Somawas

Beautiful carving.

I asked for and received one of Gary's prototypes-the walnut ones. Got it last Friday, in time to use for the dog collars I made on Saturday. It took me a little getting used to, as I ahve previously done all burnishing by hand. But once I got used to holding it steady and keeping the leather in the slot, it did a great job. Made quick work of my collars, and gave me a nicely compressed edge with only the moisture left over from casing/stamping the leather.

I'd be willing to try it. I anticipate making a bunch of dog collars for a charitable fundraiser starting this weekend.

I've worked out how to do the divider. When in doubt, I suppose, go to the luggage store and look at what other people have done. The exterior of my bqag is cut from 8-9 oz cowhide. I've cut a divider of 4-5 oz. It's about 3/8" smaller than the exterior. I'm attac hing stips down each side of the divider, but not the bottom. The side strips will be sewn to the back of the bag, inset about 3/8" from the outside edge. Then the gusset sewn onto the back with a stitcjh line a little less than 1/4" from the edge. No split in the gusset needed, and the bottom stays flat.

Other than a bunch of washing, try some Nature's Miracle. It comes from the pet stores and costs about $10/quart. My wife uses it with the laundry and it gets the odor of pet urine out.

I used that same leather for a possibles bag. It is really cool stuff. Pretty easy to stitch, too.

Far better than I could have done. I don't like to paint stuff. I have gotten better at carving, but I'm not a painter. Looks great to me.

Also there is doverbooks. Lots of collections of clip art in book and CD form. Royalty free.

I have never tried it with leather, but I've done it on cloth. Sprinkle a heavy layer of baby powder over the over oiled area. Let it sit overnight, then brush the powder off. Talc absorbs oil.

I had also considered doing a Mexican basketweave lacing over all of the edges if I split the gusset. Which would, I think, look really pretty. Unfortunately, the way that lace wears, I'd probably ahve to relace the whole thing about once a year, so now I'm thinking I won't do that.

I've had a couple of thoughts about how to do the divider. 1. Split the gusset. 2. Cut the gusset about 1/2" wider than I want and the divider about 1/4" to 1/2" smaller than the front and the back. Run a line down the gusset and use it as a stitich line so I'm sewing through the gusset, the divider, and the other side of the gusset, solding the gusset around the edge of the divider. 3. Split the gusset and stitch everything in the usual manner, but back about 1/4" to 3"8" from the edges of the front and back. Glue a second gusset at the top of each side and then sew the outer gusset on 1/8" inset stitch lines. 4. Sew a tab to the divider and then cement and sew the tab to the gusset. (though that will make a stitch line outside the bag. My laptop is barely an inch thick. I really want a divider so the laptop will be held securely, without padding, and there will still be room for both laptop accessoriews as well as papers.

Rayban is right. Except that I have already cut the leather for mine. 12" x 18". My laptop is big. And mine is going to be lined. I've already bought the pigskin. And I have a divider planned for it. And I keep looking at patterns for tooling. It's turning into a huge project. I might be better off making it and then making a nother one just so I can improve.

I see that you're in Raleigh. Stop by the Tandy store in north Raleigh and we'll give you more help than you want.

This thread is crying out for some not very family friendly puns.

I've started work on a laptop bag, after being inspired by another guy on this board. I've cut all of my exterior panels and selected my tooling patterns. I've also purchased some nice pigskin for liing the interior. What I have in mind is to install at least one interior pocket and to install oen divider so that the back of the bag is a narrow compartment for a laptop computer and the front compartment suitable for accessories, like power cords, as well as papers, etc. Ihave cut a gusset about 2 1/2" wide for the back compartment. I cut a second piece a shade over 7" wide, figuring I could always narrow it later, for the front compartment. The outside panels of my bag are approximately 12" x 18" as I have 17" laptops. I was planning on doing the panel edges with round or Mexican Basketweave, braiding, just because I think it will look nice. So, should I stitch three layers together in the middle (back compartment gusset, divider, front compartment gusset), or should I cut the divider panel smaller than the outside panels, use the wide gusset, and fold the wide gusset around the divier, stitiching it that way? Which would be better, stronger, or more professional looking?

I cemented a lining leather to a project I've been working on. Got a bit of contact cement (Tandy Tanner's Bond, the stuff in the can) on the work. How do I remove it? Would their "universal thinner" for rubber/copntact cement help?

Could some of you cowboy types explain to me the purpose of this piece of gear? Are cowboy cuffs just for pretty or do they serve a utilitarian purpose?

Borrow a copy of Bruce Grant's Leather Braiding. Lots of easy braids.

One more question-where did you get the clasp? I'm working on a laptop bag right now, and I like those clasps.

I really like the bag. Nice work. What does the interior look like?

Yes. a simple 3L x 4B turk's head in latigo, doubled or doubled twice is the scout's "woggle."