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tboyce

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Everything posted by tboyce

  1. I'm still refining the process. in the one pictured, the wood was cut to 1-1/4" thick. I just finished drawing up another one that I will make out of solid maple boards glued together to make a solid block that I can cut out. Since it will be hardwood and, because of the boards glued together, I figure it will be much stronger and so I have reduced the thickness to only 3/4" When I'm done, I'll post the process in pictures and a pattern
  2. A seventeen dollar length of 4x6. A 79 cent hinge and a couple of hours in the shop and I have myself a European style stitching clam. I totally see what the fuss is with these things. Very comfortable and ergonomic
  3. There are ballots in these bells. They have holes. I used Chicago screws to put them in. You'll either need a really thin and long tweezers to grip the screw and put it through the hole or a magnetic screwdriver and the patience of Job.
  4. I left an almost brand new 30 dollar jar of contact cement in the garage and the weather got cold so now it's basically a 30 dollar elephant booger. Would a warm water bath reconstitute it?
  5. We all have people we'd like to give meaningful gifts to but can't afford to buy for everyone. Weaver leather has harness bells pretty inexpensive and a few of those, some scrap leather and about an hour of your time makes nice jingle bell door hangers. I can tell you from experience that they are well recieved
  6. Dave, I don't have a shop but I do have a bench in my garage and I live in Lehi just down the road. I'd be happy to help you out. Moreover, I belong to a group in SLC called makers. We kind of pool our money together, pay 50 bucks a month membership fee and we have a space in Salt Lake that has a full wood shop, laser cutter, metal shop, 3D printer. CNC routers, and robotics/electronics bench. They have me teaching a leatherworking class every other Tuesday. Their hope is to eventually have a leatherworking bench there as well stocked with tools. The way I work with the class is have them bring to me an example of something they'd like to make and I sort of mentor them through it. You're welcome to join in.
  7. My son wanted to go as Han Solo for Halloween. It would figure that the first holster I ever made would be for a toy gun. The buckle pieces had me stumped. I was about to make my own out of aluminum sheet when I saw that some kind soul had made the 3D models for the parts on Thingiverse.com Downloaded them and printed them up on a 3D printer. Just started it this afternoon so it's a tad rushed. Also...I need to clean off my work bench
  8. I order from rmleather.com it usually comes a day or two after I order. Correction. Rmleathersupply.com
  9. http://www.bighousedaddy.com/mountain_man_choppen_mittens.htm Big House Daddy has a pattern for sale
  10. The easiest way to do this is to take the file to a Kinkos or Office Space store with a print center and ask them to print it on a large format printer.
  11. Yes. I'm a bit slower now though. Not as active here lately.
  12. I think you'd be best with dura edge. Chrome tan is characterized by its flexibility. Therefore, any edge sealant you apply to it would eventually flake off were it not also flexible.
  13. I've had problems in the past (also from shaky hands) I've tried the pens which I'm not too happy with, although they do work. My method now is to buy the smallest wool daubers that Tandy makes. I use a lighter to burn the dauber until it's about half consumed. Then I take a cloth and wipe away the char. What is left is a perfect applicator. The fibers of the dauber are all tight and even so there's not a stray fiber waiting to ruin everything, the dauber collects enough of the dye to make a long even sweep along the edge without having to stop and dip every half inch or so. I don't have to go over and over a spot because the pen isn't flowing properly. Of all the methods I've tried, it accomplishes the best even application
  14. This is absolutely beautiful and fills me with despair at my own lack of talent
  15. Just saw this. I'll see what I can do but no promises.
  16. Yes. Again, it depends on how hot the water is and how long you soak it. That's something you'll just have to learn by experience
  17. you don't have to actually boil it in wax. The process of boiling leather, itself, will harden it. Adding wax or other type of oil like neatsfoot or olive oil will help preserve the hard leather which would otherwise become brittle. As with most processes in leather, you're going to have to experiment a little. It's like casing, you can have the process described to you a million times but you actually have to get it wrong a few times before you get the 'feel' of what is right. Good luck!
  18. Has there been any thought to creating a Master's Guild for leather workers? In ancient time, guilds guarded the secrets of the craft and the older masters taught the young learners. When someone in the guild wanted to become a master, they submitted a work that showed off the quality of their skill to the masters of the guild who would then judge it and vote on whether or not to bestow upon that worker the title of 'Master'. If the piece of work that was submitted for judgement passed muster, it was referred to as a 'Masterpiece' If a person failed to pass the judgement, the masters offered critiques of areas he or she might work on. I happen to think it would be really cool to start such a guild, as a group, select from the 10 or 15 best on this forum, elect them masters and ask them to serve as the judges. We could design and come up with a seal that would identify the maker as one who has passed the process and is entitled to call themselves a master leather worker. It could then be stamped onto their products and displayed on their websites as a sort of seal of approval. We would protect the seal with copyright. I certainly don't think my skills are anywhere close to master status but I know there are several here who are. I'd love to get there some day and I think having this sort of special craftsman's seal is a sort of goalpost.
  19. I had a friend send me a picture of her father's leather case for his old movie camera. The case was in a basement for a few decades and now it has mold on it. Anyone know a trick for cleaning it?
  20. I had a friend send me a picture of her father's leather case for his old movie camera. The case was in a basement for a few decades and now it has mold on it. Anyone know a trick for cleaning it?
  21. I've been thinking of investing in a rivet setting machine but the machine and the dies are so expensive. Surely someone has run across a less expensive option or supplier out there. If you have, I'd appreciate some advice Thanks Tom
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