JLSleather

I certainly can see the value of a good splitter. And if you have one that is hard to set depth, then I could see where a second one be worth having, to avoid changing depths every time. Maybe even an extra blade for each, so you can use it while sharpening one. If I need whole hides split, I'd just order the weight I need. The purpose of a splitter would be for lap skives, for belt and strap "keeper" loops from the same hide as the strap, or for reducing the volume of hides needed on hand and such. But they're tough to find. The old ones are either spoken for or beat to death and no longer serviceable, and the new ones weren't built "like they used to". End result, you can pay for "poop + warranty" (ever notice there's almost always a "guarantee" with that cheap junk?), or you can pay a mint for that one good one you might find.. to the point you could have made several OTHER arrangements. Since there are "services" for clicking, sewing, cutting, web design, blahblahblah, I wondered why no splitting. AT THE MOMENT, I have a few pieces.. maybe adds up to 2 sides ... which sits there. I would have used it up by now if it was 3.5 oz instead of 7.5 oz. So, not pitching it out, but not worth the cost of more tooling, either. And certainly not worth the aggravation of ordering yet another tool and finding out I have to partially assemble it, and then I have to sharpen it BEFORE I can use it (and I think we ALL know that one). Now, if a guy was doing 1000 belts / month like Brian's talking about, that ALONE would justify multiple splitters.

Yep, sheep tends ta be stretchy .... Without getting too far from the original question --- goat on the other hand is generally quite firm and strong for it's thickness. Makes great wallet (and other small project) pockets. Sheep tends to be quite stretchy and not much use unless it's glued to something else.

70 shoulders at 38mm.. so tha's like 1,000 belts per month? Tha's a lot o crocs! Good to see this offered, though, and .1mm certainly close enough.

Cool. And you bring up another point about these mag thingies. It looks like you were able to run a stitch up the center and have enough room to separate the mags (some models won't work that way). Was this trial 'n' error, or did you have an old one done that way? Thing is, some folks like a tension screw so they can set the tension themself. But I find one screw between the mags (as you'll see) not so wonderful.. since backing off the tension affects BOTH sides. Some might think that won't matter -- until they try it! When you pull a mag, you change the tension on the OTHER mag..... Ah.. maybe that's another issue Keep 'em comin' ..

By way of reminder, this thread started at poking fun at what was clearly ridiculous. I'm never surprised at how some people respond when you wiggle their comfort zone just a bit... suggest they 'go beyond' what they now do.... I've seen a couple of George H tandy videos (when recommended by someone). Maybe that's George's pace. Or maybe a team of lawyers told him that's his pace. Whatever. I can't do that. But if I met George, I got no issue offerin' the guy a beer or a coffee -- maybe a fishin' rod if he likes that type of thing. I don't watch much tv anyway. Didn't even have one for a couple years .... I never watched it, so I gave it to a couple young kids who were getting married and basically had nothing. Now, I LIKE to have nothing, but some people get a complex about it (governed by someone else's opinions). Gimme a smart dog, a fishin' pole, and a truck what runs good -- and I'm happy But then I got married, and SHE thinks everybody needs "stuff". SO, I have tvs... I think about 5 or 6 of em (don't know why... not my call). BUT there IS one show I rather like, for people who like videos 'n' such... Renovation Realities is on the DIY channel. HILARIOUS. Basically, some sponsors pay for all the materials and homeowners remodel some part of their home. I've seen people get beams dropped on or near them.. skid loaders tipped ... one bright fella nearly electrocuted himself MORE than once. Now, it's funny, because you don't actually believe that the cameramen are actually going to stand there and watch these people kill themselves. Again, I don't watch much tv, so don't ask me what day or time it's on... I just see it when it's there.

So that pencil I've had for like 30 years is "tricks and equipment"? Again, there may be A video worth seeing. Actually, I did find a second one with profitable information. Stuff I already knew, but I could see where someone who didn't know that could benefit. it was chronological, steps in the order you would do them without a bunch of irrelevant talk ("hey, everybody look -I'm over here ) and such. showed the tools used - without being an advertisement. when it was done, the watcher could ACTUALLY DO THAT himself (herself) This is no commentary on that video, since I haven't seen it. But if there's a video telling me I can use that pencil that has been around since great grand dad, I hope it didn't take an hour to tell me that. I'm quite aware that there are MANY places that will sell you another tool when you could have used your pencil, so if there's a guy pointing out.. 'hey- you can use yer pencil' then this is good. I found one other day, while making dinner. Guy gonna show how to make a holster pattern. Naturally, if there's a better way, then show me. Guy broke it into two parts for whatever reason, and part two plays automatically after part 1. Part 1 about 10 minutes long... basically he chicken-scratches some marker on a piece of paper. Part 2 starts.... he points out that in part 1 that was wrong so I want to show you that .... Now, good for him if he can admit he was wrong. MY point is,.. why not just delete the 'wrong' video? And the next one... plays right behind those, I guess u-tube lumped 'subject matter"(?). There's no discussion- no words at all. Some music plays in the background while a pair of pudgy hands make marks on a sheet of paper, which I guess is supposed to be a paper pattern for a holster. Nah... I like to see people actually DOING leather work - not watching tv about it. Guess I'll stick to the pdf files and still pics Can't say I don't keep a finger on the line, just in case something changes about them videos ...

Man... lemme jus' start by saying that's a new rule... nobody says 'screwed up' and 'JLS' in the same page Took me a couple minutes to figger what that meant .. So, just that one line by the red mark? Aaron is correct about being concerned about stuff like this. You may have noticed that folks with a "that's good enough" attitude don't generally get much of my time / comments. It's a true statement.... those who aren't interested in improving... won't. Now, as for this particular batch... them WRINKLES in the back got me stressin pretty hard... kaint afford the therapy neither! Wrinkles don't go in holsters... not even in the back.. The exception can be seen in some of the rigs by fgabesz (or something like that)... where his blending of cowhide fat marks and wood stain is an art in itself. Don't tell him I said that.... gotta keep him humble and workin' hard As for what to do about that mark... like you siad.. it's a dent. And I have historically used this 'mistakes' as you did... good spot to test a new color or finish, etc. And if the new 'plan' doesn't work, well- it already wasn't par. But I wouldn't pitch this one. I've certainly pitched some that shouldn't have been scrapped. Are you sure you can't 'smooze' it? Smooze... as in maybe we measure the distance from teh front stitch line to the "oopsie" mark. Set a divider to that distance, and "crease" all the way around the stitch lines at that distance, going over the ''oops' also so it's all the same depth....

Not necessarily anything to do with your work though. I have a Glock 42 holster and mag combo that I think looks pretty good -- but apparently I can't sell it without pointing the gun! I've had it for about as long as I've had any of 'em. Just to be wise-crackin', I discounted the snot out of it.. and was glad when it didn't sell at that price Nothing earth-shattering... back when we did "shows", I once sold a fully tooled leather belt for $8 just cuz the guy in the next booth told me I can't do that (since it's mine, i figured that meant i could do what I want).

Well, that explains why we haven't seen pics of the finished holster! Go on tear in -- holsters is simple (which is why you have a thousand thousand people doing them). Plus, a mistake doesn't cost you the rent money (just lunch money)

Cept fer a little wrinkle under the guard, that don't look bad at all -- so I don't think it's that. Glock folks do seem to like black, as a rule Did you stitch those loops down, or pin 'em in place with the snap?

Not just from the picture, no - I can't say. That grain does look a bit like sheep, but that's about all that can be said just from this.

OOPS... found a couple of straps showing some of the rolls.. almost easier than getting out the rolls! The black on is one rolll (cane weave) and the other is TWO rolls which can be used separately or together.

Roll type embosser for sale. Said I'd sell it in a month, but took me 3 months to get around to it! It's only used about a dozen times (ish) so not a BIG discount here. But I WILL throw in 6 or 8 embossing wheels that go to it, and pay the shipping. $400 for the whole package, which includes shipping in teh U.S. I'll get to listing the rolls I have if anyone is interested here. The machine is this one: http://bunkhousetools.com/Embossing_Machine.php

Blockades? Worst I get 'round here is the wife takin' my tractor keys

Yep. But throw in a "HOLD STILL LADDIE!" and suddenly you have copyright issues in yer face! Brings up a good point though.. IF these people making all the MULTITUDE of videos really are "experts", then HOW did they GET TO BE experts BEFORE the video? And IF they learned watching a video, then what exactly was the purpose of making ANOTHER video regarding the same thing? AND... ah.. nevermind ....

See, now there's a thought. I would not ever be in the market to spend $26k on a splitter UNLESS I was hiring it out. If it's just for me, then $26k buys about 130 sides of cowhide already split But I get what you're saying. I don't even stick a project in the sewing machine without first checking stitch lengths and tension settings on a piece FROM THE SAME HIDE.

I wouldn't "take the hit" for $80 just because there's no answer. PayPal has a case system for exactly that. Having said that, I would advise you ('you' meaning everyone) not to get 'star-struck' by pretty tools. Always someone wanting to sell us "new" and "improved"... which is fine IF it REALLY IS IMPROVED. So, let me say TWO things here for your consideration. I have one of the pro edge burnishers. I didn't care for the finish they put on it, but once I took that off it works pretty well. No worries. Other hand, think about what you really need. what I do with that 'fancy" burnisher, I could have done with any of a dozen things I already had laying around the garage What do you NEED? Here's a bit of a story, told by a college professor forever ago and used as a teaching tool since... Guy wants his house walls insulated. Google tells him that you can BLOW that in without taking the wall apart. You'll need 1 1/4" holes in teh wall near the ceiling line. So, he checks with the lumber yard, and you can RENT the machine to do that. Off he goes to the hardware store, where the sales guy tells him he'll need a drill. This one here's $19. But this one is reversible - $29. And this one here is variable speed AND reversible -- $39. And this one here is all that PLUS a hammer drill -- $69. And over here, this does all the above, but does it without being plugged in and comes with extra battery - $99... blahblahblah At the end of the story, the professor asks the class.. what should the guy do? What does he need? Most said he really just needs the basic drill... minus all the 'fancy'. Instructor said no... he just needs holes in his walls near the ceiling line (remember, they were told that to begin with) What WE need is something which smooths the edge of the leather, and if takes a bit of the labor out of it that's a plus. For some reason, people seem to think that they can charge leather people MORE for the same items, just give it a new name. Apparently, that's at least sometimes true I have seen a "leather" cutting utility knife priced in the $8-10 range. It's the SAME knife I bought at Menard's (where it's called "utility knife") for under $3.

I don't see anybody doing this, at least not here on LW. Is there just not enough demand? People figure that leather is usually bought the thickness desired? I'd buy a splitter, but simply can't find anything reliable. WAY tired of spending money on tools, only to find that I have to sharpen, tune, or adjust it BEFORE I can use it. (Seriously, when did anyone buy a NEW car and get told it will run well once it's tuned up?!@#!!!). I don't have need of this consistently anyway. Just noticing that splitting isn't in the "services" list -- and I might take advantage of that were it available.

11 oz (Garland) mallet all I ever use for tooling.

Yea, Cuz how kinya have any pudding when ya dont eat yer meat?@#!#!

Hi 'n' tight is good... Good to see you fellas gittin' some use outta them!

Three guesses at the finish I'm using with this one. No takers?... I'll tell ya anyhow. There is NO finish on this just yet. Water not even thoroughly dry from forming. It's quite black, but the camera is picking up the refection of the graph paper! Just posted to remind the new guys that: regardless of what you hear, it IS possible to make holsters without wrinkles on the back with the good stuff, your leather should buff up to a shine even before applying finish Now, those of us who been at it a bit know that easy 'nough, but the new guy might not. Wrinkles and acrylics are not inevitable

http://wickett-craig.com/leathers/

We talkin' U.S. currency? Sweeeeet ....

Maybe a little clearer without the sketches? Still a very simple project... Due to the addition of photos, I'm increasing the cost 30% (bringing the total to $0). Anyone not comfortable with the absence of video is free to not download if preferred card_hor03.pdf