Don101

I dont know Russ you sure learnt a lot doing it the way you explained all you mistakes, and i bet if you did a second one you would have a 100% improvment, and on my screen it dont look all that bad, maybe use a smaller stitch and you have it nailed, Don

Sure looks ok and the price is low, there are lots of these low price knifes on the german ebay but im not sure of the steel quality keep us informed how it turnes out, Don

8.. now dampen the leather, 9.. you can either use a drill stand with a wooden dowel, these can be easly made or you can purchase them, 10.. or you can use a hand held slicker this is also a hand made one, any hard wood will do, 11.. here you can see i rubed for about one minute with the hand held slicker, it should shine like glass, 12.. the same with the back side,

Here is a quick run through how i do my edges 1.. before assambly and dying do a border edge, 2.. the same for the stitching with a stitching grover, 3.. here is an example of the tandy edger it is flat and no matter how hard you try to polish you wont get a realy nice round edge, 4.. here you can see how flat it is, 5.. this is an osbourne round edger it rounds the edge and not a flat cut like the tandy one, 6.. here you can see the round cut, 7.. on boath sides

ERM Er What do i Say just watched the show and im lost for words of how to describe it, WOW im gonna have to try it, now i know how its done LOL theres so much detail, Don

Hi Glenn welcome to the forum we are glad you found us, you dont need to be a computer wiz to do leatherwork so if you have any questions fire away as some one here can help out, Don

Hi Ian welcome to the forum love the spider seat that is some nice work you do there, Don

Welcome Tim to the forum glad you droped by, pics are always welcome, Don

Hi Leather Weaver welcome to the forum, i couldnt find your link either, Don

Spurs did you mension spurs now you got me listning this sounds interesting, do you have any pics as id like to see how you are doing them, Don

its all ok using drills but you cant controll the back holes like using a awl and for me the way the back looks is just as important as the front, drills dremmels been there done it but you end up with round holes and dont get that neat saddler look as with using an awl, just my opinion so if you are getting good results and happy with the look you are getting carry on by all means, im not trying to knock it i just prefere an awl, Don

As usual a WOW sheath i love your sheaths and top quality workmanship, Don

i like the sheath it has a nice flow in the edge design and it isnt easy to stitch through that amount of thickness and get all the stitches to match up on the back side which you mastersd very well, Don

Thanks Guys for the nice compliments and feel free to rip it off thats the point of sharing to give new ideas, Don

when i make a belt 24 is standard and calculated in the price and for each loop more is $2, i think if you have less than 24 loops it looks lost on a standard 36 inch belt, Don

Yes its just for the knifes you could also carry a sharpener by pushing it through the rings Yes you are right its a skinners set, and yes it is my design although commen of the period, the cross cut was done by cutting with a swivel knife whilst the leather was still wet along a rule (every thing was assembeled) then dampened again when all the cutting was finished and verry verry carfully use a blow torch (a small one from the DIY) and move the flame over the top surface not getting to close to the stitching and dont stay still in one place to long or you will burn the leather, but it makes the cut lines open up and giver a nice old used look to it, like i said dont do it on dry leather on you will burn the leather, re dampen if nessesary, try it out on some scrap first, then just ad some oil to the top surface and buff a little, Don

Here is a sheath i made up for our Anual Buffalo Hunters Camp, the items were primative but practical, Don

Hi Phil Welcome to the forum, Don

Steve great saddle i love the cinch belt carving and the whole look of the saddle and wow the back of the cantle great job, when you do a saddle for your self do you find it difficult to actually decide how you would like it, carving and style and so on, don

Hi welcome to the forum, that eagle is just somthing else it rocks, Don

Hi Kim welcom to the forum, Don

Hi Dave welcome to the forum we are glad that you came by, Don

same here im not a leather painter id end up with a lot of black items at the end of the day, Don

Like WOW i love it, all the above and more, more pics of the inside and handle please, Don

Hi Dave welcome to the forum from one ex services to another forth tanks which was disbanded in 92 so i stayed in germany, Don