Ludite

All advice in any shape or form will always be welcome. Thanking You Kindly Paul

Check out the how to do`s section excellent tutorial "How I Make a Belt " is pinned there!!

Are you sure your don`t come from Kent !!! You might not be too bad then! .But there is still that Herbert from the colonies ! Boadicea is responsible for the bloody dog anyway; the Britains breed them for War Dogs. Slobbered to death I don`t think so, this bugger weighs in at 15 1/2 stone (215 lbs). Now how do we get a ferry to this place called Texas!

Hello Uncle Ray ,you got bother with the natives !! The lads down in Darkest Sussex will be only too happy to sort the buggers out for you, we will even bring the dog !!! he needs some vitamins Anyway we need a bit of practice before the bonfire season starts , this Celt bloke sounds like he comes from Kent !!!! REGARDS THE LADS

Well having just looked at your web site young Mr Jordan WOW!!!! I can only dream of becoming any where near as good as yourself ! Mind you I`ve only been addicted to leather for 18 months . Thanks for adding the link Thanking You Kindly Paul

I see quite a few threads for some form of padding for lap top cases gun slips so on and so forth. Looking at the pic ! worked out what it is 24" x 84" 1/2" thick £2.50 or approx $1.60 worth. Back packers sleeping mat!! obtainable at any outfitters , cheaper at Walmat ,comes in different thicknesses cuts easy,contact glues not a problem.. I didn`t get the tech bit right but you can turn the screen around if you must!!! Regards Paul

You can do that no problem! Usually the front is about two thirds of the total leather weight ,because this is the piece that is carved and you need a bit of meat . Normally if not tooled people stick to this convention . Having said that there is no reason way you can`t use two 6/7 oz `s By the sound of you question your more of a Newbie than me! so if you have not got,get these books please for some bed time reading from Tandy . Belts Galore by AL Stolman The Art of Hand Sewing Leather Leather Craft Tools :How to Use Them , How to Sharpen Them They will show what tools you need and designs patterns and finishes I make up an Idiot List for all my projects detailing the important steps in order ,So you can avoid shouting YOU IDIOT!"££$%^&&&^^% because you forgot something simple or little but the hole project is buggered!! TIP : When you have sewn the two 6/7`s together try to avoid bending the belt until metal work etc is fitted then wet in inside and form over large cardboard tude, saucepan works well ! this will reduce the wrinkles that will appear in some form or other Glue use a good contact glue barge tanner bond light thin coats ,two or three times are better than one thick glob! and let it dry !! When lining up to stick I place wax paper between the two pieces and pull away as I move along the belt sticking, then scrap leather between work and hammer, hammer the glue joints I now sand edges 80 grit and then use an edging tool back and front..now then hard work burnishing and finishing... Regards Paul

Rant Over !! Now If anybody finds themselves in need of a bolt pouch ,no holster sounds better "Bolt Holster" here`s my basic pattern change do as you will hope its of use BOLT_HOLSTER.pdf Regards Paul BOLT_HOLSTER.pdf

Most mens belt I`ve made are 9/10oz butt veg tan. For a lined gun belt I try to keep the combined leather weight to 12/13oz any heavier and physical weight and comfort start to become a problem.. couple of pic`s shotgun cartridge belt, this is 9oz front and 4oz lining and this is a heavy belt at 13oz leather weightOh! I only glue the edges about 1/2" Hope this helps Paul

As I said there prototypes the gamekeeper wanted a ten shot and being belt mounted the big long flap didn`t work . I could do a 5 by 5 version AL-la boxes and cases Vol 1 by uncle AL. you know the one that folds down! As for the bolt pouch In Sussex the state I live in you need about 2,000 arces of permissions (written permits to shot on private land) a Lilly white record , not mad ,and no recent separations oh an not terminally ill just to put an application in for a .22 ...... ......Soon you will need a permit to scratch your ..."£$%%^..... Plus there trying to ban knifes I make them too!!! I`am off to sit in a darkened room for a little while.....!""£$%^^^&&&***(()(*&$........ Paul

You have just answered one of my many problems ,a dye with good covering power.. If you looked at "six month`s in the woods" you will see the Nasty Bison Brown !! Now to see if they will ship to the UK! Or do you kind folk know of an importer.. Thanking You All Kindly Paul

Thank you all for the comments most welcome, now answers to question first off. rdb:on the back of the ammo pouch there`s two 1 1/2" belt loops the flaps are an extension of the back panel same as pic. Next! UKray:Yes I do use veg-tan and dip dye in Tandy ECO-FLO dyes the darker colours have very poor covering ability, thou Canyon Tan I used on the Shotgun Six and six month`s practice comes up much better. I`ve learnt ,if you want a clean consistent tone you have to use the very best quality leather you can getjust look at the loops on the left a heavy grain which showed up after dying!! So I`ll drop you line to take up you offer.. For Now I`ve ordered some Fiebings Oil Based dye`s I`ll give them a go ! Onwards Regis:The second two bolt pouch`s in Bison Brown (dark) are lined two protect the bolt I used 1oz pig skin so far the gun oil has had a negligible effect on the lining`s but time will tell veg tan just drinks it up and you get a bloody mess in no time. As for the Bison Brown it was the first time I used it ,for distressed look ok ! you live and learn and they have held up to daily use quite well.. Thanking You Kindly Paul

A few pics of what I call prototypes given to gamekeepers.The idea being ,there out in the elements day in day out. I wanted see how my work would fare. These are bolt pouch`s In the UK when you come to anywhere land has public access you must remove your bolt from your rifle, or for that matter the rifle locked in trunk of your car the bolt must be removed and stay with the guns owner so : the bolt pouch.. Ten shot bullet pouch 0.243 : A caliber normally used on Fallow Deer and Roe Deer.. They seemed to have faired well ! what do you think?A smarter version might sell? Regards to All Paul

My thanks to you all, this give me a start in the right direction: I know tools alone will not give me the results I`am looking for but using the right style of tools removes one of the many variables, the rest is down to me . Practice,practice,practice.. Thanking you Kindly Paul

You think you have problems with a finish for a DOG collar,Hopper as me is affectionately known,when not trashing the place Slobbers, drawls. It quite common for 18" tendrils with encrusted biscuits. I enclose pic to show what my problem boy looks like (9 months old in the pic ) Kindest Regards Paul

Thanks My first port of call, really appreciate the help Thanking You Kindly Paul

I`ve just started floral carving in the Sheridan style ! The results shall we say are below par ,but with lot of practice things should improve. I have noticed how flat the carving is compared to the masters and it seems my problem is carftools, the angles on the bevelers and undershots are different .Leaf liners different,and so on .. So to the point can you gentle folk recommend a maker/s If they have a web-site the better as this fool lives in the UK so I can acquire the correct tool for the correct job Regards Paul

The pictures are holder and belt for 12 gauge shot gun cartridges for the same client .Holder six shot: the front panel is 9oz backing 6oz loops are 4-5oz and brass rivets every three because the loop is one continuous length any wider spacing causes the loops to slack off when you bend the the belt. belt uses the same weights of leather. the reason for the holder , bigger shot saves hunting around in pockets .In the the belt there`s about three yards of saddle stitching so if you need the practice !! Loop slots cut with 1 1/2 inch oblong every inch. Why so wide? the lad have a bad back. can`t stop a keen sportsman!! Regards Paul

Considering I`ve only just been dragged in the 21st century 18 months ago I think I`am doing ok ! So what if a couple of laptops where launched through the window , the third does not count that only had an identity crises and the man from Dell had to speak to IT!! Thank God for the simpler things life ; the next project..Hand Bag to keep the good lady on side.. Regards To All Paul

Thanks for the welcome TwinOaks . I wish I had found the site sooner.There`s so much info to be had, I`ll be weeks just browsing. The good lady has already muttered something along the lines "you still on that machine!" looking forward to many a happy hour.. Thanking you kindly Paul

Hello to all, yet another victim to that incurable plague! Leatherwork!! It`s strange how you look at Hand bags, Cases anything thats leather when out and about , you can`t stop yourself.. If one is not carefully ,one could get arrested on a charge of leather fondling.Anyway The bug bit about a year ago, hopefully if I get this tech stuff right there will be a couple of pic`s of what I`am up at the moment .. [a ttachment=25783:100_0153...edited_1.jpg]