Spinner

I'm very happy with Wickett & Craig's leather. Their special and utility grades (#3 & #2 grades, respectively) are very nice & clean and from what I have heard their #1is even better but I haven't found a need to go higher than their #2. They usually have some of the #3 and occassionally the #2 in the overstock special pricing area for $100 per side. http://www.wickett-craig.com/overstocked.html I just got some of the Utility (#2) 6oz. that was on overstock and it was great.

Very true! Although sometimes the logic doesn't quite work according to my wife. Example: Last night the box of Oxalic Acid I bought was on sale for $7.99 vs the regular $9.99 so I used the $2 savings towards the $29.99 1000/6000 Japanese Waterstone I wanted. For some reason she wasn't impressed by my frugal-ness. In the end, I didn't end up saving any money because forgiveness cost me another $7 for Baskin Robins ice cream.

Hey Clay, very interesting idea. If you're looking for ideas of interactive stuff for the site as well, the woodturning site I started years ago has been doing what we call the "Challenge & Trade" quarterly events. The idea behind them was to promote trying new skills, techniques and for folks to see/own the work of others they may not have been exposed to on their own. How it works is the challenge is presented to the group and sign-ups are taken. Specs like min/max size are given to ensure projects are roughly equal. Entrants are given roughly a month to complete their challenge items. 2-3 days prior to the deadline, the list of sign-ups is randomized (using the http://www.random.org/lists/ website for fairness) and then posted. On the deadline date, folks post pictures of their completed projects and then mail them to their trade partner from the list. Some examples of challenges that could work for LW.net: New Experience challenge: use a new technique, material or tool you haven't tried before in a project Interpretation challenge: take an existing theme/project and modify it to present it as a new (possibly improved) work Project specific: coasters, trading cards, a specific pattern, etc. Tool specific: create an item using only the tool/tools listed in the challenge Here's an example of what we ended up with for the "Squares" challenge: http://www.woodturnersresource.com/wrphotopost/showgallery.php?cat=524 The project was to turn a project out of a 4"x4"x4" piece of wood. The trick to it was the finished item had to have a square aspect to it, which in woodturning isn't the easiest feat.

Thanks for the link Ben, I'll check those out for my next one. Nothing wrong with getting more for less!

Here's a link to one that I have used, works nicely. My wife is a biology teacher and this is what they use in the classrooms for dissections as it doesn't dull the scalpels: http://www.smallparts.com/dynalon-116425-laboratory-specimen-cutting/dp/B004AHL3BY/ref=sr_1_4?sr=1-4&qid=1294385053

Hey Pounder, Kings X posted this on Facebook, maybe give it a try: contact Mr. Heath at howes@literidetree.com....to make sure you get the right price....put 'Kings X miniature saddle tree' in the subject line! Good luck $50 (regular is $75) Contact number is 312-515-0594

Very Nice Sierra. I have been thinking about such a project as I used to make hand turned salad bowls by the gross for a local gallery. Did you use a wood form to shape the leather? Love it, great idea.

Yep, the sizes are different but the ratios are pretty close to the same so I'd say that is probably your culprit. When I'm experimenting with a new lacing technique I'll give it a spin on some scrap to make sure I get the spacing/look I'm going for. The books usually tell you the textbook way to do things but they don't always tell you what happens if you deviate, good or bad.

Hey Highnoon, Looks like you have the right idea but on the spacing, I believe you want the distance between the holes and from the edge of the leather to be the same as the thickness of the lacing you are using. If the holes are too far apart or too far from the edge it will break up the braid as you see here similar to the way a spiders web spaces out the further it goes out. Looking at the photo, I'm guessing you used 1/4" lacing spaced about 3/8" or so from the edge? Chris P.S. - Exception to the rule above would be double and triple loop lacing. On those, if you space the lacing out further from the edge it will give cool looking 'ribs' leading to the the edge lacing.

Hey Rickey, They both look sweet but the brick wall one came out top notch! Love it. Chris

Great info! Now I just need to get a round knife...lol

Don't have the money to buy the pattern pack but it looks like a pretty nice collection. In talking to Mike about it earlier today, I had to look Bob Brown up - pretty interesting guy and his client list was packed with all of the Hollywood Western leads of days gone by. I bet he had some stories to tell. http://www.geostan.ca/brown.html

Finally got to see the video...and the price. $248?! WOW... $18 air saw from Harbor Freight $7 inline air flow regulator w/gauge $6 for drill bit to drill out the bit shaft of the saw $5 screwdriver to remove the safety cover from the top of the saw 30 minutes labor Think I'll stick with my maul....

Hey Mike, You might be having trouble selling this one due to the price. There are currently 6 copies available from various book collectors/vendors on Amazon all priced at $39.99 or less. Just thought the info might help in your effort to sell the item. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0006Y5SNO/ref=cm_cmu_pg_un

Looks more like a bank draft than a receipt from that era...interesting find Edit: Old Ebay listing for the page notes that it was a bank draft to the Curwensville Bank...likely the Leather Shop making a deposit or paying a loan. Fun stuff looking through these things and speculating what they were for. http://cgi.ebay.ph/1893-LETTERHEAD-LEATHER-SHOE-STORE-PHILADELPHIA-PA-/330381445505

I can't see the video but wood carvers have had something that could easily be adapted for leather tools for years and works with dremels, bosch, etc. high speed tools: http://www.treelineusa.com/power-carving/reciprocating

hey SouthernCross, Burgundy, Maroon and Wine colors are all derived (like any other mixed color) from the 3 primaries and a lightener/darkener: red, blue, yellow, black, white. For what you're looking for, here is a recipe using Eco-Flow I made up last month that should easily convert to Fiebing provided you can find the primary colors by them. If not, Angelus might have spirit based dyes in the colors you need as well. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=28055&view=findpost&p=176202 regards, Chris

Hi Mike, The Preval sprayers are a compressed air unit. Dyes don't need to be thinned out to use. I keep a couple handy for quick spray jobs they I don't feel the need to set up the spray gun for. I've used both spirit and eco-flo in them with no issues. Due to the nozzle being behind your hand (vs. an airbrush where the nozzle is forward) be sure to wear a glove on the preval holding hand to combat the overspray getting on you and staining your hands. Chris

Thanks Dave. Unfortunately I wouldn't know about chrome tanned leather. This bag is 6oz veg-tan throughout with kidskin lining so both are toolable. The chrome reference in my post was about the hardware.

Thanks Clay, will do.

Anyone know if the SK3 blades will fit in the Barry King handles? I have 2 of BK's knives and love the handles but could use a better blade.

Thanks Kate & Merlin, this was also a first for me as I hadn't ever made a bag using the beveled edges & angled stitching holes. Makes for a great edge but hole punching and stitching are a bit more of a pain.

My boss has a pair of binoculars that his grandfather used in WWII and a case that he used but previously belonged to another soldier. Not wanting to subject the case to further damage but still wanting to be able to use the binoculars and store them securely, he asked me to make the same case but to update it with better stitching and 100% leather instead of the cardboard/lining leather they used for the original case. So here is my recreation of the bag but in black/chrome with his family last name initial tooled into the lid. 6oz. W & C leather with 1.5oz kidskin lining on the inside of the flap. I also updated the strap from the 3-4oz. originally used to 8oz to help the new one last as long if not longer than the original. Enjoy! Chris