JLSleather

Well, there's the "theory" of it all --- but I wouldnt think that TOO critical, since a detailed (gnats backside) calculation would need to involve leather thickness and stretch, which would vary all over the place. if a guy was good with a "pretty close' length, then divide distance between attachment points (span) in half this span x itself (squared), plus the drop distance x itself (squared), would equal 1/2 the needed length x itself (squared), OR (span)^2 + (drop)^2 = L^2 eg; if your handles are sewn 10" apart, and you want it to "drop" 24" to the top of the bend, then (10)^2 + (24)^2 = L^2, OR 100 + 576 = L^2, 676 = L^2 L=(676)^-1 L= 26" This is ONE SIDE, so the strap would be 52"

I DO like HO leather, but truth is if I was in PA, I'd likely be at Wickett / Craig more often than I already am. Their skirting dyes and finishes quite well, forms and tools good too. As a rule, I find the W/C natural color to be slightly brighter (lighter color) than HO. Good texture to it.

Meh.. sounds like a lotta work fer what it is. Most of us round these here parts jus bop the stamp on a scrap ta see if'n we like the look. BUT then, I didn't realize for a long time that people wanted to PAY for a "pattern" of a rectangle that somebody called a "wallet", so whadue i know

Maybe should put this on the site? Likely just gits barried here There, tha's more better. http://www.jlsleather.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Mag_G19_P0.pdf

I don't know how to jitter (whatever that is). Maybe make them custom shapes instead?

That's a nice job of laying out the lettering. Everybody who''s used them knows what a pain those stamps are -- and multiple "instruction" videos showing one letter placed against the previous one don't help! And then, if there's any contour at all to the lettering due to being on a banner (or ribbon), then the stamps are out the window anyway

Ahhh. so THAT"S what that Colt looks like with a Springfield in 'er I'm makin' one er two here shortly for that same gun, gonna be 80/20's (or perhaps 83/17) in chestnut.

Stick with the 3/4 oz on the outside. I know some people like 4/5 oz, but even that gets thick pretty fast when stacking layers. For the inside, I like about 1 1/2" - 2 oz.

Here's the first "wave". I have multiples of some of these, so feel free to ask. Meanwhile, more leather just came on the truck, better git busy ... $400 takes 'em all (29) ... and some other stuff I find while packin' em. Or, $16 apiece plus actual shipping. Quick -- I'm gonna start packin' up 'fore long!

Looks like 29 embossed belts, though I may have miscounted All are over 50" long unless noted. Pics shortly.

Yeah, I aint never put no saddle-lac on a holster (though I do have both). Howdja "calculate" the 70%? Looks like a solid holster, just wondrin' if ya "figured" it or "eyeballed" it.

Yep, simple. Surprising there isn't a set on each street corner

Yer in PA and haven't been to Wickett & Craig? I think that may be some kind of leather guy misdemeanor Price is 'about' $10/foot -- not really a "discount", but rather the ability to purchase what you need, instead of whole sides. Oh, I maybe should have mentioned that I have exactly THREE bellies.. ordinarily don't buy the belly with the backs, but this last time I did thinking it may get here faster (it didn't). Oh, and the tracking says that side of W/C chestnut should be here tomorrow, so I'll have the belly from that, too. The bellies are 8 oz black skirting (2 of those) and 4 oz black skirting (1 of those). Instead of by the foot, I'd take $50 for all of that and maybe a dozen $ shipping) NOT good for belts, but fine for collars, cuffs, sheathes, and the 4 oz makes those 'minimalist' wallets I make (or line it for holsters). I have 'single shoulders' in black AND natural, and maybe 1 in chestnut, assuming I can cut what I need from the piece and still have that. And I'm cleaning / clearing, so smaller bits git thrown in just cuz it helps us both. Message me 'about' what you need, and I'll find a piece that's close... Oh, and 1.5" wide belt blanks at $16, but I'd go $14 for a "bulk" deal. If you know yer gonna cut 8 or 10, better to get the whole piece by the foot. These are "A" grade HO, or I can cut some of the black W/C if you know you're doing black. It stamps great, but ... you know... tough to dye it pink In fact, let's do the embossed ones same price.. I gotta go MN got better beer, if I remember rightly .... A bit of english bridle long enough for belts / slings... in dark brown, and a smaller piece in medium brown. And I have chrome tanned stuff I used to make linings for wallets / checkbooks.. in brown, burgundy (ish), and etc. And a bit of dark color suede, about 4 oz. Used to line straps / slings, mostly. Actually, I think I'm gonna have to do a "somewhat" inventory to get it all

You (anyone) cannot say "a burnisher should run at x-rpms" without knowing the diameter of the burnishing tool. I have two burnishers - one is about 3/4" diameter, and one is a 2" diameter. If you run them both at the same rpm, the 2" will be running almost 3 times faster on the leather (surface feet per minute). To get the same effect with the 2" as you get with teh 3/4', the speed would need to be reduced. To have the effect the same, the 2" would need to run 3/8 as fast (rpms) as the 3/4". To run the 2", you would need to "turn it down" to less than half the same speed. That said, I run my 3/4" in a drill press - and it's jsut a guess, but I'd say it's running about 500 rpm. The 2" I turn down as low as it will go (variable speed) and still don't like it, but can't turn it down MORE. If I didn't have the smaller one, I'd make something to adapt it to the drill press! But for those who like quick 'n' simple... while aguycould cut off the threaded end of the arbor, it's much simpler to simply drill a clearance hole in the burnisher to clear the threads. Looks like a guy only need about 5/8-3/4" ... Oh, just FYI.. this is the basis for, and the reason, why speed reducers work on machines.

Hermann Oak "A" & Wickett/Craig "standard" leather, assorted pieces. Small as a belt strip or large as a belt bend, and between. Some natural, some black (W/C skirting). Most is about 8 oz, but there is some 9 oz and some 4 oz. Belt blanks - some smooth and some embossed. I'll try to start takin' pics, should have done this two weeks ago! Seriously, where else can you see the piece you're getting?! Cash or blue guns (lemme know what ya have -- I got enough duplicates already, but duplicate "benjamins" are fine ).

This is your job for next week. Probably worth some money if you save them in the right file type, so aguycould use them in PS or Il (and maybe even Corel).

Cant' tell from here -- looks like it might. Easiest way to check (maybe).. wipe the top surface with a damp rag.. see if it penetrates.

There's the thing, right there. Of course you can use it -- you paid for it! Most likely, the seller listed as "full grain" to distinguish it from "finished split" leather Looking at your wallet, doesn't look like that stuff "drapes" very well (clothing), but should be okay for flat goods (like the one you uploaded).

I like the belt, but I'd lose the rivet. Doesn't need to be there, and I think it detracts from the finished look.

Somebody actually read that?#!@!! Sueee weeeet Looks good on there, too!

You can find "definitions' for this until you're tired of them. But most of what you see / read is just going to be useless marketing poo spewed to willfully confuse people who don't know (and KEEP them not knowing). The "fix" of course is to look at the goods themselves. Compare the ITEM, not the STORY. Need an example? Pop over to cutesy - there you'll find a few thousand acres of "goods" (which itself is misuse of a word) which clearly (to anyone aware of anything) have more time and effort in the PUNCH LINE than in the article. Most around here are 'big kids', capable of cutting through the crap and assessing what they're looking at. I mean, for example... say I make a holster that sorta fits, and it's "okay"... Now, I put it in a pretty box - hey, maybe even a bow on it And throw in a fancy full-color pamphlet about how to break it in. And upload a video -- that's always a goodie, huh? But, none of that changes the holster. It's either what I'm looking for or it's not - the rest ads nothing. Funny - I got a buddy, used to do construction work. Showed up all proud one day in his brand new shiny truck, complete with logo on the door. "HAD to" come show me, since I designed the logo (and he's really got a bit of "look what I have" these days). So I said tha'sa nice lookin' truck. Well, I personally don't buy brand new trucks - a truck is a tool, like a wrench or a hammer (plus I don't hear an engine running, I hear the depreciation meter running). But, he was happy, so whatever. But then he decided to "justify" his purchase - though I didn't question anyway what he does with his money. Tells me that little old ladies don't like to see rough lookin' trucks in their driveway. According to Richard, when you call a contractor, a shiny truck in the drive shows "professional" and "responsible".. and "successful". So I just couldnt' keep a straight face any more - even though I like that guy. Told him when I see shiny in the drive, I don't see "professional and responsible".. I see a guy who likes shiny new trucks and wants me to pay for it! 'Course, once the contract is signed -- the day of the work commencement, that shiny truck is nowhere to be found. Instead, 5 or 8 boys will show up in two or three 15-year old trucks with ladder racks which have clearly held weight for a long time. So, his story means nothing. In fact, the more he leans toward "earning" money at the expense of them other boys' labor and thinking he's fooling little ole ladies (little ole ladies aint dumb.. my Mom is one of em).. the less I spend time with him. Seriously, con my Mom and see what happens to ya. Wait.. that took some of your time. So don't run over ta cutesy.. you can find enough of that here My personal take on it -- clicking out a shape, glue n stitch (or lace), pack n ship... is not a "craft". Any more than eating is a skill, or washing your hands is "art". Either takes little actual talent - just a bit of simple instruction and the right tools (clicker, needles, bar of soap, whatever). Yes, I'm including holsters (the not-tooled version) -- any monkey can do it. Off the path.. my 8-yr-old little girl sometimes looks in and asks 'so you do that so it does that?" And she's right. She looks at the ITEM. Came around the corner one day when I was stitchin' (she's not actually 'supposed to ' be in there) , looked at that POC (piece of cobra) and said - 'it looks like it's walking". Yeah - it do. She gathers information and then makes her own assessment. SO THEN... why all the words from somebody who always sayin' shut up 'n' show me?! POINT is, at the end of this, the only thing that changed is the CLOCK. It would be nice to see people - hear people - actually saying what they think. But I'm not gonna hold my breath. Sadly, while not EVERYbody is 'full of it", the majority are. I have far more respect for the guy who is wrong than for the guy who is lying, but wants to tell you it's "okay" because "thats business".

Yeah, that's a done deal. There was a gal - sewing the tops of bags -- I didn't see where that could be done on a flat machine (though, perhaps it could happen on a pedestal machine). But the thing to remember here, is not about what would constitute a worth-while video -- the point here is something more along the lines of my turn to make a pointless one I did make one a while back, but it was not of the same caliber of 'lameness' I'll be looking for here. That video was about "holster stitching"... showed a flat holster being stitched on an excuse for a leather stitcher, with far too bright lights making detail impossible to make out, and a down-right 'gabby' narrative that caused a 5-minute job to take 10 mins. But i'm talking about something WAY beyond that one.... I've already covered the information about how to make holsters in a simple and fast (and free) pdf file made available to anyone who wants it (don't even need to ask). So teh video doesn't really require information anyway - it'll just be for those who like to spend their day watching.. you know... nothing ANYhoooo.. back to the holster makin's ...

When purchasing leather in the U.S., you'll be billed by teh square foot (not the square meter) for leather which is gauged by the "ounce" (not the mm). Beyond that, I don't know if it matters.

Exactly. Not about helping another leather man / woman at all. Just about keep you sitting here - even if it's a waste of your time -- so that the "producer" can get paid. Yikes. But, enough of that. I'm off to the gym, then a shower, then some holsters (TIP: forums can waste as much time as videos ).

Well, this has always been my position. Sadly, though, the 'useful' is drowning in an ocean of poo! Apparently, I'm the minority -- I value the INFORMATION above the "production".