TimKleffner

Tim When I melt waxes, I try to use a double boiler. This gives better control of the temperature. BE PATIENT! Ya don't need a remodel to your kitchen when the wax overheats and does REALLY BAD stuff. Happy melting Tim

JIMBOB I use Jim Downey Lace. He specializies in kangaroo in various sizes and colors Jim Downey .... 928 925 3365 His prices are REAL reasonable Happy tooling Tim

Timothy I would like to see your pockets. Keep up the good work Tim

Howdy Arno That's real nice braiding. YOu've got more patience than I do. KEEP it up Tim

Timothy, You've done a real nice piece there! Great fabrication. EVOO.... you've been watching Rachel Ray again haven't you? L O L ! Glad to see your work Keep it up Happy Tooling Tim

Ya Pay for what you get ! and get what you pay for! Spend the money once and get GOOD tools that will last your life-time and maybe your children life time. Happy Tooling Tim

Lael There are really GOOD water based products out there. Tandy carried Fiebings products for years and stopped carrying them when the found this 'Eco-flo' stuff. I AM a die hard Fiebings products user. I make black cell phone cases and badge wallets for a bunch of the area law enforcement. It's all black! I basket each product, oil it, dye it, with Black USMC spirit dye, then buff off all excess. I use FIEBINGS acrylic resolene. I take a cup of resolene, 1/2 cup water and mix well. I submerse the product, with a dauber, I gently scrub inside and out. I pull it out, wipe it down with a piece of t-shirt, then set it aside to dry. Couple hours later, I gently buff it again, buff out my edges, then set my snaps. SINCE I have gone to this process, I have NO complaints. I get them back several years later when the officer has a new cell phone, and they appear worn , BUT , NO COMPLAINTS. This is what I do. Happy tooling Tim

Best suggestion is to contact your local sewing machine repair person or call the company you got the roller foot from and ask the questions of their tech people Tim

Johanna Thanks for the reminder, checks in the mail ... I won't be able to afford this one this year Happy Tooling Tim

Thanks Bob , Good info. I'm going down town and will stop by the glass/plastics shop. Tim

Bruce Thanks for the info ... that will come in handy. I'm wanting to try a rope can after Sept. Where are you getting your handles or are you making them? Happy tooling Tim

I buy my 100% rag vellum from Office Depot. I believe that any office supply house will have or can order the product Tim

Howdy Yan What I do is draw or trace my pattern onto 100% rag vellum. It's a engineering grade tracing paper. After I trace the pattern, I spray the back with clear fixative. that makes the paper water resistant. I cut my leather a bit over size then tape it on the back, then apply a thin coat of rubber cement to the back and to a piece of plexiglass. After that's applied, I case [dampen] [not wet] my leather, let it rest for about 5 minutes, then take the tracing and center it on the leather and use blue masking tape and tape around close to the cut edge on one side. I take another colored pen, begin my tracing on one side and work from either left to right and top to bottom. The paper will dampen and stretch a bit , just take your time. with the taped paper in place, gently lift the paper up and peak once and a while to make sure you have all your lines drawn in. That's what I do, hope it works for you Happy tooling Tim

Steve I make law enforcement type badge wallets. I use a heavy grade clear plastic that is used on convertible cars. I cut the plastic to what I want, mark the plastic with a stylus, then gently sand with 120 grit paper and put just enough to hold my window pane in place, let it dry and then I sew. Hope this works for ya Happy tooling Tim

Stu I think your onto something. I like your idea. Hope you don't mind if I use your idea and give it a try Happy Tooling Tim

Butch I don't know if your looking for leather mauls or mallets. I found that I use a leather handled polyester face maul. I have a shelf of Barry King mauls. They have a nice balance ... other mauls out there is Wayne Jusechke, Elko NV. Happy Tooling Tim

David Don't feel bad it takes me better part of the day to do one also. Just hang in there, speed comes, work as fast as you can, but work as WELL as you can. Happy Tooling Tim

WOW! BOB What a great tutorial! You've got GREAT technique. Do you draw the pattern directly onto the leather? Butchkitty.........You ARE seeing world class talent! Thank you Bob Tim

Hey Steve REMEMBER to put some sandpaper to the plastic before applying for better adhesion. Don't think there is any thing 'less harsh' that will make a permanent 'stick'. Happy Tooling Tim

Bob, your probably right! I don't own a Leather Wrangler or BK swivel knife. I know that even the Chuck Smith jig won't work on my Lancer or Henley knives. I have to put a bit of tape on the shaft to shim both blades up in the Smith jig. Good Point.

Dustin I looked up on the web and did not see Chuck Smith Tools web site. In the Shop Talk magazine, he's got an add. Chuck Smith Tools P O Box 2647 Valley Center CA 92082. 760.749.5755 I'd give them a call ... either Chuck or Lana [his wife] will help you out. The Arkansas stone came from Hall Arkansas Stones 501.525.8595 I bought a black and a translucent stone and each does something different. They have a web site just google the name and give them a call their off on Monday's or Fridays. the owner was very helpful Stropping is a practiced thing, pull back and lift straight up and take the blade back to the top and pull back again. I made a nice strop block from thin 2-3 leather and glued it to a piece of 3x6 inch plexiglass and keep it right next to the piece being cut and use it regularly. Happy Tooling Tim Good point Bob, I didn't think about that... I don't own a Barry King knife or blade.

Dustin I have multiple swivel knives and I contacted Chuck Smith several years ago and bought a blade sharpening jig from him. It's the best one I've owned and worth the price. I bought a high end black stone for sharpening and touch up every couple months. STROP STROP STROP! Happy tooling Tim

I was in the 'manage your attachments' section. I thought I would clean up the upload space ... I hit the delete button, and it deleted all photo attachments that I had posted over the months. They are now 'lost in space' and no way to retrieve them. I contacted management, Johanna said she 'may' be able to retrieve, she would have to hunt them down. DON'T hit the DELETE button ... you'll lose the ranch. Happy tooling Tim

Thanks Bob for the tutorial. It is great to see Craftsmen of your caliber sharing your knowledge with the next generation. Thank you for walking me thru your process setting the silver centers. Great to have you on board. Tim

Be careful ... Don't hit the delete button. All posted photos were lost! Tim