JLSleather

Any machine shop should be able to make one of those in about 15 minutes. Pay a few bucks extra and have them make it out of chrome rod.

2mm? So that's like 6/7 oz hide?

Yep, both those terms are used. "Double loop" is by far the most common method (U.S. makers) used. There's an OLD book "how to lace" from Craftool. Paper bound, black and white, and not at all "fancy", but it has detailed instruction on this and some other styles of lacing. Probably pick one up at any Tandy store (or where their stuff is sold) for a few bucks. This style is used widely because (1) it's simple to do, and (2) it looks quite nice when properly done.

My oldest boy needed a new belt. The belt and matching wristband is standard "ho-hum" commercial grade work, but I'm showing off the BOY Now if I could get him to put on a clean shirt and lose that hideous ring ... (hey, he's 17 - enough said).

I like the #5 oval punch - but this is general and should not be taken as fact for that buckle (cuz I don't know). Just wanted to say nice, clean looking belt ... love the stitching!

Okay, dyed the edge... From the size of your photo, I wasn't sure if you dyed it or if you folded the lining over to the border and then stitched (which would also look nice - long as it was well-trimmed). Either way, I'll say it again.... This looks NICE.

That sounds 'bout right ... the "old" wallets (in the U.S., maybe) were 9.25 x 3.375" and this is the size most of the craftaids you see were based on. The interiors were then made 9" wide, which if you assemble with the ends aligned left the whole deal slightly bent before lacing. Thus, 1/4" shorter for the U.S. folks. The height I suppose should suit the interior, not the other way around. Keep in mind a couple o' things here, though. I didn't use the "CF" inserts today, and I have no plans to use them tomorrow. The sizes I saw listed on them were quite different, and may be a "down under" thing. But, I have family in New Zealand, and they don't know too!

This is nice, gotta be a happy customer

I'll look at it again. Yer the man, Tina ... er ... well ....

Is the inside tooled at all? If the inside "layer" is smooth, I just: tool and dye the belt as normal. Cut the back a little wider (doesn't matter, just saves time not having to fit the thing down the length). Trim the back to the front. Groove and stitch. Bevel edges and burnish. One line makes this look faster than it really is, of course, but I think you'll find that's pretty standard order of events. One difference you may see is that I dye the edge of the finished project AFTER burnishing - some fellas may not.

I hope this is taken as helpful - and not rude ... Spell check your site. I admit I don't know nuthin', but is there really a expolding terget? Hope this is not offensive ...

Angelus spirit dye? I thought the Angelus line was water-based (??). I've been thinking about trying them for a LONG time, but if they have a spirit version it might just get me going ...

That's PRICELESS! Which is more work, the saddle or the little concho in the hat (I have 5 of those myself)

I need something like this, only brown-er. If you make these, give me a price. If you know where I can get them, that's fine also. I need this style, with 12 card pockets (6 each side). Last resort, if you know where to get a strong leather that doesn't end up saddle thick, ...

It all looks good, but that little bag (with the brass "sticks") is NICE.

NOt sure where to post ... suppliers, help wanted, sewing, ??? I'm [still] looking for wallet liners. Anyone making the "hipster" style with 10-12 card horizontal card pockets? If you know a supplier sellling small quantities (as in not 1000's) that'd be awesome. If you sew your own, and want to contact me with a quote for a JOB making half a dozen of these, that's fine, too. I need TWO, but I'd take more. I need it to be strong, but not bulky (that "mission grain" crap I see everywhere won't do). Money is ALWAYS "an object", but I'll pay a reasonable price for a good item. HELP ... uhhh - I mean THANKS!

3/4 oz carving back, 1-1/2-2 oz goat liner. Very tough, luxurious feel, yet thin. Ends up with a checkbook that's thinner than the checks in a book, even with pockets for cards - and will last for years.

And these from yesterday are kinda "floraly" ... still no antique.

Oh, forgot I had this one (some days I wouldn't recognize my mind if I saw it). No antique.

My buddy uses those slide things used for playing the guitar ... little plastic tube thing. I could never get the hang of them, and that athletic tape idea is sounding like it's worth a try ...

Tha's just funny ! I don't have photos of two of the same thing where I used antique on one and not on the other. Much of that stuff gone in the computer theft (hard to back up files when they took the computer AND the disks). And I can't even "do one up" , cuz I don't HAVE any antique finish. But I can sorta make the point here with a couple of other things. THING !: Here's about as close as I've come to that sort of thing (personally) in quite a while. #1 dyed and oiled, then tan-kote. No "resist", no buffing, no problem. Just put the dye where it goes and be done. #2 dark brown leather STAIN (which I felt compelled to try). applied to the basketweave design ONLY (deliberately NOT on the dark brown dyed border OR the oak leaves) wanted to see the distinction. This effect I can live with, though not my personal favorite. Even with this, you can see how the natural leather "lifts" more than the stained area, though nothing is actually lifted. The rest of my point can maybe be shown best from the original post, though a larger pic would have been easier .... More in a bit... Okay, thing 2: I've copied, enlarged, and cropped the original photo. This is the lower left of the front panel of the notebook, and I hope it was okay to do this Notice the line of "slime" left behind along the outside of an otherwise very nice border. NOT good. And you can't miss the "puddles" left in pretty much every depression on the project. I call them that because we've all seen a mud puddle - then the sun comes out and leaves behind this sludge sitting in the holes. Is that ribbed "thumbprint", or lined, or smooth? Or checked? You can't tell - the effect he was getting is now buried in the puddles. And all the cuts he spent so much time putting in are now filled in with cake. This "finish" serves to darken the deep spots - it's that simple. So, instead of "resisting", then antiquing, then buffing, then finishing again - only to have your entire project darkened (ruining the subtle colors, if you used them, and blending subtle shades and natural leather) why not just put the dark where it goes and leave the rest alone ?#$@&*! In fact, back up just a bit ... if the leather's moisture is right, then the tools will create their OWN darkening (fancy folks call it "burnish"). SO -- here's the thing for any English speaking folks. I think we all appreciate ( I know I do) your injected humor taking the edge of what was supposed to be a helpful suggestion. Guess I should have put it this way in the first place .... I think the guy's carving looked TOO GOOD to go dumping that stuff on it.

Sweet and sour review here (wife says I'm argumentative, but I disagree). The design and tooling look GOOD. But I've always hated that antique crap. Looks like what's left behind when the spring flood receeds, and I think it RUINS a perfectly good carving. Originally, it was the lazy man's color shading. So here's the thing ... this turned out "Okay" because the tooling looks good. BUT, if you're willing to take the time to tool all of that, I'd sure like to see you SKIP the antique (which I think is French or Latin for "crap"). I think you'll find the design looks SO much cleaner and nicer. Don't take this wrong, I think you got a nice lookin' project there. I just think that for LESS money and LESS time, it would look EVEN BETTER. TO be clear, I don't mean you did the antique wrong, I meant that antique should never be used. By anybody. Ever.

Talking about these, or some other style?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-LEATHER-CLOCK-CARVING-PATTERN-/190477237889?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5953fe81 From Ebay, right now.