Slickbald

I need a new head knife. I'm not spending a dime on stainless steel blades. Does anyone out there make a head knife with high carbon tool steel? I'm looking for a Rockwell above 55. Pretty doesn't count-

Hmmm, motorized leather bench. I can do that! I've been playing with the idea for a few years of taking an old panel truck and making a mobile shop I could take to events, but that's money I haven't made yet! LOL Here are better pics of the my tooling bench. Hope if provides fodder for your ideas!

There are soooo many ways. I used what I had in the shop and made one I could roll into the truck as I like to take my tooling outside to get out of my dark shop. If you look past the draw down stand in the picture, you'll see my tooling bench. It's a standard wire utility cart with the benchtop hinged to it in the front. The top is a butcher block maple top I salvaged off an old work bench. I can pick it up and prop it at about a 30 deg. angle to work if needed or gain access to the tray underneath. I bore 300 or so 3/8" holes and a few 1/2" holes for stamps/tools. I put a frame around the back half to contain my stuff and hang other tools like a rotary punch, knives, fat handled modling tools, etc. I have an air regulator and a power strip attached to it as well. Lights, etc. This type of cart is inexpensive and modular (to add or remove shelves). I think I paid less than $50 for the cart new. The bench top can be as expensive as you'd like, just don't use partical board or OSB. Hardwood is prefered. GlobalIndustrial.com is the least expensive place to get the cart and top if you are looking for new. Good luck!

Okay team- I've recently gotten back into commercial work (primairily in the fetish community) and still find myself struggling with how much to charge. If I make a collar (tooled, lined, full color, billet buckel straps, etc) and have 8 hours in it, is $200-$225 reasonable? Too little? I don't ask if it's too much as my customers aren't complaining! At the same time, I don't want to come accross as "full of my self with that price" or greedy. This is part time now so it's not like my living depends on it, but it is my goal to have a brick and mortar shop in or around 2012. (supplies as well, I'm not thinking just making will make a living at this point) From a business perspective, being self employed at $25 p/h is pretty friggin cheap, but I don't want to price myself out of a market. The maker I trained under gets 4 figures for a hollywood type holster and can make it in two days fully carved, but he has people tracking him down, reputation and all. I don't have that yet, so where does a good but unknown maker/artist start? The sample in the pic sold for $200 and was air brushed. In line?

@cybertracy- great idea! I've used the prodcut on mechanics tools and never even thought of it. Tool Dip can be had at just about any hardware store. That leather mache looks pretty interesting as well!

Being a bit arthritic, I've found that pencil grips work great to add girth to my stamps and tools. If the tool is too small in diameter, I'll wrap vinyl (electricians) tape around the shaft until it fits the grip. You may also head to the hardward store and see if you can find some polyurathane (or other) tubing that has the right ID. To put it on, assuming the ID is (ideally) a tad smaller than the tool, get the end of the tube on, and then blow air into the other end with a blow gun nozzle. When the escaping air blows through the end with the tool in it, it slides right on. Good luck!

Are they going to publish printed catlogs? I stopped getting them when they closed the Denver store a few years ago. I was very sorry to see Andy leave. Glad to hear they are making a comeback.

Very nice! When did halters become "head collars"? I've been out of the horse world for a while; just curious.

Hi all! I kind of did this in the "show off" thread but... I've been at this for many years with, until recently, little instruction. Mostly I've learned through trial and error with occasional input from the two or three makers I know around here. I've finally (afer 10 years) managed to attend the Pleasant Valley Saddle School. The best class I could have taken on making. I'd like to find some classes to improve my carving and tooling skills next. I look forward to chating with and learning from you all! Oo-Rah~ I've included a couple of pics of my first saddle.

Hi all! I'm new to the site and thought this would be a good place to start! I've been at this a long while, but on my own for the most part so I don't know many people in the industry. I'm very much looking forward to "meeting" all of you and learning from this site! This is an art supply case I did for my daughter.