on the style and quality of the interior. Folks in Indonesia and Singapore work cheap. And sometimes the work is cheap. The good stuff is almost always more expensive tho. I hope this helps a bit! Kevin Hopkins

Hello all. I just wanted to let everyone know that Springfield Leather has become the sole distributor for Chaylor Fenelli in this country. We rec'd our first shipment of product the other day (01-6-10), and have been so busy that we haven't been able to even look at it. The shipment that we received is only a partial tho, and more will be arriving as we finalize things to a greater degree with Mr. Johnstone. So for now, we don't have a complete line, but we do have some things. I anticipate that we will have what products that we do have checked in, with prices established by Monday the 11th of Jan. I'm supposed to meet with Mr. Johnstone shortly after the WESA show in Denver, and hopefully we can finalize the product line at that time, and make arrangements for sufficient inventory to cover the demand. You're more than welcome to call me at the store, but I don't know if I'll have much more info than what's here.... Thanks, Kevin Hopkins

Hi... I can't give you the exact wording to use, but those types of products really like to be conditioned with a good quality leather conditioner (lexol, Bick 4, Dog Slobber, (really) Black Rock, and many others) periodically (you can decide the period) and heat from a hair dryer really makes them happy! Happy advising! Kevin

Hi.... Be nice to the guy... only teach him what he already knows... don't voice ideas that you don't want him to exploit... Ask him lots and lots and lots of questions. What's happening? What are you working on lately? Got any cool ideas you want to share? I'd probably guard my work from his eyeballs if I could... I've got a guy in my shop that takes credit for every single idea that comes along. But in the long run, the truth always comes around to haunt people like that. A famous man once said, "as far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men" But he didn't say you had to share all your business ideas with them. Best wishes! Kevin

Hi 8th... Your work looks great! I have to agree with Rawhide tho... that stupid swivel knife is a bear to get the hang of for some of us, but once you get it, it's a powerful force! But what it really comes down to at the end, is what the finished product looks like. I think you're doin' great! Kevin

Hi... I'm not the worlds foremost expert on Mitered edges, but I've made quite a number of round and square boxes using 45 degree angles. I've discovered that it's pretty easy to make the outside of the project look pretty good, but not as easy to make the inside look nice. A little bit of glued in lining just does wonders, and covers a multitude of sins!!! Best wishes! Kevin Hopkins

Hi.... I'm quite sure I'd have what you need, if you haven't found it yet.... Kevin

Hello Punchy... Sorry to say, but I don't think there's one on the market any more. Tandy used to make a couple many years ago, but they're long gone... The Leather Cases book Volume 2 (i think) has patterns for several. And depending on whether you want a hardshell case or a soft leather case, they really aren't all that difficult... I've got the book if you need... Kevin

Hi... There really aren't any rules here for what you're doing, as I'm sure you know. the biggest thing you need to think about is what you want it too look like, and whether or not potential stretch is a factor. The stitching sure keeps the stretch down.... But if you're stuck with hand stitching, well.... you'll just have to decide how badly you want it to be stitched! Happy haltering! Kevin

Hi... I don't mean to sound negative, but I just don't think you find them in this country, unless you're willing to buy a serious qty. Sorry! Grinding isn't all that hot, but I think it's your best option, unless someone knows something that I don't. (and my wife says there's no shortage of folks that qualify on that score! ) Kevin

Hi... Very few finishes are waterproof... That RTC stuff is really pretty close... But it really takes a build up of several light coats to get the best effect. You might call the folks at Bee Natural... I'm sure they'd be happy to give you all the help they can. (nice folks) Neat Lac is maybe something that you ought to try. Once you learn how to use it, it really makes a nice finish. Again, it really needs to be thinned, and a couple of light coats are better than a heavy one. Usually, neat lac needs to be, (or should be) thinned almost right out of the can. Sheep wool is a good applicator. The problem with tan kote is that it really isn't very water resistant... and that's what you're putting on last. So, when water hits it, it will go right thru. After you've applied the tan kote, and it's dried, try a light coat of Neat lac, and see if that doesn't help. Do it on practice pc tho.... Happy experimenting! kevin

Hi... Nice looking stuff! Mean looking knife! You're gittin' smart! Kevin

That's a great job!!! If you want to know a simple trick to improve looks, just make the stitching lines closest to the gun a double stitch line... Does wonders for the look, and is pretty much unnecessary, but it sure helps the saleability of the thing... You'll be teaching classes before long! Happy Holsters! Kevin

Hi... it's really nice... But I think I'd line the whole thing... And I'll tell you a trick... take a pc of manilla folder about 1" to 1 1/4" wide, and the same height of the folder. Gently form it around a broom handle, and glue it to the center of the back of the folder. then glue your lining right over the top of it. You'll be amazed at how it makes the finished product look. You can use 2 layers of the stuff if you need, but it will firm it up quite a bit.... Keep up the good work! Kevin Hopkins

Hi...those little boogers can be a little tricky if you're not careful. Just make sure that you don't bend those 2 straight little wires that go across the inside of the socket... if you do, you'll need to use another snap.... Kevin