pearlheartgtr

Thanks, Tex. I'll give it a shot.

My dad has a 1993 HD Electroglide FLHS Sport. I want to make a tank bib and possibly fender covers for his bike. I don't know where to start on measuring (and yes, I've seen some of the tutorials but some of them require the tank to be off the bike). If anyone could help me out with a template or where to start, that would be great. Thanks!

Thank you!

Thanks! The dragon is probably my favorite so far. I really hate to sell it, but I can always make another.

I've been a little busy doing some leatherwork lately and here's some of the fruits of my labor.

Thanks! It was a lot of fun to make.

I don't get around to posting much but here's a Tandy 6oz flask kit I finished up a few weeks ago:

Thank you.

Thanks! I gave the gargoyle to a friend of mine for her birthday and she wants me to give her a tattoo of it also.

Thanks!

Hey all! It's been a few months since I last posted and I haven't really messed around with leather in that time either. The other day I decided I better stop slacking and start a project. Well, here it is after 14 hours of work. This is the tattoo flash Carving and other misc. tooling done Without flash With flash I added with and without the flash because some things showed or didn't show with and without. ie: the background. Without the flash it just came out as the natural leather color whereas with the flash, you can see the light bluish grey I had to mix up for it.

I live on the Island and found one place that has leather classes, but it is an hour drive from me. It's Craftcave in Williston Park (somewhere's around Mineola). The lessons are every Tuesday night between 6-7pm for $10 each. I'd go but as I said, it's about an hour or so drive from me and right now, it would cost me more in gas getting to and from for just an hour long lesson. http://www.craftcave.com/

I want to take the time to clarify something because I received a pm earlier from this topic that really rattled my cage. I know that buying an expensive tool (and I don't think $36-$50 is expensive for a quality tool) isn't going to turn me into a prodigy carver overnight. I know it takes a lot of time and practice (I'm a tattoo artist and can attest to hundreds of hours of practice before ever touching needle to skin). I'm reluctant to disassemble the knife I currently have because I DON'T KNOW HOW TO. Plain and simple. Maybe I'll mess with it after I get a new one so's not to screw it up and be left with nothing. And as I said earlier, it is old and beat up. Trying to fix a $5 knife simply isn't worth the trouble.

Thanks guys. The knife I have is the standard Craftool and pretty beat up. It's not worth the trouble of taking apart and trying to fix. I also don't see any leather craft events anytime in the near future in my area (Long Island, NY) to take any knives for a test drive. I've been accumulating sites for the other knives you all have mentioned (after reading previous posts on the subject before I posted) and will probably be picking up one of those. Thanks again!

I'm very new to leathercraft and bought an old (very old) starter kit off ebay for $10. It came with the basic stamps and a swivel knife. Needless to say, the knife has seen its days. It squeaks when I turn it. I know I can probably lube it, carefully, but it also grinds when turned. Since I have a business account with Tandy, I was wondering what anyone thinks of the Al Stohlman swivel knives. I can get the stainless steel one for $36.00 (retail $64.99)or the leather handle for $65.00 (retail $129.99). How it looks isn't important. I'm looking for performance. But if there's anything better within those price ranges, I'd be glad to check them out. The Lancer looks to be in my price range, but I'd like people's opinions. Stainless Steel Leather Handle

Hey there! I've just begun my foray into leathercrafting about a week ago. I figured start out cheap and work from there with a used 7 piece kit I bought off ebay for $10. Then I went ahead and set up a business account with Tandy so I could pick up some other stuff cheap. So far, I have a couple bags of tooling remnants from Tandy that I've been messing around with along with a couple of easy patterns from the book that came with the kit. Nothing spectacular now, but I'm sure with some work, it'll get better. My only hang up is that I tend to use the swivel knife like a pinstriping brush and at times I wish I could fashion some of the stamp tools to fit my tattoo machines - it would be a lovely thing with the beveller, pear shader and backgrounder. I've watched just about every video I could find on the net and will be renting some from Smartflix (helped me a lot when I was learning to pinstripe). This forum has been able to clear up quite a few things for me so far (after reading through the 22 pages in the How Do I Do That? forum). Now I know that I'm not cutting deep enough! Thanks and hope to talk to you all soon!