OdinUK

Can anyone advise which is better for tooling, a maul or a mallet and why? Also, is there any advantage of rawhide over nylon/plastic heads? Its about time to upgrade my mallet but I'm not sure what to go for. Thank you.

Fantastic looking belts. How did you line them, and what with? I really like them!

Thanks for the tip Chris, Ill give it a try but will have to get a base coulour to try it with. I hope I can use it, this stuff isnt cheap.

Im glad Im not the only one. I will contact Tandy and ask what quantity should be mixed with the coloured dyes.

Has anyone used the Ecoflow Professional Pearl yet? I bought this thinking it was a 'white' pearlescent coloured stain but it just gives a pearl shimmer to the leather and turns the leather somewhat darker. Is this product supposed to be mixed with other colours? Thank you.

Thanks for that. I think they are fabulous.

Great looking horns and helmets! I don't think the horns need sealing, Ive seen many used as they are. Did you wet form the helmet pieces?

Thanks for the useful info. I didnt know copper sulphate was used, thats pretty poisionous! As are the other chemicals. Interesting stuff.

Thank you very much for posting, I will try it for my next bottle. Ill post pictures of the first bottles I made later today. Its a nice looking bottle.

Thanks for the advice. I dyed the leather blue till it was deep blue, not a light coat, maybe thats where I went wrong. This vinegarroon, is it Iron Sulfate? Iron Sulphate in solution makes the leather go black.. I have some but I have not used it yet. Ill try both methods. I have been meaning to make the Iron Sulphate solution for some time. Thanks!

Put ads in the local papers/internet for wax, many people who keep bees just throw away the wax! I get mine from a number of sources. I use to just pour the wax into the top of the flask but I now use a deep fryer with a thermostat that I half fill with wax for this purpous. Does anyone use pitch to line thier bottles/flasks? I have not yet, but I use it to line my leather tankards. Nighthawk, do you have any authentic bottle/flask patterns that you can share? I have made bottles but not to any particular design.

If you live in California, could you not just pop over to the nearest state for 'vacation', fill up the car with what ever "banned" solvents you want and drive back? I think its crazy that these things are banned! Excuse my ignorance

The Cova range of dyes can be airbrushed, they may require diluting but I always use Fiebings spirit or oil dyes, they are much better in my opinion - if you can get them.

Hi Chris, Here are some closeups of the sample strap. I burnished the edges like usual but didnt spend the time to get a glossy edge, just a rounded edge. It blended with the purple quite well but if the suede was black it would look better. Hope this helps. I now look forward to making some nice tooled guitar straps (and belts).

Thanks Mark:) @Madmax, Does the neoprene come in suitable thicknesses? I would guess about 3mm would be suitable. Do you have any recommended thickness? Thanks.

Here are the pictures of my first sample strap. They didnt turn out very well with the flash but you can see the detail.

Thanks all, you guys have been so helpful. I have quite a lot to try so I can see what works best for me.

Dave and MadMax, Thank you both for your advice, it's very much appreciated. I hadn't thought of using padding, but I may try it. I always assumed that passing was some kind of thin foam, not leather. I can't seem to find my camera USB cable, when I do Ill post a picture of the first sample piece that I made.

Hi Mark, Thanks for that. Yes, I forgot about the tooling being done before lining the leather. I just tried making a sample length of what would be a guitar strap, and it seems fine. Ill post pictures when I get them from my camera. Next I shall try to practice the tooling what I would like to go onto my first guitar strap that I'm making for a friend.

Hi All, I would like to line guitar straps and belts with suede. This is how I think it may be done, please can you offer advice or tell me if my method is correct or not? Cut strap over-wide. Use Impact adhesive on both flesh side of leather and suede, bring both into contact and rub down so that the whole surface if wach are in good contact. Cut strap to desired width and shape with the suede now firmly in place. Make sewing groove and sew the leather to the suede. Edge, dye and burnish edges. Tool leather if required. Dye leather and apply finish, fixing hardware etc I have not actually tried this on an actual project but Im about to do it to a scrap. Would you do it differently? Id be grateful for any advice.

Following the instruction in a number of books, I tried dying leather royal blue (Fiebings oil dye) before using black Fiebings oil dyes to obtain a more opaque black. However, the leather just looks like very dark blue. Has anyone had any success with this method of getting a very 'black' black? Thank youl.