JLSleather

I got some kind of rubbermaid thing.. or whatever they's callin' food containers. Resealable, locking lids. Pour half a gallon of dye in it... dip what you need to... lock the lid on and put it on the shelf for next time. No evaporation, no fumes, no trouble. UNLESS you knock it off a shelf about 5 feet above the floor, and then you just call the opposite wall "custom"

I personally don't want somebody "recommending" stuff for me. Bought something on ebay once, and got a SLEW of crap.. "you might also like ... blahblah"... Now, if I'm using the same "guy" all the time, he may be able to suggest.. 'hey-we got that in burgundy now if yer interested' and that might be worth hearing about. W/C folks don't bother me. But don't git me started about realtors and insurance "brokers"... can't really come up with a legitimate reason for those at all Seriously, yer sellin' yer house, and I'm buying it, so some THIRD PARTY gets thousands of dollars WHY ..????! Then, leather "retail" suppliers are largely the same thing. W/C sell me a side of EB for about $250. Knowing that, WHY would I pay someone ELSE to sell me that same side for $300+ ? Perhaps the only exception being that it's right there in front of me, I might pay the mark-up just so it's "in hand" and I can see what I'm getting when I'm getting it....

WOW... NICE. See, now THAT is ACTUAL and USEFUL information. What was used. What was done to it to make it work. How it is used. Complete with a pic showing exactly what was described. No hour long video, no subscription to sign up for, no dues, no link to something else "somewhere"... THIS is how it should go. Edited to add: I'm not making things requiring such a form, but THANKS for your post (anyway!).

Package came in from SLC. Suppose it legit to give 'em some credit when they git one right? Everything there, just the way I ordered it, at the price i agreed to, in reasonable time. And the leather -- tho not 'stunning' - is okay for what I'm going to do (belt liner).

That would suggest that I have TOO MUCH space, which I can assure you is NOT the case. Found about 9 er 10 buckles just a bit ago, so now I gotta make more belts (curses.. foiled again).

See, now you're getting into why I said it's easier to deal with the same person as much as is possible. Your sales rep might then ask -- without going through all of that again - if you would like to order skirting, drum dyed, but not necessarily "struck thru", split to 8 oz thickness, holstered, backs (not sides), ... and all that's left to ask is how many and will there be anything else today

I've never been aware of any "bulk prices" available. Possible I'm not writing big enough checks!

W/C is is Curwensville, PA

Wife wanted to move to Allentown (PA) a while back. After considering that Wickett & Craig would be just up the road, I still had to rule it out as just too much trouble

See, now tha's not quite what I said Man, how quick a feller kin git'n trouble .... Thanks, though.. yours are some of the revolver holsters I always enjoy seeing!

Maybe would have been easier to just say "Call Matt". People still wouldn't do it, and I would have saved the time writing that post

Yep, machine. Stitched 'em before forming 'em -- so there weren't any raised areas That's one of my "peeves".. stitch line 1/4" or 1/2' out from the gun. That and wrinkles on the back... like the maker couldn't be bothered to work those out...

Hey, Red When I say, "the way you want it", I'm referring to the fact that if I deal with largely one person, then he would know what weight or combination of weights I want, etc. I've got some W/C in teh past I wasn't happy about, but also some BEAUTIFUL leather. But the HO I've been less than pleased with was from somebody OTHER THAN Hermann Oak. I swear, I've seen "B" grade hides that look like they were ddragged down a gravel road on the grain side. Spongey, uneven thickness, soft spots, thin spots, discolorations, scratches that span the hide (one was so bad, I had to scratch my head for a bit to get three belts out of it). Basically, I can only blame myself. The first time, maybe even twice... you didn't know. But keep going back (to anybody) after that... and it's no longer THEIR fault entirely. As a rule, I try to get my leather from HO or W/C from the tannery. But occasionally, like this week, I run short on some weight, or drum dyed color. And I've tried MOST of the suppliers discussed around here at least once. Goliger has sent me good leather -- and some not so good. SLC has sent me some decent leather -- and some I couldn't believe they even bothered to ship. A couple sides from Weaver were SO bad I have never asked them about leather again. And RJF.. once was enough. I didn't even send it back.. just laid it on the floor for the dog to be sure I'd always remember it. Shoot, I've even picked up some good leather at Tandy on occasion (I used a LOT of their Royal Meadow carving leather over the years... which of course discontinued now). I "get" it... leather isn't flawless. Even "A" grade from the tannery got SOME marks / blemishes. But I've never needed to return leather from H.O. Still not "flawless", but at $9/ft (backs, not sides) if I pitch a little out I can take it Because $9 is not $12 or $15 (translation 33% and 65% markup). If I could work that out, I'd ONLY buy leather that I can see myself. But doesn't usually work out that way. My recent threads weren't about leather quality so much as disbelief that anyone would pay $15 - $18 per foot for leather that doesn't even CLAIM to be top of the line. A guy kin do what he wants with his money, but i don't get it. STILL, the intent is not to badmouth any supplier, so much as to INFORM the new guy that there's no need to pay that much. You and I know that, but lots of folks (particularly here) may not. I'm willing to accept the possiblity that I'm talking to myself, though. I've told people where and how they can find good leather for markedly UNDER $10/ft. I've even offered to let go of some great leather that I'm LOOKING at for my cost... but - guy's gonna do what he's gonna do

Thanks, Bob -- exactly my point

A lined beveler makes a pretty good "hair tool"....

Don't think it matters, though it may be a plus to try to get the same person each time you order. It's easier for them AND you if the person you talk to is familiar with the way you want the order handled... saves the trouble of explaining what you want to the next person.

Apparently, everybody and his brother making patterns these days - to sell to us. Just one tip (yeah, I know this goes over like a lead balloon).... do yourself a favor... if you're going to purchase patterns, save yourself the price of one of them. The "field notes" covers and the "passport" covers.. are the same covers! There is 1/2" difference in height between the two booklets (unless other countries make them noticeably different). My U.S. one and her New Zealand one are 5" x 3.5" (and about 3/16" thick). The 'field notes' thingy is 5.5" x 3.5" (and about 1/8" thick). So if you're making "cases" for these... save the price of one of them. Buy one, then cut off 1/2" off the top (or don't - won't matter) and put the money in your kid's piggy bank. Actually, ya know what ... just put the price of both in the kids' college fund, and print this .. FieldNotesA.pdf

Yep, me too. That much leather might even require - dare I say it --- employees [shudder..]

On the other hand, not just them but suppliers in general.... Just thinkin' out loud really. For those who sell on ebay, etsy, or amazon --- then these suppliers are marking up materials more than 100% (double). H.O. "B" grade would cost me $7.40 per foot, though I doubt that a distributor is paying that (educated guess, cuz I sure aint "in the loop" ). Now, if they're paying $6/ft, and you're paying $15 per foot, then you're paying 2.5 times the material cost as the people whose products you are competing with. Doesn't bother me personally Maybe I just think too much ...

Yep, I did. Realized only too late that I have almost NO 4/5 oz.. so we'll see what they get me. I'm more honest than a lot of people care for, really. If you treat me good, I'll tell people that. If you don't, I'll tell 'em that, too I will say that not ALL the leather they sent me was "bad". I did get some they immediately got back, but I've also got some that was bearable -- and I don't mind paying a bit for the convenience either long as it's USABLE.

Wunna these days I gotta git that carving design laid out too... lady got a SP101 with all kindza fancy smancy etching in the steel... wants some scroll work to match and the holster done in that rosewood-ish color that Ruger loves so much on the grips. Calculating the time involved in matching that color in leather dye... carry the naught ... carry the naught ...

What are we calling a "load"? I thought 15 sides was a good bit 'til I talked with people ordering 50

Prolly busy. I see they have ads on ebay, etsy, and amazon --- don't know how many others. And I got an email today that they processed my small order. A bit pricey, but not $15 / foot pricey.

SOMEBODY's gittin busy around here. One guy in Colorado and another in Ohio -- both just downloaded pretty much every file on the site.

Spoken like a man who has done that TOO many times I admit it, I had to read that more'n once. The rest of you just keep sayin' I'm the only one scratched my head fer a minute... no worry. Incidentally, I don't mind a little curve in my pouches... but for a shoulder harness -- flat in the back is GOOD.