Spinner

Yep, a standard bench top press will work just fine. You can pick them up at any Tandy for the nice gear action ones or you can go a little bit less expensive and get one from Harbor Freight for about $40. Tandy: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/3990-00.aspx?feature=Product_3&kw=press Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-ton-arbor-press.html Just found one from Sears that is a cam action like the Tandy one: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00974879000P?mv=rr&i_cntr=1288799001555

That's crazy. I love how 'designers' spin things too: Um, it's called poke-a-dot.

Hey Crash, Good job on the sale, congrats! On the shipping, I'd recommend against regular USPS shipping. As of late they have been having many problems with packages to Europe (customs issues) and I just had a package returned after it sat in UK customs for 10 days unopened. They didn't try to contact anyone or attempt delivery, just returned it because they were bored of it or something. I found out when sending it back out that USPS has a new-ish service that they contract with FedEx. It costs a little more than USPS but is much less than going directly to FedEx or UPS or DHL. It's called Global Express International Guranateed with FedEx. They have their own special envelope (free from the post office). What happens is the USPS handles it while it's in the states and as soon as it leaves US Customs FedEx handles the overseas travel and delivery which avoids the normal customs route. Chris

Thanks Meleck, it was turned on a Powermatic 3520A lathe with original Jerry Glaser A-11 tools (not the new Glaser Hitec garbage the folks that bought his name are making). Turning the goblets aren't as bad as it would appear if you know the process. I have had to teach & do demos on how to turn them using a Jet mini in the past if you can believe that... I did receive your order and confirmed it today. I should have them in the mail to you tomorrow afternoon if all goes well. Thanks!

I have experimented with that idea actually Ray. I don't have pictures unfortunately but the one I was playing with was a cigarrette and lighter combo clutch. I took a piece of 1/2" thick panelling (poplar I believe) and cut the shapes I wanted for the cig pack and lighter. I then cut another piece that was a little larger than the size of the back piece and glued them all together in the right spots. Once in place, it was simply a matter of wet molding, working from the indention between the two 'forms' to the outsides. I used binder clips to hold down the edges and press the corners and it worked nicely.

Good to hear Richard!

Just thought I would pass along some info I found while browsing the web today. Even though we're not frequently the target of hacks and viruses, Mac users are being targeted more often lately as Apple gains market share. Here's a free anti-virus suite for home use that is put together by SOPHOS, a reputable business class anti-virus & security company. No connection to them, just passing along the info & free stuff. http://www.sophos.com/products/free-tools/free-mac-anti-virus/ Chris

The wet molded version sounds similar to this tank bib pocket I made only doubled up so it folds in on itself. I think it would work nicely and should be easy enough to make with a wooden form.

RE: Tooling the Harley Logo, etc. Keep in mind though, that: "In order for a work to qualify as a derivative work it must be independently copyrightable." From Woods v Bourne, 60 F. 3d 978 (2d Cir. 1995) There we held that "there must be at least some substantial variation [from the underlying work], not merely a trivial variation." Batlin, 536 F.2d at 491 Simply applying the logo to a different medium (tooling it on leather) does not qualify it as a derivative work if all of the artistic elements aside from the medium remain the same. Doing so places you in jeopardy of Trademark infringement (the Harley logo itself is a Trademark, not a copyrighted work of art) if upon presenting the item to the general public, a reasonable person could mistake it as officially licensed products of the company. However, here's the loophole: A disclaimer expressly declaring that the seller is "not affiliated" with the owner of the trademark or is "not an authorized distributor" of the trademark owner's products has been held to be an effective means of preventing confusion in the minds of consumers as to affiliation with the owner of the trademark. ---------- For conchos & such, I fully agree and here is another defense for their use in our work: Lee v. Deck the Walls, Inc, 925 F.Supp. 576 (N.D.Ill.1996), ART made no changes, alterations, reproductions, transformations, or adaptations of the notecards and, instead, resold the same notecards using a different method of display. This resale is permissible under the Copyright Act. We are simply reselling the conchos. The fact that they are attached to a saddle or bag or otherwise doesn't matter. Want to play it safe? List the bag, saddle, etc. separately from the conchos on your invoices.

I didn't know Drac, but it's a sad thing when someone decides to end their life early. Best wishes to his friends and family.

Just throwing this out there but what about cases that look like a pair of saddle bags? stitch the backs together so that the throw over bridge becomes a loop/handle...just a thought. Could then be made as complicated or as simple as desired.

I have noticed that one some of the double cap rivets. The problem is if they are too long, the shaft will simply bend and not mushroom correctly. if they are too short, well they simply don't hit the cap and won't mushroom either. First solution is as Dirtclod mentioned...get a bigger hammer and strike solidly against a solid surface like a granite or marble slab. Trying to set them on wood will not give sufficient support for them to impact the cap. If this is still a problem, take the large version, measure the length needed (thickness of the materials + the depth of the cap) and use a pair of wire cutters to trim the shaft to the right length. In situations where strength and security are necessary, I would go with a rivet & burr combo instead of the double caps. They don't have quite the same finished look but you'll have one hell of a time removing it let alone ever having one pull loose. http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/11280-00.aspx?feature=Product_11&kw=burr you'll need a different type of setter for these as well: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/8110-01.aspx

Hey Lori, The first picture looks like a rivet staple: http://www.standardrivet.com/rivets-staples/rivet-staples/36-rivet-staples.php and the second pic looks like standard copper rivets (note the green patina typical of copper & brass): http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/11280-01.aspx?feature=Product_4&kw=copper

No problem Jerry. I got the order and am heading out to the shop now so they'll likely be in the mail tomorrow. Not sure what UK customs hits folks for...maybe one of the other UK owners can chime in? Thanks for the order!

Hey Jerry, I actually updated the webpage for them to allow folks to add International Shipping (selection at the bottom of the page) to make things easier. Just choose the burnishers you want and then select the appropriate amount of shipping (based on the number of burnishers) at the bottom of the webpage. Here's the burnisher web page: http://tmcleather.weebly.com/ Chris

For 95% of leatherworking purposes, the .43 or .44 will do the job. With fitting up to 1/4" bits, you should be able to handle sanding, drilling, burnishing, etc. all with ease. Many of my carving buddies like the .44 due to the extra length, it's fits nicely in the hand. Personally, I tend to grip tighter so the smaller size of the .43 works better for me. The .30 is heavier, longer and only chucks bits up to 5/32" and it costs $5 more...skip it.

Thanks! It can get pretty crazy doing the long ones as you end up turning with one hand while the other is supporting the stem from behind so it doesn't flex. A buddy of mine from the UK has done them this thin in excess of 3 feet long with larger cups on them. Pretty cool to see too as they will gently sway in the light breeze from central air or a room fan.

Thanks BWL!

Nothing overly fancy, but it fills a niche that hasn't really been addressed that I can find. One of the issues with a motorcycle is the lack of cup holders and for some reason the aftermarket companies think the handlebars are a good spot for one. So, inspired by one a buddy cobbled together, I improved on his idea (with his permission) and came up with these. Already have a handful of orders for them after only being online for about 5 hours. Sometimes things work out that way! Folks seem to like is that it is easily accessible but out of the way should they ride with a passenger without having to change anything aside from moving the bottle.

Awesome info and offer Frank, thanks! PM on the way.

Thanks TwinOaks. I'm checking with him now but I believe it's a .44 with an 8" bbl. I did make him a possibles pouch 2 years ago but probably need to make a new one as the original one was my first bag ever. He's bought one or two at BP meets too I think.

Thanks for the feedback Deb. I wasn't sure how it went with the IFoLG donation but figured they were in good hands. Like I mentioned, I can turn pretty much as thin as one would want me to but I don't know how they'll hold up. I'll be doing a bit of turning in the shop this weekend so I'll make one up and see how it works out for burnishing. To give you an idea of what I used to do as far as thin turnings: The one on the left has a stem that is 1/8" in diameter over a 9" run with beads every 1 1/2" and a captive ring. So turning thin isn't a problem.

Hey Folks, My dad just randomly mentioned "it's too bad we don't live closer as a custom holster for my 1860 Army Colt revolver would be nice to have". Can you say major Christmas hint? Anyway, as he said, we live about 1200 miles apart and I don't have access to his or anyone else's guns. I don't typically do holsters but it sounds like he really wants one for Christmas like the style in the attached photos. Does anyone have patterns for this and maybe a slim jim style that fit the 1860 Army Colt that they would be willing to pass on? Or if someone can suggest a book with a full size pattern for it would work as well. Or...do they make a blue gun of this model? Thanks for any help y'all can provide! Chris

Welcome to LW from another Chris. I'm sure most folks stumble onto new hobbies the same way but either way you're in good company. Don't know much about horse saddles but there are plenty that do here. And just remember, the only dumb questions are the ones you ask when you're drunk!

Yep, Stohlman shows a couple of different techniques in How to Carve Leather for trees and shrubbery. Even now it's still a go-to book for me.