Andy

Jo, Same guy...he is at it again. Spread the word!! Andy

Rusty, I like to hammer my leather together as well....I use a mallet and an anvil or a steel hammer to tap the leather together, also try a screw press (or hydraulic). Andy

Andrew, It's like we JUST spoke about this! (FYI: I know Andrew, he is from my neck of the woods, we share the same first name, and the love of leather...he also likes my machines! He does the horsey thing, I do the firearms thing) Anyway... $45-65 per hour, yep, seems high but you have a web site, a TON of machinery, the leather and fixin's to get a GOOD product out that is WELL MADE. My customers balk, but they bring their cars and trucks in to be serviced for the SAME hourly price! Not only do I have the full array of tools that their mechanic has, but all the machines, tons of leather, thread, fasteners that I stock on MY nickle for THEM. Selfish, perhaps, but you have a skill, charge for it. Hope that helps, Andy PS Yes, you can use my Adler...

Tina, I followed up with a few of his contacts on his web site, he is obviously harvesting email/web sites from somewhere local (here or other sites). Some of these jokers steal photos from my site and portray it as their own goods...luckily my customers KNOW my stuff and give me a heads-up when they catch it. Andy

I just finished up a stingray rig for a customer, http://andysgunthoughts.wordpress.com/cust...ray-1911-combo/ It worked fine in my Adler 205. (207/277). Andy

All, Once again I am being plagued by offshore businesses who want me to send a "sample" of my products so they can copy/ripoff ...er ..."quote" me a price to make it cheaper etc. THIS is the gent today who pissed me off: http://www.theleatherartisan.com/ Grumpily, 100 % made in the USA=Andy

I consign some of my slings and holsters, but ONLY with folks I have known for YEARS AND YEARS. I will assist with shops that are having big sales, open houses and such by allowing them a HUGE box of goodies to sell as a one-shot 2-3 day consignment, then I get all my gear back and a check for what is sold. My 2 cents, .0000078271903 after taxes, Andy

Tasha, After getting my leather from Peter and his lower pricing, I make MORE money, so you can thank me for the extra PROFIT! (just send a check, or buy me a coffee....) Andy

All, I just snagged another pile of hides from Peter.....NICE stuff...very very very and the pricing was SUPERB. Andy

All, I am just off the phone from my Synth Sling supplier (tactical slings, weird harness stuff.....you name it, you can make it from his inventory) while I am just about 100% leather now, I do need synth for some customers. Anyway...Good guy, good company, good webbing. Go here: www.tnwebbing.com Contact this guy: (Tell him Andy sent ya!) Danny Cox TN Webbing Products Co. P.O. Box 6091 Knoxville, TN 37914 800-390-4894 ext. 103 danny@tnwebbing.com

Ian, Well worth the trip, prepare to spend $$ on his SUPER nice hides!! (actually pricing was VERY competitive, I stocked up!) Andy

All, I had the chance to visit Peter at Waterhouse Leather today (Littleton Ma). http://www.waterhouseleather.com/ Lemme tell you the most important thing that came from this trip, I HAVE A NEW LEATHER SUPPLIER! Secondly, Peter and his Wife were cordial hosts, they gave me the "nickel tour" and he solved a few of my leather problems with some GOOD solutions. I left with an armload or two of hides! I cannot tell you how happy I am to have made this trip to visit his shop. (luckily he ships daily and is on the web for easy ordering!). I have a couple of photos of his leather stock, but they just don't do justice to the sheer volume AND quality of his inventory. Two Thumbs UP! Andy

Indy, I use a couple of older large coolers to keep my glues, dyes, finishes and other liquidy stuff from the shop. Andy

Esant, I use a hunk of I-beam as an anvil, works great! Andy

Shorts, (all) re: Holster lining I have taken some suede lining leather and tested it against steel, some of it REALLY rusts it up BADLY (as in, BAD BAD BAD!), some of the prosthetic suedes are gun-friendly. (test first). Andy

Craftsman, Shipping is a killer for Cement, it's Hazmat and they charge ALOT for that. Search local for suppliers, stockists and other retailers. I have found it at suppliers of OTHER items like plumbing supplies and such. Andy

Shorts, Yeah UPS might be spendy for the iron ones (it looks like they have some wooden ones too, scroll to the bottom). FYI: I use my press for EVERYTHING, mine is a twin screw so I use the back for pressing leather being glued and the front for molding. Andy

All, Paul from Bindery Tools just emailed me, he has a BUNCH of presses (I use a modified one for holster molding) http://www.binderytools.com/productsdisp.asp?dep=2 Andy

Particle, See my post in the Supplier section on a couple of Clickers I just tried. Email me if needed. Andy

All, A few folks emailed about the linear inches of my dies and the Lucris manual press. The easiest to cut was a die with 22" of blade, 3 downward presses to move the platen over the entire surface was all that was needed. Good press, I was suprised that it did it on this leather (very stiff veg tan). The harder to cut was a holster die with 33"+ inches, a bit too much for it, but it cut it! Andy

All, I recently sold my Hudson 20 Ton Clicker and have been in search of a smaller clicker while I am searching for a new home/shop. I have looked at a pile of used clickers, and had the chance to visit the folks at Bar Plate in Ct today (a short drive from VT/NH where I reside/work/sew). They stock the Lucris manual clicker and the Tippmanns. I had the opportunity to try both. For those who are looking at the Lucris read below. Lucris, superb machine, built well, STURDY! I wanted to see if this would suffice for my holsters and such, I did a worst case scenrio and grabbed a hide of my toughest, stiff 9/10+ Veg Tan and one of my larger (in linear inches) holster dies. With adjustment I could click through this leather. The clicker was maxed out with this leather, die and my 185 pound weight on the bar. This did cut, but it took a few strokes and some adjustment. My magazine pouch die (less inches) cut through in 3 pulls of the lever, not bad for this leather! I almost bought the Lucris but tried the 15 Ton Tippmann and had to have it....I do enough to warrant this purchase. If you are in NH/VT you are welcome to try/use it. NOTE: I have dealt with a bunch of people over the years in this (and other industries), the folks are Bar Plate went above and beyond the call of duty for me, showed me what I needed, held my hand with some stuff and were SUPERB to deal with. I cannot recommend them enough! They are here: http://www.barplate.com/machines.aspx Charlie and Monica were my sales/demo people and were WONDERFUL. (praise from me does not come easily!) Once again, I am SO impressed them I must pass this info on to our folks here. Contact for them: http://www.barplate.com/contact.aspx Do contact me with any questions on the clickers I tried and my experiences with the Lucris, Tippmann (and a host of others!). Andy

Black Die, shoe polish and a bucket of elbow grease!!!!!!!!!!

Have one for sale?? Email me! Andy

Tangent, 18" diameter, I think I have 2....make me an offer! I have a 24" as well and a pile of weird shaped stuff. I am moving soon so pop me an email, I need to make some room in the shop ASAP! Andy PS other items that need homes too, thread, thick leather, etc..

Paris, I got mine from Campbell Bosworth.....small sticks but they work awesome (neutral, tan and black) Andy