JLSleather

I can't imagine needing to purchase something as simple as a wallet design. I mean, it's not like they need to "fit" anything... and can be about any size and shape you like. That said, the many "billfold" craftaids you see are made for carving on wallet "backs" that measure 9 1/4" x 3 3/8" in 3/4 oz leather. FWIW. Oh, and I did find at least some of those pics with the clear ID window 'stuff'... This is one side of a wallet interior, and this particular wallet measured (at a gal's request) 7 1/2" x 3 1/2" (or was it 3 5/8?)

Not to worry, JR,.. we just don't agree. .. and that's okay

"I am making a cowboy rig ..." So, you're talking about a STRAIGHT belt, or the buscadero type rig?

I'm not following that at all. What exactly DID they say it will do, that something else wouldn't? Ah, you know what... never mind

Okay, I'll dissent here. You're in a large enough metro area that there is surely someone local who can get you a good machine - and even let you test drive it before deciding. In fact, if they won't do that, walk away, cuz someone else WILL. Even if 'dealers' showed up on your doorstep (saving you shipping).. where will they be when the machine goes down or needs service? Nope, for my money, go with the local guy. He has parts for you machine, can install them if necessary, and likely has a "loaner' machine to use while yours is in the shop. Must be signs of the times. Customer service didn't used to mean you fix it yourself. After a year, perhaps, but not the week after you bought it. My next purchase, I think probably an adler. Man, them things is 'smooooooooth'......

I'll have to dig a bit. I had pictures of some I made 'from scratch', but the other day I didn't see them so I'm guessing they got removed -- likely on one of the backups, though. The plastic material I found at Hobby Lobby in the sewing section (actually, a girl who works there found it for me). Works great, and I still have some -- so maybe can find out what it's called. Comes in flat sheets about 12 x 18 (or around there). Very rigid, very transparent, and stitches in well and stays there. I really need to find those pics

The guy's question (in case it got lost)... was IF there was a significant advantage over other types of blades. For me, there is not. The end. But that topic 'loss' happens sometimes around here. Fella asked a simple question recently about a holster pattern and got handed like the history of gun powder. No, wait.. it was the availability of dummy guns for various models. Either way, anyone NOT having a pattern (the answer to the guy's request) could have simply NOT replied. NOT have = NOT reply. Simple idea, doesn't always happen.

Marking this for later .... back to bed...

So then, it would seem that's a "no".. nobody has a pattern for that.

Perhaps that's where that phrase came from.. queer as a football bat But you seem confused. I don't see anybody "anti- round knife. In fact, I view them like golf... no problem if the OTHER guy does it.. In the end, though, what about the LEATHER?

I generally buy backs... sides with the belly already removed. Sure it has a purpose though. Hmmm.... Put it inside the shop door, place to wipe yer feet when you come in out the rain. Use it to cover the bench, in case you spill some dye. Makes small but good smelling curtains. Wickett / Craig will sell you the bellies for about $15 if I remember rightly. Even at that price, I dont buy 'em. http://www.wickett-craig.com/

I'd skip it, personally. Be a COLD day when I go 100 miles and don't know what I'm getting. But then, the tandy "classes" I've seen (by accident, happened to walk in the store) were useless -- generally along the lines of old fat guy with a sales pitch and / or need for attention. Maybe not the same in other places? But, that one in MN had a cute girl attending it, so not a complete waste of time (though not involving leather). $100 buys about half a side of cow leather .. a LOT of hands on practice. Here, someone wants you to pay $100 to have them tell you what tools and leather you need (which they are willing to sell you). Or you could buy a "membership" (which I suppose they make sound like a "deal" since it's more than the $100) which is good ONLY with Tandy. And you need to buy tools just to take the classes, ON TOP of what you're already paying? Yikes ... But bottom line, there's a SEA of information to be had right from home and FREE. I've purchased a few books over the years, but as a rule --- If a guy thinks his opinion is so important he should CHARGE me for it... then he can keep it

I once went in a store looking for an awl. You'd think that would be simple. But apparently, one that actually WORKS is harder to find So I grabbed one, put a blade in it from off the shelf, and went to stab that piece of 9/10 cow across the aisle. Manager - what with managers being rather the girlie, can't -deal -with -a -real -job type - freaks out cuz I'm gonna put a hole in that leather (Oh MY!). So I told him I'd BUY that piece of leather. And IF this cuts without leaning on it, I'll take teh awl haft and blade, too. Turned out he was worrying for nothing .. that awl wouldn't hurt that leather anyway Never thought I'd see the day when I have to sharpen a blade BEFORE I use it. After 1000 years of tool and die work, I know HOW to sharpen, I just don't think I should have to. I also shouldn't have to heat my food at the resturaunt (it should come that way) or put oil in it when I buy a new car...

American made.. tha's a good 'un

Oh, yeah... this may be better for some .. though same point. Guy wants to blow insulation in the walls of his house, finds out he needs holes in the wall between each wall stud. So he goes to the hardware store, where the kid tells him he needs a drill. Here's one.. $19. BUT, this other one is variable speed, which is better... $29. Oh, wait.. this one is reversible and variable.. $49. And this 'real man' version also adds hammer-drill function - $99. Finally, the guy has so much "information", he tries to think back about what he really needs. And at this point, most would say all he really needs is the "cheap" $19 straight forward drill. But that's not true.. what he really needs is holes in his wall -- and the drill is just one way to get that done. In the end the drywall would be patched leaving no evidence of what was used to make the holes. What is important is the finished appearance of the wall.

Welcome to 2015... it "must" be good - there's a video about it! Yeah, think that's another sales pitch I'm just going to go on around. Everything on my site -- and 100 times more --- all done without a round blade, or head knife, whatchacallit. Good news... those who like 'em, can take the last one on the shelf.. don't wait for me! I'll tell a short story, which I think (still) is what is going on here. It's for my benefit, so if there's anything in someone's mind that thinks I'm trying to persuade you... I'm not. Do whatever you like. So then ... I had an ugly truck. I mean, UG LEE. It was once white,but the white paint had become chalky and dull. And then it got hit in the driver door, so I replaced that with a different door, which was flat black. Somewhere along the line, I'd paint the whole thing. But there was a snow blade complete with mount for that exact truck for $1k (normally closer to $5k) so I put it on there. Now I had a dull white truck with flat black door (one) and black plow mount with yellow blade (Meyer). OH, yeah,.. and I put a 6" x 1/2" thick mild steel bar scraper on the blade instead of the semi-hardened shiny one that says "meyer" on it (free to me, versus about $150). Didn't even paint the scraper bar... just bare steel. And it was a 4-on-the-floor, so I fabbed an aluminum mount so I could put the plow controls permanently on the shifter - no need to move my hand off the shifter OR the controls. Well, until it was time for coffee and a convenience store girl. SO.. one of those girl / coffee stops, the kid with the shiny new truck with all the pretty lights pulls in to plow the parking lot of the station. He's a jerk, but his Dad is a good man, so I tolerate the goof. In what appeared to be an attempt to impress the girlie, he went on a bit about that truck (perhaps a "real" man would replace that thing). He didn't go too far, since he knew we have other trucks -- and to him it's apparently all about appearances. Personally don't care, so I drive the ugly one (which is also quite good for carrying firewood and other things that would 'ding' a shiny truck). At some point, I told him I'd help him plow the rest of the night for free. All he had to do is go up a few blocks to that big parking lot, look at the snow all piled up on one end, and tell me WHICH truck or trucks had plowed that lot - and I'd work for him all night long for nuthin'. Danged if he couldn't tell WHICH truck(s) did that.. all you could see was a clear parking lot with a big wall of snow all on one end. And it seems were here again. Round knives. Head knives. French edgers. More videos (like we need more videos ). I actually prefer to see the LEATHER. Same type of thing .... look at the leather, and tell me what it was cut with. If you can't tell, then perhaps it doesn't matter.

I'm not seeing the "answer" in this case. I don't listen to anybody and everybody, but Aaron has posted enough pictures of good looking leather that his would be one opinion I would at least consider. Plus, his responses tend to be thoughtful (not "yeah, what he said") so even if I don't agree, I at least had that view presented. But in that line of thought, I could by a Porsche to go to the grocery store - it will get the job done. But so would the $10k Chevy .. just as well and for much less cost and much less maintenance. But if the original question wasn't what I thought, then I'll ask it myself .. what can you do with a round knife that you couldn't do with something else?

Yeah, there's that "traditionally" thing. But in terms of actual USEfulness, the utility knife can be "learned" as with any other tool, to do about anything, WITH the advantage of not spending hours sharpening (just swap a new blade in and go), which is why I prefer that route. My judgment, most people who have one -- have one so they can say they have one. There's nothing wrong with tradition -- each his own. But I'm not getting a round knife to do what I already do without one. I'm also not takin' my wares to the general store on horseback / pack mule Oh, and much as I admire A. Stohlman's work (STILL), I don't buy tools just because they say "Al" (even if others do).

There is no point on a round knife. Actually, I'm sure you'll have some folks liniin' up here to tell you all about so many wonderful needs for the things, but I've never owned one. I've made a LOT of stuff over the years without one.

Well, that was my thought, too. But, these days Tandy does not have a monopoly on dull tools. I ordered an awl 5 times (in 4 different places) before finding one that was decent. Not good, just bearable. I really don't want more machines and tools, but I would like a quick and easy way to skive belt ends. NOT spending $1k to do it.

Anybody ever used one of these? Seems like a handy tool that doesn't take up much space.

How well does it clear the front site?

Actually, Jeff's "tone" was to cut through the crap and HELP.

Not sure Im following you there. When I make notebooks, it matters if they have a gusset or not. basically, you don't want glue anywhere it will show (short version), so you would stop at teh stitch line. Some things, maybe a bit different depending on lotsa things. Simple way to do that? Ya gotta stitch groover? Ora creaser you use to mark the stitch line? Use that same tool (LIGHTLY) on teh inside, hten just lay the paper on that mark.

What small diameter? Are you trying to glue JUST from the stitching out? Put a piece of paper down on teh leather, lined up with where you want the glue to stop. Think taping off your windows before you paint the walls (only don't use tape -- just a piece of paper is fine). Painters call it a "mask". You can see what i mean ... download one of them files about makin holsters instructions.. same thing -- shows the "glue blockin'" http://www.jlsleather.com/diy/holster-diy/ OH--- I think you'll find that contact cement that settles has some parts more brown-ish and some more yellow-ish. Mix till you have one color somewhere in between. Now that we can see your pics.. yeah.. WAY too thick.