JLSleather

Yeah, pretty much. I don't have a "job" because i'm not one of the useless (and generally effeminate, truth be told) 75% (personal integrity is genetic)... and I have no desire to be the one carrying 3, so there's that. And I don't have employees, because I have no desire to pay 3 boogers while the fourth one does the work! Usually, it's the ones having long convesations about "working smarter, not harder".... when they really mean not working at all. Just wouldn't work out. I'm not opposed to tact and politically correct, but I don't' adhere to either at the expense of the truth. If you're useless, prob'ly just a matter of time before I point that out

Might make a difference on the time frame depending on the model (they could be temp out of a popular one, I suppose). But $39 x 8 = 312. All 8 pistols would all go in a large flat rate priority box, which is currently $18.75. That's $330. Maybe vary time on occasion, but my last one from Rings --.gun in hand in a few days. Not just blue guns, but anything really .... I don't mind paying a bit more if there is a service being offered. Like, you pay more at retailers for Hermann Oak leather, but you skip having to buy 10 sides. Fair enough .. IF the leather is the same I'm getting from HO (it likely isn't). Or I pay an extra $1 for buckles but I get to not buy 100 of 'em. All of that is generally fine. But if I'm paying more for some "service", then I need to know what service it is I'm getting, and what I'm paying for it.

Having made both, I can tell you they are not the same.

GOTTA go with teh LL. The 'S" point leaves too "long" of a hole.. see how it almost looks like there is space between teh stitches. The LL fills the hole much better. The "D" point and the "TRI" point are similar results to the S. And the LR leaves that goofy angled looking stitch perhaps popular with them sensitive fellas?

If you post which machine you have, most likely someone here will know JUST what to tell you

Yeah, I'm in the "just gimme somethin that works" croud here. If a fella makes custom knives, he certainly can set his own price -- no issues from me. I remember that day I was in the auto parts store, the kid behind the counter got a personal call. No hurry, so I told him take his call. His wife, just got her first ever BRAND NEW car. Now there's a buzzer and a warning light going off on the dash... she's freeeeekin out. So what ya do? Call yer husband the auto parts guy, right? "Diagnosed" by asking what the light says... "low tire pressure".... So he asks 'did ya try putting air in the tire?' Now, this is where I'm sitting.... do I REALLY wanna pay several hundred dollars for a "sensor" that tells me to check the tires?@!!#@$! Car dealer won't sell me that model WITHOUT that sensor (dont come that way), so I dont own one. But then, if I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd still be at the fishin' hole with a old pickup truck and a stubborn dog, NOT answering my cheap cell phone ...

You can do that with a simple edge guide. The type you need will depend on the machine you're using. Some mount to the bed of the machine, others mount to the machine head itself. Strange that the machine dealer wouldn't fix you up with what you need. I got mine from a member here. By way of example.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWd4FlRHv-Q

Seems to have veered a bit, to discussing quality and craftsmanship. When considering a name, are we considering craftsmanship, workmanship, and quality to be factors? Cuz if those aren't factors, then the name put on it is pointless and irrelevant. Used to be you had to know something about building principles and building codes to be a carpenter. Now, just buy a saw and a hammer, and pay $50 at the county office for "registration", and you're a "contractor". I always get a 'kick' out of those geniuses buzzing around in trucks that say "licensed, bonded, insured" under a logo of some sort. See, in Iowa, there is NO license for a contractor (electrical one exception) - and the only person needing "bonded" is the one who posts a bond IN LIEU OF insurance, and insurance is passed out to anyone who will write a check. No point in apprenticeship -- the new guy would just be standing around watching the old guy standing around! This is largely due to the govt "creating jobs". See, it took 4 guys 2 days to roof my house (the one I live in). But now there are 7 guys out of work, so we hire them too. And of course, they need a decent wage, so now what cost me $4 now costs me $7, for the same thing. ANd there ya go.... same work done, but at twice the cost, and 7 guys made lazy (er). My wife was - until recently - some kind of fancy-pants at Purina (the pet care division). BUNCH of people have jobs there. I almost said "bunch work there", but that isn't true. Now, I'm not saying a guy has to be covered in muck and ruining his spinal cord to be "at work" (though, hey - work IS a factor in being a man). But at the end of the day, if that entire plant burned to the ground, then a bunch of kitties have to remember how to catch mice - BIG DEAL, SO WHAT?!@! And the state of the union, as they say, is that the kitties WILL figure it out -- and the "men" likely won't figure it out. Just file for occupational disability -- ousted from their "job" through no fault of their own.. blahblah Unemployment. Welfare. I mean, it aint like we're gonna go catch the mouse (actually work) OURSELVES (shame for even suggesting that!). So, yeah -- I would need to see the quality and integrity involved in a piece before i attach a name ...

$8.10 for "A-grade" leather - very nice stuff.

Hermann Oak has a 10-side minimum order IF all teh same weight , 20 sides if mixing weights. For me, it's worth the trouble to get the good stuff.

In an effort to help teh guy avoid another wave of phone calls, I can tell you that the bersa thunder .380 are both gone, and the colt python and s/w 629 are gone.

Yeah. This stuff is nice. In fact, I feel like I should have a disclaimer pointing out that I am not being paid / compensated to say this much about it. I'm no sewing pro, but I LIKE this stuff. EDIT: Pay no attention to the actual color shown... I think my camera has about had it, and ready to get retired to the fishin' tackle box!

Got some thread in from Bob K, which I been meaning to try for too long now. The natural was a tad darker than I expected, but just barely. No issues with the thread. rolls off the spool quite nicely, lays flat in teh hole. Should have called Bob about thread a year ago Still, I had to do a bit of a test before assailing a project with new toys. While I wouldn't have done a test just for the sake of doing a test, since I DID do it, might as well share the results (seriously, why make a mistake and learn from it when you could just learn from ME making the mistake ?!@#$!). So, tested two pieces of 9 oz HO, no dye no finish no glue. The thread is 346 in teh needle side and 277 in the bobbin side, both natural nylon from Toledo Ind. Note the difference in the appearance, despite using the SAME spi (about 5.5spi), the same thread (346 top / 277 bottom) and the same tension settings. Only thing changed is the needle being used. Top of the leather - thread is 346. Top row shows a 25 needle with an "S" point. Second row shows a 25 needle with an "LL" point. Bottom side of same piece (flipped). The thread is 277.

You could color it if you like, but fact is it looks good as is.

Right.. but -- how much delivered to your door? Yeah .. makes those selling them at $50 or more look .. well.. not so great And then they "tack on" exorbitant shipping costs... Most of these places (the ones I'm familiar with) are making money both sides of the coin -- making the gun seem like a "loss leader" (and selling you something else with a larger margin), AND significantly padding the shipping charges. Here's a thing FYI.. you can ship all but the largest ring's pistols in a priority box for like $6.20 within the US. That is box included, insurance included. So those places that charge $7 and up PLUS want you to pay for insurance, that's their "padding". Each his own, but I prefer not to pay it. If a guy is buying 1 or 2 or 3 guns, few bucks doesn't matter one way or another, probably. But if you're buying 50, then $6-8 apiece is adding up. Basically, that's a free side of good leather and two big spools of thread.... Seems the smart way to go.. 2 or 3 fellas pool the funds and split an order from rings -- I mean, if you were going to buy them anyway.

Simple.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMVHrTPf1AQ

Think you want a #26 needle.

Is 277 correct?!!@! I'd ask Bob.. cuz if that machine will use a #27 needle, then it likely use 346 thread too!

I assume you're making two different rigs (?) The Ruger is actually just a bit smaller than a k-frame smith, much smaller than the L

I still haven't ruled out pickin' up one o those, so do let us know what you think. I mean, not a half hour long ranting video where you appear to be strung out on puppy uppers (since that's already been done).. but just hey.. this is good, that aint kinda thing

Yeah, that prolly IS about 6 feet. But around here, I'm more concerned with the quality than the exact dimensions. I mean, if I order 20 feet of "A-grade" leather, then If it HAS TO be wrong, I'd rather get 19 feet of "A" better than 20 feet of "B MINUS" (which is very frequent with some suppliers).

I was all prepared ta say Angelus dye, even on the edges, then finish edges with wax. But a guy kaint say THAT aint pink!

Purdy sure at least some of the issues you were describing were the leather you were using. Current trends, use brown dye, and when it looks blotchy and cheap, just call it "zombie" and double the price Meanwhile, I sent you a chunk of HO leather just so you can compare. And I made a point of cutting from the shoulder, since yours was from a shoulder - for the best comparison. Leather is just shy of 8 oz (couple thousandths) so I think you'll find it easier to insert! It takes black dye quite well.

Yeah, likely more work than it's worth. Pitch and replace.

After reading three times, I aint getting this If you're not doing the sunburst, what ARE you doing? Go on show me... I aint scaret ta learn sumthin'....