jerelk

I have an Osborne draw gauge that I use to cut strap from pretty much everything. It works just as well cutting belts from 9-10oz as buckle straps from 4-5oz. I've had it for 12 years and never had to replace the blade, just strop it from time to time. Many of the leatherworkers I've talked to prefer the older wooden type, but I've never been able to get them to work as well as the draw gauge. Your mileage may vary, but I can recommend the Osborne model.

Looks sharp! Nice work!

Hard-side pouches, leather mugs/bottles, helms, waist cincher or bodice. Any of these sound good?

Envirotex is food-safe for indirect contact only, which makes it suitable for counter tops and tables, but the company will not recommend it's use in food containers. If you are making mugs to sell, I would not recommend using it. That being said, it will work, and is readily available at Hobby Lobby, Menards, and several websites. My own decade-old leather jack is lined with Envirotex, and after about 5 or so years of use with everything from coffee to rum and coke, the lining started to abraid and become "foggy". The only epoxy I have found that is safe for direct contact with food, is chemically resistant, and can withstand high temps is a product called Max CLR, and is easily available on ebay (probably other places as well). I contacted the supplier, and they said that by the specs, it should work, but of course they would not give me a completely unqualified answer due to reasons mentioned in an earlier post. I have some sitting in the shop, but haven't had a chance to try it yet. I'll be sure to post the results when I do. Envirotex is brought up in every thread of this kind that I have ever read, and it's food-safe properties are almost becoming urban legend. While it can be used with minimal risk, it should not be called food-safe.

Many thanks to everyone who responded. I ended up buying the deluxe airbrush and compressor kit here: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95630 So far, it's treated me very well (hopefully will post pictures soon). The compressor performs well so far, though I only use it for an hour or two at a time. Thanks again!

I bought a few veg tan sides from him about 5 years ago, and it was not great. Very low-density hide, inconsistent width, and seemed to dim any dye I put on it. I should note, though, that the sides he is selling now are not the same ones I bought, and I have been very happy with everything else I bought from him.

I am finally wanting to buy an airbrush for some more sophisticated finishing on my work. I've been looking at a few cheapies from harbor freight and hoped that a few of you may have used some of these. Mostly, I am looking for something that will do even coats with maybe just a bit of detailed darks and lights; nothing very fine. First, the REALLY cheap one: Single-action airbrush kit The other REALLY cheap one: Quick-change airbrush kit The moderately cheap one: Double-action "Deluxe" airbrush Opinions?