Ferg

If you do not expect a return order you could have a mallet die made. If the customer thinks they may need more later, you may wish to invest in a clicker die. Requiring more investment on your end of course. ferg

I can usually get my head around most changing things, this isn't one of them. Sorry, Johanna, I simply do not like the new format at all. Ferg

Cheap hide! What is that old saying? You get what you pay for. Sorry, this often happens with cheap hides no matter where they come from. Ferg

Love it!!! Have always enjoyed looking at this fabulous art form. I have never been talented enough to do the work you have accomplished. Leatherwork should be a cinch for you in the carving field. I have some of the Gomph Hackbarth tools, they are very good tools and that set is a good place to begin. Ferg

Electrathon, I agree with you. It has been 63 years since I first picked up a leather tool or leather to make something. I laced everything I made, never dreamed of a sewing machine although I had a friend in the parachute loft sew heavy leather soles on slippers or moccasins I made. I love to sew/stitch by hand, arthritis does not allow much of that anymore. I love my three sewing machines although they can drive you bonkers some times. Folks on this forum do fabulous work by hand and with machinery. I have a knife for my large CNC machine that I can cut patterns or the leather pieces for a project. That will give you goose bumps to watch. lol Evolution pertains to all walks of life. If you like doing the craft the old ways, have at it. Personally, I like a mixture of all. Ferg

There is a company in India who manufactures steel rule equipment. You would probably receive better shipping from them than the USA. BTW: Original post is quite old, I doubt if what you were enquiring about is still available. Ferg

I was in the Cincy Tandy Saturday. They have about 15 lisaro hides left, they have them in a wire container so they are useless. Scratches etc. Asking $99 each for them, I gave about $25 less than that last summer. I did buy a nice smooth grain, soft cow hide in a good medium brown color at 2 oz to 3 oz. Also, a very nice blue Minelli hide. This Tandy has more leather and accessories stock than most of the stores I have been in. Clean store also. Ferg

Yes, one hide, very expensive. Some of the best leather you will ever own. If they have what you want in stock expect 2 weeks lead time. With a special order maybe two months. Ferg

The rolled edges are labor intensive for sure, but they give a look not possible otherwise. I actually like doing them. My powered skiver doesn't do well with already thin leather so I use one of my round knives with the leather on a piece of fairly thick glass and skive by hand. Have gotten fairly fast at it. ferg

Skive the edges of each piece, roll the edges and glue only. Place the two pieces together gluing them and stitch. Gives two rolled edges tightly held together, they look great. ferg

Old and smart. Anyone taking you serious has more of a problem than just looking for a "Tart". LOl ferg

I guess some fun is FUN. Isn't this getting a little out of hand? Cute? I am not so sure. Doesn't this belong on a Dating Site? ferg

I looked at their site. All I can say is, "WOW! Oriental folks have the touch when it comes to intricate design and perfection in their work. I only wish the miserable trash we are exposed to by the Chinese in almost every avenue of our life these days, would stop. Honestly, I think I would gladly do without. ferg

Cincinnati Tandy had a large inventory of them last summer. Haven't really looked anywhere else. Seems I gave about $60 or $70 per hide, 6 to 8 sq.ft. Love the doggone stuff. ferg

I have bought about eight of these hides. Afraid I cannot give you much on the tech's of it but I can tell you it is a great leather. I make cell phone cases, wallet backs, etc. with it. You can tool and stamp it. The colors are very nice. ferg

My rotaries are definitely "Vintage". I have had at least two of them for 60+ years. Never bent or broke one, just continue dressing the copper pad so the hole is cut complete. Guess you might look for an old one.lol ferg

What really brought this subject up? I guess I haven't been looking for anything to antagonize about. I have lived through five major wars the USA was involved in, some much worse than others. I try real hard to find good in most everything that happens. I agree that is difficult at times. ferg

Veery nice. ferg

Horween is maybe the only tannery doing Cordovan Shell Horse in the USA. I know of at least one Italian tannery that does it also. Horween has a video of their tannery that is educational as well as very interesting. If you haven't seen it you should. Over sixty years ago I bought Cordovan from Horween. For those not knowing what portion of Horse Hide it comes from.... The Rump of the horse. There are two shell shaped areas the cordovan is cut from. Thus: Shell Cordovan. The leather has the tightest grain of any I have used in the weights available. You cannot tool it but it will take a hot, gold, transfer as no other. Hard to come by most of the time since the high end shoe and accessory manufacturers use almost all Horween has at any given time. I have two cordovan shells I bought from Horween three years ago. I have cut an exterior for a wallet from one the other is untouched. They aren't as nice as what I used to buy. ferg

Okay, To begin with, if you want a very artistic transfer you are going to need to "Heat Transfer" plus white leather or as near to it as possible. I have gotten reasonably good black transfer onto most any leather but Veg Tan works best. There is a lot more to the transferring of images to leather than I am going to go into here. ferg

Never used to for upholstery BECAUSE? it rubs off on clothing. ferg

Some folks have good luck with the safety skiver, I hate the darn thing. I use a round knife that is kept very sharp when I want to skive thin leather. I have the French also. Rolled edges are beautiful and "Sassy Classy" but they would make your wallets more expensive because of the time involved. I think the burnished edge is the way to go, along with the crease. If you do not incorporate a flowing curve to the top edge of your pockets, try it. With the crease they look very nice and add little to the cost. ferg

If the blade is sharper than anything you can imagine and adjusted perfectly, you can do it. With a lot of patience. ferg

You are welcome to your opinion. I don't see any difference in your two scenarios. If I get undercharged, I don't care where, I make sure I pay the correct amount. Overcharged? Of course I am going to pursue that also. I do not wish to get into a corporate "yay-nay" here. Why do so many folks have the idea that corporate is so wrong all the time? I admit, some times the big boys can get carried away. Do any of you realize how much is pilfered from big box stores? We visit Lowe's often, many times for small amount of plumbing fittings or screws, etc. This particular company is double bagging small product to slow down actual theft. People will take screws out of an electrical cover package and actually hang the pilfered bag back on the kiosk or shelf. The stealth in retail is unbelievable. Of course there are those that think nothing of it, "Oh they are making millions, they don't need that." I observed a gentleman, I use that loosely, sorting through smoke alarms one day. He actually opened a number of them taking one or two items from each until he had a complete product, stuffed them into his pockets and walked out. No alarm at the door since he didn't have the box. He was there for 20 minutes. I wanted to walk up and give him a big kick in the rear. Shopping carts left in the parking lot that may be ten feet from a corral, disabled folks are excused. I have watched while folks load their car, push the cart over to the vehicle next to them, pull out and if the wind is blowing or the pavement slopes, BANG ! into someone else's property. You are not owed anything you didn't work for or pay for, PERIOD! ferg