TimKleffner

the buttons are all different for maker to maker. If your making a strap .. you might want to take the diameter for the actual guitar Good luck Happy tooling Tim

Stephen, Have you tried to google the name of the machine company. If the machine is no longer built, you can contact a machine company and buy a standard bobbin winder Happy Tooling Tim

AZ Looks good. Thanks for the post. Practice on your stitch line. I was taught that the stitch line is the last thing on the project, yet really makes or brakes the piece. Also, practice on finishing your edges. I use lacquer on my finished pieces, then after sewing, I lightly sand, dye with dark brown or mahogany then put a light coat of lacquer back on the edge. Then I use heavy canvas to burnish the edge. Keep up the work Happy tooling Tim

Mike Depending on what type of tooling you do, check several tool makers. If you do Sheridan style , Barry King makes the best for the money. If you are doing regular western floral, may I suggest Gomp-Hackbarth tool makers. I just bought a set of bevelers from them and they are REAL nice. I think they are about $25 each or there about. Once you use hand make/ hand cut tools, you'll NEVER go back to cast/plated Tandy tools. Happy tooing Tim

Hi Corvus Yes , when you use lacquer on certain colors it runs all over and you lose color. I was talking with Chan Geer the other night about this he suggest using Bee Natural RTC. This water base product does not make it 'run at all'. As for the fading, we didn't talk about that, he doesn't use much of the other colors ...only black. Hope this helps Tim

Jo I know that I'm not that computer literate, But , I have yet to find what your talking about. I went down to the bottom of the page and don't see anything your talking about. What page are you talking about ?

Hi PB I like both of your pieces. Your lines flow nicely. Work on your bar grounders. It takes a bit of work, but it will be well worth it. one of the things I see is that you may have had your leather a bit too damp when you started your bar grounding. Happy Tooling Tim

Jordan, Have you tried to contact your convention bureau and visitors center and asked them where to start. I bet they would have all the info your looking for. I know that convention centers are in the business to make money, I would say they would be wiling to help you make money and them make money! Happy tooling Tim

HI Corvus I have used Fiebings dyes for years now and have also had the same problems. Green is terrible about the sun fading. There must be something in the pigments that washes out. You may want to go to Fiebings web site and send them a e mail. I don't use Green that much. The fading is one of the reasons. Blues and blacks yellows also seem to wash as lacquer is applied to it. Good luck Happy Tooling Tim

Vikti, Last time I was there , there was almost nothing in the store. I called Ron a month ago, he had no leather in the store. George Hurst is now working for Tandy. MAYBE ....... something....... is not happy in leather ville Happy Tooling Tim

Howdy Steve, That's a nice saddle . Thanks for sharing with us. Happy tooling Tim

Howdy Paul There are several holster makers in here that are from the TX area. I know one of them is up in the Waco/Fort Worth areas. I bet if you peek around in the forums you'll run across someone Happy Tooling Tim Corpus Christi

KW That's great! make sure you keep them forever. you can show them to here when she's in her 20's and everyone will have good time. Keep on tooling Tim

Kate, Thank you very much for the posting and have seen my fair share of whiners. I'm fully aware of all the work that goes into this project upgrade. Keep up the good work both you TimKleffner

Bob , As always...... you really put out some nice work. I was looking at your turned edge and was going to remark about that , BUT , that has already happened. Where did you get the buffalo at ? I bought some the first of the year from Leather Guy Buffalo [?] and still have not done any thing with it. I like that color you used. Thanks for sharing Tim

MH, Welcome to the site. As you can see, there's been some remodeling going on and also a new coat of paint. Any time we can help out ...... send a note Happy tooling Tim

Josh Nice work on your completed belt! Sounds like you got your progression down. Sounds / Looks like it works for you. Keep up the good work ! Happy Tooling Tim

Hi Marlon, This is real nice . Good work. thanks for sharing Happy Tooling Tim

HI JO YOU caught me off gaurd!!! Looks great ... Good Luck to all of us who support LW Happy Tooling Tim

Tim I AM... IMPRESSED.... beautiful ...... thanks for sharing Happy Tooling Tim

MM22 I like your tooling and your project! Looks great. I see that you have a stitch line in place. My feelings are that do all your dying and finishing and antiquing before you put a stitch line down. What happens is that the antique will clump up in your stitch line and had you used a light thread, you would have a discolored thread, which WILL be U G L Y. Your doing nice work. keep a progression going ... tooling, dying , oiling, lacquer [or other finish], then antique then Fiebings Tan-Kote. Have you thought about a reversed antique? If you dye dark, antique with a light product. When I tool a black project [basket weave or tooled] at times I have black and a touch of white acrylic paint that I thin abit with Tan-Kote. Gives the tooling a ghost shadow. Some customers like it some don't ... I buy a good acrylic paint at Micheal's or Hobby Lobby. I have one tube of white. and several other colors ie... dark red , midnight blue. Tool a piece on scrap and give it a whirl. Kind of fun to play! Happy Tooling Tim

I agree with Tim, I tape my leather prior to casing, overlap the packing tape , then , I rubber cement the taped piece to a piece of acrylic. I have different size pieces but most of them are about 3/8 thick. I use the acrylic for rigidity , but , also, I use weights to keep the piece from slidding around the bench and keeps the tools from going thru the thin leather and damaging my tool faces. Happy tooling TimKleffner

KW If it is WC, you might contact the dealer that you bought it from, explain your problem, they will most likely replace it with no problems. Herman Oak and Wickett/Craig leathers don't act that way. If you call, most they can say is YES, we'll replace it. sure is worth the price of a phone call. Happy Tooling Tim

Howdy Robin When I was up in Sheridan WY, Bob Klenda had pattern packs for sale. I bet if you bought on and give him a call he would walk you thru via phone. Bob Klenda........ 970.878.5382 Meeker, CO Happy tooling Tim

Howdy Tom When I'm doing my final finishing, I edge the leather , then take a small dauber with dark brown spirit dye. After that, I take a small dauber in lacquer and apply it to the edge. I take a piece of canvas and keep everything wiped down. After dry, I use my home made burnisher, on the drill press, and run up the speed put a bit of paraffin on the tool, then burnish the edge. If you feel you need more smooth, I sand the edge and again a light coat of dye and lacquer. then again buff the edge. Happy tooling Tim