JLSleather

Leather worked jus fine. Photo upload worked jus fine Clean lines, even tones, solid construction, ... I like it!

How many 'lefties' we got around here? NOT for the first time, I got a message from a left-handed feller who couldn't "flip" the pattern (in the computer) because it wouldn't import into Corel software. Honestly, I know nothing about Corel beyond how to spell it I didn't put a "lefty" version in the patterns because I figgered they'd be some confusion over which was which .. folks cutting out the wrong parts (probably ME), etc. Probably better to keep the righty and the lefty separate, doncha think? Commander_P0_L.pdf Okay, maybe try this one out. It just now occurs to me, I don't think I've actually made this one for the Colt commander for a left handed draw! "L" is for Left, so no trouble accidentally overwriting the righy version ...

Uh, yeah.. theoretically less cancel when you have their money (that's that loan I was talking about). I have a buddy up the road -- drives a REALLY nice truck. ". According to him, people want to see the contractor pull up in a nice truck, which [he deems] makes him appear "responsible" and "professional". So I said that when I see a contractor in the drive with a really nice truck (no scratches, no "work" marks) I don't see "professional" -- I see a guy who likes driving shiny trucks and wants ME to pay for it Richard's a nice enough guy - just maybe a tad of a small-man complex (?). I mean, I just said "that's a nice lookin' truck", -- never suggested that he should justify anything to me (I mean, it's his show)...

I know, Alex (BOY do I know). I once found my 10 year old asking a couple of the boys just how many breaks they felt they would need in ONE day

In the course of what I do, I see quite a bit of what people call "lead time". You know, somebody says "hey, look at what I did with your pattern!" or "check out my ...", etc. Granted, there's gonna be a bit of time in anything not straight off the shelf. And I try to keep it 'first come, first served" (though I admit, I've thrown a black holster into the works ahead of a tan one since I was already doing black and had black thread in that machine). But if I can't get to a guy within about 6 weeks, I'm referring them to another leather crafter. And I mean one who can do the work, at a fair price, in the time requested (they do exist!). But lately I see a lot of lead times 12 or 16 or 20 WEEKS. Now, each his own, and what a guy does with his money is rightly none of my business But 16 weeks? You realize that's like... oh... 4 MONTHS. For a simple belt or holster? Not this guy. I'll give a guy 4 weeks... if I know the guy I might even go 6 weeks. Beyond that, no. I use THE best leather available in the states and I have references (I mean, real people, not some who "partner" with me by trading likes n tweets). So I can't think of anything they would be doing that would make it "worth it" to wait months for such simple projects. In fact, beyond 6 weeks, you aren't "reserving a spot", you're giving that guy a no-interest LOAN Now, I understand that some projects involve considerable time. I wouldn't expect a custom saddle by next month, nor would I wait by the window for a large quantity order. But for a belt or holster, or even a belt/holster SET,... seriously, unless it's coming from Elvis -- I aint waiting MONTHS.

Yeah, it's good to stick to the price you agreed to. Tell him if it makes him feel better, you'll gouge him extra good on the next one

Welcome! Did you get the late version? I see about 5 or 6 people got the one with the pics reversed. So, the file you want is called NotebookLayout.pdf The 'wrong' one was deleted, but you folks is QUIK

... couple pics reversed in that text. FIXED NOW, but the 5 or 6 who already downloaded should get the latest ....

Nothing wrong with using commercially available patterns, but likely much better to make your own. Using a ready-made pattern certainly good for the newcomer, since you can concentrate on learning the LEATHER. But at some point, most of us will find it more convenient to design our own -- whether that's to save the money spent on "so many" patterns, or to let you customize the work to your taste (or that of your customer). That said, here's a quick "thingy" that may help with that. This discussion concerns a folding case for a small notebook. I had in mind the little "field notes" pocket size notebooks when I wrote this, but it can be applied to other projects of various sizes. Once I receive the actual notebook, I'll likely put up a "ready to go" pattern for those who care to use it, but for now .. some of you who already use those books may want to create your own design... http://www.jlsleather.com/diy/pattern-making/ Much like that old saying, 'give a guy a fish, he's good til, dinner. teach a guyta fish, ya never see 'im agin' . or, something like that, right?

Exactly And don't forget suppliers and employees on the irritation scale! Worst part is, I actually knew a guy who got PAID to fish ('worst' only cuz it wadn' me).

Oh, yeah... young fella around here mentioned once he got a "friendly" letter from a wallet maker -- apparently the guy thought he had 'rights' to a shape, or style, etc. But I've seen pics of the wallet he was supposedly trying to "safeguard" the design of, and it's so plain that it's unenforceable. It's also so plain that anybody over age 12 could make them by tomorrow, but that's another story So i (not a lawyer) suggested that the kid continue to make as many as he cares to make, long as he isn't using the other guy's logo on it. I add this to make the point: because someone contacts you about "copying" does not give them any legal rights at all. Again, it first needs to be original, specific, and YOURS to "protect" it. I could protect a pattern for a pancake holster for the Colt Commander (but, I don't.. download it free at will) but I have no rights to pancake holsters, Colt Commanders, or even OTHER patterns for the same thing. Someone else has made holsters for that, and if they choose to sell them there's nothing I could do about it (even if I wanted to). On the lighter side, I'm occasionally amused (again) at the many people who use an airbrush on the edges of something in veg-tan leather. Gibson guitars made that renowned over 70 years ago (back then, they called it "sunburst") but about every other year you see some leather worker "invented" the look (like, last week.

It's likely appropriate that this topic went on for years This stuff certainly can be confusing - some of that is no doubt deliberate. I make patterns from time to time, so I did look into it a bit, though I'm not paying the lawyers to give me every line of legal code. Still, there are some things which can be stated fairly clearly. A 'copyright' needs to be fairly specific. If you make notebooks, don't assume that the next person won't make them as well. And it would need to be yours. I've actually heard from people who used elements from Disney, Harley Davidson, and the NFL-- and then got mad when someone else did the same thing. It needs to be ENFORCED. This can get expensive on it's own, so not surprising that not EVERY violation is pursued (much like not every cocaine seller is arrested, doesn't mean it's legal). Some owners are better at "protecting" their property than others, and sometimes "protecting" it means NOT 'enforcing' it (if you aren't following that, don't worry). Finally, it's NOT about how many you sold, or who you sold them to, or even IF you sold them. If you make belts with the Pittsburgh Steelers IP, there might well be a problem (one guy been asking me for a good while now). If you GIVE it away, then that organization could still show that they lost revenue due to your actions (you get the idea). As for someone else's patterns... you may have seen some fancy looking speeches about "for your own use, not for distribution, not for commercial use"or something along those lines. As a rule, if you purchase a pattern, you can make things with that pattern INCLUDING items you intend to sell. What you can't legally sell is THE PATTERN itself. I personally saw one situation not far back. Kid graduated from Iowa State University. Somewhere along the line, he decided it was a good idea to have matching shirts for his buddies, only other boys who had graduated ISU. The boys all kicked in the price of the shirts, and he printed (or had them printed) shirts which used the ISU logo -- about a dozen of them. Now, most likely think of the school as a "state" school, but don't be deceived ... that is a business. Kid ended up on the local news, apparently had been contacted and had agreed to collect and destroy the shirts and not make any more, like "all friendly" like.

If I had a girlfriend what hadda job, I'd be doin more fishin' fer sher .....

Thanks Checkin' over at Ebay (sad that I check that before Staples or OfficeMax?) I see they have a 6x9" vertical bound version too.

Well, yeah -- free is good, right? But i understand.. no worries.

Anybody else seein' spots before yer eyes? Lookin' good ...

How big are those notebooks? I've been thinking about making a pattern for something like this to put on my site.

I don't recommend belly leather at all. Not even for prototypes -- since the leather will stretch and give DIFFERENTLY than leather from the shoulder or back portion of the same hide. When I make patterns I want them to fit, so I just 'get over' the "waste" of good leather -- which is like $10-15. But the pattern is already complete on this one, so really just a matter of cutting out and then color inside the lines

I thought that was taken care of a while back. Where'd that guy go? I still haven't ruled out wooden burnishers, but what glue is used to stick 'em on the metal shaft? I suppose I could cross-pin 'em (and I might anyway) ... Started actually shopping a bit for lathes this afternoon. I've used a lot of 'em, just a matter of determining which is best suited to what I want to do (cost, space required, electrical connections, etc.).

Yeah, I've made a few And a LOT of others have made holsters with those patterns, testin' 'em even further. Honestly, I'm with Alex here - some holsters you see listed as "handmade", "custom" and/or "top"... may well have been made by someone who has no idea what to do with a firearm. If you want to make holsters, START with my free download "about holsters", which will give you some plain english points to remember -- things that might be common sense (and SHOULD be) but don't hurt to mention anyway http://www.jlsleather.com/sdm_downloads/about-leather-holsters/

If you feel like you HAVE to see a video, then I'd absolutely recommend this one: Contains everything you need to see to make a quality holster - except the pattern itself - and does it all in half an hour. Very nice, solid looking holster, complete with a discussion of why he's doing what he's doing. Most of us take longer to make the first ones, and then some speed comes later (usually). But if a guy has to break the "how to" into multiple parts, he's likely more interested in promoting his u-tube channel than actually showing you ANYthing. Watching Hank a guy could actually make his own holster. Having seen a number of those videos, just trying to spare you going through some of that...

Around here, that would be Nestle Purina Pet Care and Georgia Pacific Gypsum One of the young girls my wife "adopted" started over there last year. Taking home $1k+ per week, which aint bad for a kid who aint 20 yet. Plus vacation, medical insurance, pension plan, flex spending account, .... and so on. She clocks in before 7a, clocks out at 4p, and whatever happens before 7a tomorrow is not her concern. Only job might be better than that is welfare recipient. Go fishin' for a month, and when you get back there's a check there to cover all your bills! Oh, you cut yourself cleaning fish? No worry,... the medical is paid for you too (do I sound a bit jealous?)

To clarify my post, when I say those "making any money (profit margin)", I am talking about those making money BEYOND the $60k (give or take) that you can make being the guy on the assembly line with no responsibility at all after 5;00 pm (or whatever time you "punch out") It's fairly simple to supplement your income making leather 'stuff'. But in terms of making a living at it, then I only "count" the part that benefits ABOVE AND BEYOND that simple "job" where all the admin stuff is someone else's problem.

Commander length (4.25") 1911 pancake style holster pattern available for free download now. This is still listed over at cutesy, priced at 75¢. REASON for the pricing : cutesy won't allow listing for free, or even a mention that it's available elsewhere for free. SO THEN: ANY pattern of mine listed at 75¢ is there for convenience -- so people already on that site don't need to go somewhere else to download if they don't want to. BUT, if you see it's 75¢, then you auto know that pattern is available FREE on the site. ALWAYS check the free version first

You can find free info on making holsters - including some patterns - on my site. I don't go into stitching and simple dye instructions, since those are so simple that a long discussion is ridiculous. You don't need an hour video to tell you that the stitch goes up through one hole and down the next. And yes, you can make that holster for less than $150. The BEST leather, you can still make that for under $20 worth of materials.