TTcustom

I can only reinforce what Bara and Echo said. This was the same procedure I followed. I used cotton balls for a while but the flannel "gun patches" worked best for me. Soft flannel cloth or diapers seemed to be the most popular I seem to remember. Keeping the polish to a minimum in the creases was important. All of the cheating methods would wind up giving you a cracking boot that was useless. Pretty cool that this is the methodology around the world.

Hidecrafters also has heart stamps.

Your statement is true but knowing the particulars of my application and how it was utilized I have no fear about the safety of my feet. Thanks for your input though.

My top is covered with black neoprene rubber. It is 3ish' x 2' and has a 12"x18"x3" stone set into it. I only painted the sides for aesthetics. since I am a rough carpenter this was like putting a bow on a pig. The top was framed with 2x4's and covered with 3/4" MDF. I have zero bounce and low noise when tooling. It is all about the mass! I think I posted a picture of it here somewhere.

Thanks Doc! Now if I can only figure out the mystery of the horn wrap. Me and the Stohlman's aren't seeing eye to eye. I can't believe that this horn is any different from anything they had seen.

I split apart the handle of my osborne stitching awl, it was overtightened. Since I can't throw anything away and I had my horn caps to stitch I remade it using a small antique door knob for the haft. The Osborne collet insert fit in perfectly with a little drilling and locked in positively with a 8-32 stainless socket head screw. So I guess I am green, not cheap!

Made this stamp as a quick and easy way to do the borders on my saddle and stirrup leather. Needs some minor tweaking I think but I like how it turned out.

I am starting on my saddle and now I have more reason to get some of my stamp ideas into metal. This is the stamp I am going to use on my stirrup leathers and as a general border around the skirts. I made this prototype out of a 1 inch aluminum block. I am pretty happy with how it looks and next will final machine one out of stainless.

What the heck happened to Hidecrafters? I was just on the website (tried IE and Firefox in case it was a browser thing) and I could not place a online order. I wondered if this was just me or is there an issue with their website again.

Wow really excellent! I wish I didn't have a dozen different projects going because I would add chinks to that list... oh what the heck now I want to make myself a pair!

I did the same thing as Pete. I put some barge cement on a strip of leather and then wrapped it around a cord. I put a stitching groove in it and hand sewed it. I am a glutton for punishment I guess and I don't have a machine. When I was restoring a car a few years back I need a door seal made from the same material I cover the seats. I took the material to the upholsterer and he had a "half foot" on his sewing machine. It was like a normal presser foot but with one side almost ground off. He wrapped the material around a foam rope core and then could sew super close to the core with that foot. I hope Steve from Cobra machines sees your question because I am sure he or one of the many sewing machine users could answer it best.

WOW!!! That is just amazing. Thanks for sharing pictures of them.

Ritch, It is flat on one side and beveled on the other. I was making my version of a Osborne #469A skiving knife. I was lucky to have some nicely figured walnut on hand to make the handles with. Bentley, Hey I got my saddle tree and got started on it Saturday. I guess now I will have a chance to put all my new tools to use! somawas, If I can do it you can too!

I made a skiving knife like the Osborne # 469. The handle is the left over walnut from my mallet handle. It wasn't until I was putting the finish on the handle that I realized they make left and right versions of this knife. Now I wonder if I should make a left version?

I had a bit of knife blank steel left over and so I made a right hand skiving knife with a walnut handle.

I goofed and posted the picture of my Walnut wood handle mallet elsewhere. But for continuity sake and to be annoying I 'll post a picture of it here.

I had to give away the first mallet I made to a good friend but I made this one for myself and I made the handle match my bouncer handle.

You're doing good stuff there. I just have to echo what Tom and Johanna said with one additional thing; stay away from the donuts, just saying... :D

LOL Ed appears to have produced some more fine items for sale and has posted here. If you don't make one for yourself he is the man to see! I just finished another mallet for myself with a black walnut handle and I think that I will be keeping that. It matches my bouncer. Pictures soon to follow.