DaCodaBuchan

So, studs are not fun. I need more tools before they will work right. I'm still having stamping trouble. Ghost marks from my stamp bouncing. Weak impressions from my main stamp. Difficulty lining and centering things/ Just beginner's mistakes. My main complaint is that the star stamp that comes with the Ez kit is not leaving a good impression. I think it may be a problem with how I case the leather. I dunk the entire piece in a saucepan of cold water. I wait for bubbles but pull it out before the bubbles stop. Then I wait for it to be about half ready to stamp and I dunk it again. This time the bubbles are immediate which tells me to start working. I then wait several moments and begin stamping on a flat piece of wood. Am I doing something wrong?

I've looked into them. Their prices are reasonable. The colors are interesting. I'll order from both them and Springfield and compare the two. Not for a while though.

I was hoping you'd chime in. I'm still interested in the Stingray. It makes sense to start with a smaller one in that case. I will be ordering some in the next few months. Out of curiosity, how much do I need to order to get Wholesale prices on small stingray from Springfield?

Next question. Is there a quality difference? In the materials, in how the animal is treated (farmed, caught, whatever), is there a difference in appearance, is there a difference in thickness, or durability? I want the highest quality items, but if nobody else will notice or care then I'm not going to be able to justify the higher price for the goods themselves.

I'm stamping and adding studs to some blank bracelets tonight. I know I keep saying photos are coming, but I have to restitch something that broke, and I'd like to finish these. Busy tonight. Photos tomorrow morning.

I'm sure there are a few bits and pieces in the archives, but I wanted to start a new conversation. Mainly I have a few questions that have nothing to do with the leather itself, but with the economics behind it. Springfield sells Stingray. Their prices seem reasonable, and I considered making a few wallets out of it. Then I googled the retail value of Stingray Wallets and found that they are selling for $20-$60.Now unless that X-Large Stingray leather piece that is for sale on Springfield's site at $150 is a lot bigger than the only measurment of 40-45 cintemeters suggests I don't see how this is profitable. I understand that is a retail leather price and I have been told it is usualy sound thinking to half that value for wholesale prices, but even that does not seem profitable considering what these wallets are selling for. My theory is that this leather is much cheaper wholsale, much larger than I am immagining, or that only the outer piece of leather on these wallets is stingray. Also, can I see a photo of the three sizes of ray sold by Springfield with a ruler in the photo so that I can understand what 40-45 means. Is that width, or length? Head to tail, or fin to fin? While I am not entirely doing this for money, my goal is to produce a quality product that could someday be worth money. Any clarification would be much appreciated.

I was going to try getting a nice rod of something a bit nicer than regular pine. Maybe Mahogany, just because this is as much an artistic piece as it will be my main tool. I was going to buy an 1.5" thick piece and plane two sides flat and then sand it to resemble a handle. Then I would stain and finish it. I am trying to find a nice chunk of lead to be the core, and how I will affix the handle and lead together, and then add the leather. I have one idea, but it's something better drawn that explained in words. Maybe a sketch today could help to explain it. If anyone has more ideas on how to actually make the hammer part I'd love to hear them. What is the leather cured in? What do I need to do to it? Also, if I can find detailed instruction and a way to make this work I will be looking to buy just enough rawhide to do this. I don't think I'll even need a half side to make this and I don't have any other use for the rawhide so I may be looking to purchase it from someone here that sells in smaller quantities than Tandy.

For such a small order you may need to actually pay *meep* retail for the brass. Hobby Lobby actually sells plate metal for jewlers. It may be thin enough for your needs. A good ol' hacksaw should cut it. So would tin snips. Good luck on straight cuts, they won't be fun.

Hello, I am interested in wallets. Billfolds mainly. I wanted to discuss any materials, patterns, and or neat ideas you may have had for wallets. Things I would like to try are: Two Color Suede. I have wanted to try making wallets out of two colors sewn together along the diagonal of the wallet and all of the innards. Scene Wallets. I would like to try making both sides of a billfold with a thick leather and using a thinner leather for the middle so that the wallet's thicker pieces would connect when it was open to form a well tooled scene. These would be fun to do and could be done in western, tropical, or even fantasy and biker themes. Formed Wallets. I would like to try making wallets that were formed so that the leather was hardened in the closed position and had a small hinging mechanism made from leather straps, or even small hinges so that it opened almost like a book. Leather's I want to try are: Stingray Deer/Elk Horse Suede What are some ideas, or materials that you have found made wonderful wallets in the past? What patterns do you have to share for a novice wallet maker? Patters are especially important to me now because the only guides I have are common sense and looking at the stitching and makeup of wallets I already own.

Having read up and decided that I do want a rawhide mallet or two I have now come to my ever present question: How can I make it myself? Is it possible to make a rawhide mallet by hand? If Tandy sells rawhide, and my hardware store sells quality dowels what would I need to do to make a mallet and then make the leather grip. What a nice mallet that'd be. I'll go google, I just wanted to update on my train of thought.

Thanks everyone for your help. My new stamp and book have shipped. I have finished several of the beginning projects and am beginning to understand how this stuff works. I will start reading this stuff tonight.

I am bumping this because I am also interested in more information on single fold wallets.

What exactly do you need help with? Finding the materials? There are several metal stamping suppliers that may be willing to sell brass in smaller ammounts. I was at a convention in Birmingham and I remember several not having minimum order requirements, but names and locations escape me . The brass bands sound easy, that is if I understand what you mean.. I would cut the ends of the brass strips sharp. I would then wrap the piece around the leather collar and then attach it by sliding it through thin slits in the leather and bending it in at a 90 degree angle back towards itself and into the leather. This would keep the doggies from getting hurt. I could draw a picture if what I'm saying makes little sense, sometimes what I have a hard time conveying a concept without pictures. As for annoying clients, I don't think there is anyone in the world that doesn't have one or two. My willingness to deal with these people depends entirely on their willingness to pay with cash. Maybe you could implement a limit on changes, or a deadline to submit them by for an order. The best of luck.

That may not be a bad thing. For what I had in mind split suede might work. I hadn't planned on tooling it. The color would draw enough attention. Thanks for all your help.

Wow, thanks CEW. I have purchased another book and a stamp that I wanted and couldn't find at hobby lobby from Tandy's website. I hope to see those and thier catalogue arriving in the next few days. I will look to purchase more leather in about two weeks. One thing I have noticed is the poor quality of this Ez kit. I guess it only makes sense that they leather no one wants would go into the beginner kit, but even the cut is off slightly, The wallet does not lay exactly flat due to the slight stretching of every piece that came out of that box. Some were too small or too big and when stitched together this made the whole thing bow slightly. I can't wait to be cutting from my own hides instead of this precut stuff. I will also grab a basic tool set soon. Swivel cutter, and a few more stamps. Edit: What can I expect from Tandy's Economy Sueded Splits Asst Colors I would assume there would be remnants of Split Suede. Could someone explain what "split" means. The only time I've every used suede was on an upholstery project a while back. I will go google, but your help would be appreciated. What is the quality on this lot? has anyone purchased this stuff recently from Tandy?I think for the price it would be fun to play with.

Thanks for your encouragement. I have already completed half of the projects. I am not allowing things to sit for as long as think I should. I was eager to finish something so that I could find more questions that needed answering. From what I've done so far I need to learn more about stitching leather together, and about dying leather. I have used the basic eco-flo fudge brown that came with it, but my results are splotchy and I think that may have something to do with the leather still being wet deep inside from having recently done my stamping. I am going to wet the key fob tonight, let it sit overnight in a plastic bag to get it uniform and then start early with stamping it. I plan to wait until it is fully dry before dying it. After which I will be using acrylic paint on it to see what the results would be. I would like to try using a wash on it the same way I would a sculpture. I will also be doing the kit coin purse and will be stitching it with several strands of red thread instead of the boring brown that the kit comes with. Pictures of the whole Tandy Ez kit will come in the next few days. Thanks Again DaCoda

I have the wooden mallet from the Tandy Ez Leatherwork Kit. I am going to make a grip for it as my first project away from that box. I was thinking of making a six inch long piece and wrapping it around once. Sewing it tight and cutting the bottom so that it folds into a nice circle at the base. I was then going to just use a single big nail to tack it at the bottom. What adhesive could I use to keep it in place? Does anyone have photos of a similar project?

I just got Tandy's Ez beginers Kit, and ABCs of leathercrafting. Me and my brothers are practicing on the smaller products. I still am trying to figure out what would be the best very thin and economicaly sound leather to begin making small items like those included in the kit. I am also looking into tandy's blank belts. I plan to grab a few from Hobby Lobby and alphabet stamps so that I can make custom belts for family to get the hang of it. After which I will want to make them from scratch cutting leather strips and everything myself.

Does this work as well on thinner leather as it does on thicker pieces like belts? There comes a point at which leather is too thin to really tell it's been properly edged in my opinion, but I am curious as to what if any additional steps or products you would suggest for much thinner pieces.

A great tutorial and one I will follow to the letter. Now to find more on finishing the edges. What did you use when sewing them together? Would sewing thread be sturdy enough. Do I need something stronger?

Hello, I'm DaCoda. I found you guys a couple days ago. I've had an interest in leatherwork for a long time, but just recently been encouraged to ersue it. I am getting a beginners kit in the next few days and will begin working from it. I just wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions. Where can I find an online glossary for this hobby? I would like somewhere I could go for all the new terms I am encountering. Is there a reputable site for free patterns. I am interested mainly in wallets and belts at this point, but I would love to learn how to do just about anything. What books would you guys suggest? When I have exhausted all the supplies of my kit what should I order first and from where. I am going to be working on wallets and belts mainly. I would like a thicker leather and a very thin leather. What would you guys suggest I look into. What suppliers would you suggest for someone in the North Alabama area? Does the area of a cow that the leather comes from have any impact on thickness or quality? I can only assume it does, but can;t find a definitive answer. Thanks for all of your help. DaCoda