bkingery

Air/overs are sometimes hard to regulate, get an air dryer/regulator and put it in the line right after the compressor, you can't rely on the pressure surge from an air compressor sometimes. After you put the regulator on make sure you put a tiny bit of air tool oil in the line every other time you use it or so, or if you use it a lot then you can put an oiler/dryer/regulator in instead. The oil will help keep the seal pliable. Another thing I was wondering is how much are you pressuring up AFTER you hit the bottom of your cut, if you overpressure your cut you could be putting to much backwards resistance on the seals. maybe try a more cushiony cushion if that makes sense. If none of that works i would probably try to get a better brand of jack. Northen's stuff to me usually isn't much better than harbor freight but that is just my opinion. Good luck Bryan

Welcome, I only have one piece of advice. RUN, RUN AS FAST AND AS FAR AS YOU CAN. No ok welcome then there are lots of super people here to learn from. Have fun and enjoy. Peace Bryan

I get my 8 oz flasks at walmart for 4.99 and charge 40 for stamping and 50 to 60 for tooling depending on design and the amount I have to design and that includes saddle stitch. For lacing I usually add ten and sometimes throw it in if I like the person AND their not onery with me. I have found a few sites on e-bay that sell flasks but the shipping is usually outrageous. If your looking for stock items I don't really know. Sorry Peace Bryan

I use my shopsmith

@6stringgeek welcome aboard, and someone needs to open the old ones once in a while there are way to many for all of us to remember. First question: why would you want to soak your leather for so long? My take: if you look at the ingrediants they are pretty much the same stuff, wood stains have a courser grind to the pigments is about the only differance that I can tell, I think I've used probably six differant colors and all had the same results, they work great. always even color dispersion, and if you use the all in ones they produce exactly the same way all the rest of the stains do. If you want a darker color as long as you don't let them dry completely and seal the pores you do exactly the same thing as if you were staining wood, put on another coat and then buff it off, repeat until you get desired color. I don't know how they would react in an airbrush but they work pretty good in an air sprayer, (they all come with stain tips). I've even tried most of the ECO-Flow dyes and they aren't close. The only dye that I absolutely will ONLY EVER use from Feibings is USMC Black. But even that I think I'm going to start using vinegaroon but thats whole nother ball game right there.... Just my opinion is all Peace Bryan

I would take him to any thrift store and have him try on as many differant types of buckles as you can find and see what he likes best, I always used the post type when I was a kid, (same last minute thing ya know) oh wait i'm 42 and still have the same problem maybe I should switch back Peace Bryan

It's worked for me on all the ones i voted on. Thanks Chrys

I'll comment since no one else did. Overall it's a good job for a first try and you pointed out the major things wrong. The thing that stands out the most to me is the lacing, but for me thats one of the first things I look at. I would do a lot more practice on keeping an even tension on it and if you can get a 4 prong Flat punch and use one size smaller than the lace if you can. another thing is the lace is twisted in a lot of places. As far as the carving goes it looks good, I would background more and go a little deeper with your tools. Good Job overall Bryan

The other best books to buy is "The art of making Cases" also by Stohlman, and when I say best I mean priceless, these books will not only show you how to do the stiching but is a well of information for the newone. There is three volumes but you learn all about the stitching in the first one mostly. If you want a website try kingsmere.com it is one of the best. Hope this helps. Peace and love Bryan

Very Very Nice, GOOD JOB, the only thing i can think is that is a lot of background, maybe widen up the vines a bit and add some more offshoots, but i think it flows really well. Again great job the first one is always the hardest. Peace and Love Bryan

Welcome, Two or three coats of satin sheen FIRST then anttique then one or two more coats of satin sheen. Works for me. Bryan

I just signed up for mine and I did quite a bit of research on it. The only reason they have the hold for over 1000.00 is so crrug dealers won't use it to sell drugs on the corner. You can get them to raise it if you send them a copy of your credentials

Chicago screws are just that, a screw and a nut. If you use a little locktite on them they will never come loose, well maybe not never but pretty dang close. There are two kinds of locktite red and blue. The blue stuff is good for things that you don't want to come loose but may have to take apart. The red stuff is super duty industrial and it takes a jackhammer to get it apart. The biggest thing to remember is "A DAB WILL DO YA". I have used both on oilfiled trucks that take a ton of abuse and it works like it says. Peace Bryan

me too, i was really excited for a minute there

I'm with Mike, your design is your design if you want to give it away or not is up to you. The DIY kit is a very good idea also BUT how many of us have bought DIY kits from Tandy, then made a copy of the leather and then piecemealed the rest from what we have, I have and I bet almost everyone on here has at one point or another, how many crap holsters get bought at walmart and then torn apart, copied and remade better. Thats how we learn. If you made the pattern and instructions then you would have an instuction pack and then the same thing would apply, unless you get a copyright which would take you years and lots of money people are going to use it, probably quite a bit. Then there is the other thing with those of use that can figure it out on our own by looking at your pictures and then it would look Close to yours but wouldn't be close at all because all they have to do is change one thing and then it's not your design anymore. I don't think I would do anything with it but if they keep bugging you then I would do a pattern pack and sell it on ebay or something, you probably could make a killing. Just my opinion, I don't make Holsters YET Bryan

Obviously the Tandy person who talked you out of buying the diamond awl didn't know **** about hand sewing, if you hold the awl at an angle when you push it through when you stitch the leather actually grabs the thread. I would be very disappointed with this person. Diamond awls have been used for thousands of years so I would trust that. There was some bone awls found on Kodiak Island a few years ago that they think are almost three thousand years old. Hmmm wonder if they were on to something. As far as remaking the tools if you can go for it if it's easy for you. i think the craftools actually help me be a better leatherworker because I have to adapt to make them work better. Just my .02 hope it helps. Peace Bryan

Thanks for the pics I'm sure they will come in handy. Peace Bryan

Welcome. You've pretty much found the best source of information you can right here if you want it we got it. For free videos, Tandy and YouTube just type in leathercraft and start watching there are quite a few good videos on the basic stuff, for building stuff The case making books by Al Stolman will prove to be priceless for you and they run about 10.00 each. There are a couple of really good websites to use also, Kingsmere Crafts is an excellent one for beginning, Leatherlearn is also a good one. Those should keep you busy for quite a while. Good luck Bryan

Some one once told me that to make a mistake is human but to fix the mistake so no one but you knows makes you an ARTIST. Work with what you have and the rest will follow. You will be amazed with what you can do with just the basics and it makes you all that much better when you have to get artistic. I agree tough you should get a set of modeling tools because you can improvise a lot of things with them, I do anyway. personally I think I have spent WAY more on my layout tools then on my leather tools. Good luck Peace Bryan

VERY nice, I like the way the spine makes it look, Very cool design and I think you did and awesome job on the tooling. The only thing I would have done differant is to put your stitch line in a little further. If your willing to share your design that would be supercool also. Great job. Peace Bryan

Ok so he is ONLY supplying the alligator, what are you going to do with it, laminate, inlay,full wrap, I would charge at least half of what he would be selling them for. Bryan