Ferg

Chris, I have the Consew 206RB5. Love it. Wiz suggested I not get carried away with the 207 thread so have stayed with 138 or below. The machine is easy to maintain although I have yet to see a manual for it that you could read, it is a very bad copy job but legible with some squinting. LOL I have sewn canvas, upholstery leather (4-5 oz, two layers) and heavy two sided belts, horse hide, chrome tanned, veg tanned and when possible, I use smooth feet. A little tweaking reduces the tracks many folks have a problem with on soft leather. Loves it's oil and has a metal pan underneath to catch the run-off. I have sewn slightly more than 3/8" thickness but it works best under the 3/8". Push the envelope and the machine wears out quicker. My Consew was made in Japan. I understand most are made in China. I always Sway towards the middle of the road and that was my reason for buying the Consew. Money well spent in my mind. ferg

I am very sure that Bob's tools are" top of the ridge". I think there are a number of folks who make fine tools also and we don't have to wait a year and probably no response. If I ran our family business in this manner, there wouldn't be any business. If you cannot supply an item or items/tools in a timely manner then you should not advertise them. I fully appreciate the fact he makes his tools individually one at a time. Don't mean to have a mean spirit here folks I just think waiting over a year for a leather tool from anyone is totally lame. ferg

I have noticed in a number of Videos, especially across the pond, the glue used is white, rather thin, and holds really well. Is this simply a different formula of contact cement? I love Barge Cement and use it extensively but on occasion something with a more thin consistency would be nice. The contact cements available that are solvent based always seem to be too "sticky" when applying. We used latex contact cement for laminates for years but it is not a good idea for leather work as the color of the cement has a tendency to show where it shouldn't. ferg

Jarod, Your e-mail gives a "Phishing" warning. ferg

I gave $100, you can have it for $85 plus $7.50 shipping and insurance. ferg

Clear Lac ferg

Lutz, Tandy decided to go green some time back so they don't sell anything liquid that "smells." LOL Actually, Clear-Lac is the original. It was manufactured for Tandy with their given name, "Neat Lac". Great product, first used it about 1954 I think. ferg

I love the "Whimsical" design that you managed to render very well. The card wallets are a nifty idea but I wouldn't want anyone to have it on the outside of their purse. I like your color work because it adds to the design quality. If you were to use deep colors I think it would be an entirely different outlook. Clever design and excellent stitching. ferg

Don't want you to feel under-privelege. I simply do not understand the skulls, among a few other adornments either. You have to remember at almost 78 years young, I come from a totally different "revolution". I think I am maybe, offended by some of the way over the edge stuff. Skulls with swords protruding, blood dripping, you get the idea. I used to do sand blasting of glass mostly. I never did understand why someone would want a Dragon character shooting flame on their shower door. LOL Chris, I admire your expertise and always feel that your "weird" items are done in very good taste. That has to come from your background in "Carved" Art. ferg

Aaron, I am curious, why are you reloading the page? I am on a Mac, I can click on the "back" arrow and return to where I left off. Very little time involved. ferg

I can only think of one "pieve" I have about the forum site. During the day I may have a few minutes to see if anything is in the forum that I would like to read but not have time until later. If I scan the subjects and return same day the posts I was interested in are gone. I know, I can look in the Archives Can this be changed from instantaneous, or nearly so to perhaps 24 hours? Just a thought. ferg

I have a #609-8. Total width is 1 1/4". Marks will be 1/4" from tip to tip, spaced 5/32" apart. This tool will mark eight stitches, seven spaces. My tool has never been used, I have absolutely no use for it at this time and would be glad to sell. If you are interested please PM me. ferg

I have spent the last half hour trying to think of the name of the cotton material I buy at JoAnn Fabrics stores. It comes in several densities, it is white. I don't use the one that has to be Ironed on/fused. I glue right to the leather or fabric. I have a total brain freeze on the name but I am sure a clerk in a store will know what you are wanting. ferg

You do realize of course, you can buy the transparency material rather cheaply for either Laser or Ink Jet. You could print thousands of patterns from one laser toner cartridge, not as much from an Ink Jet cartridge. I bet it would cost you less than $1.50 per sheet. BTW: There are probably a thousand pieces of software that will do the little "Gibs" Office Depot provides, quite a few are free. ferg

Your URL takes me to an ad for cleaning my MAC, please give a better rendition. ferg

We love photos of leather work. Please do post some you may have. There are many Saddle people on here that I am sure will know what to tell you. ferg

IF, you can get Leather needles for it you could sew 2-3 oz veg tanned. It is obviously a home machine that was never intended for leather. I have sewn with a leather needle on a home machine but it works them to death even on the thin leathers. This one will probably work you to death. ferg

One Note: Your needle is way to big for #69 thread. Try from a #18 or #20. Thread the needle in your hand, hold at an angle, if needle "waddles" down the thread easily, that is your sizing, thread and needle. ferg

I have seen someone sew across in a "V" pattern. Makes sense to me. ferg

This may not go over too big with you but anyhow Sew as close to the buckle as you can, up one side and down the other, Hand stitch across the strap at the buckle. If need be begin in the last machine stitch, hand sew to the buckle and across the strap even with your machine stitch and down that side to the last stitch. Tie off your hand stitching. Another way is to simply stitch across the strap at the buckle beginning with a "wrapped stitch" on the edge, stitch across strap to stitch line and do another "Wrapped Stitch" .This is strong and attractive even if it does take a little longer. This is a small photo but perhaps you can get the idea for the "Wrapped Stitch" from it. ferg

Only problem I have with running the stylus or a modeling tool in the cut is, it seems to make the inner layer of the cut show more than I like. Appears as a lighter shade of leather. Might make it a little easier to bevel when first starting with leather work. ferg

I have ordered a ball end mill that is .0625 diameter that is made for milling Stainless. It should do a lot better job than the Chinese Dremel tools. Thanks , ferg

I have no thoughts of making one or more of these tools that even come close to Bob Beard's expertise. I am an impatient individual and have a problem with waiting a year for a tool that I may be able to make. I used a half inch round piece of Stainless Steel. Filed the end perfectly flat and then put a radius on the edges of the flat so the abrupt edges would not make an imprint on the leather. First photo shows the radius and the flat on one side. The flat makes it possible to align with an edge line etc. Next photo shows the tool used along a border and into the field. I tried making the tool without rounding the face, Mr. Beard is absolutely correct, you cannot tool a background with a flat head on the backgrounder. I am sure you would like to see what the business end of the tool looks like. Be aware, I done this free hand and then put the dremel bit in the drill press, much easier. Made little effort to make this perfectly smooth after drilling the dimples. I will make more different sizes of dimples next time. The little Dremel tool diamond bits had a tough time with the Stainless Steel but they are almost perfect size. Didn't use cutting oil when drilling but did lubricate with machine oil. Extremely simple to make. Anyone with a little machining experience could do these very easily. Just thought you would like to see. ferg

I am confused by your post. I live 50 miles away from you and have no problem buying spirit or oil based dyes for leather. Visit Feibings site. Someone living in that other country called "California" cannot buy. LOL ferg

You are correct, simply washing an object with water does not completely neutralize the vinegar but it does indeed dilute it to the extent that it offers no detrimental effects. As I said in my previous post, "Allow the leather to dry completely before applying finishes or dyes." I can find a thousand things in everyday life that could hinder a person's health. Unfortunately today, folks are so immunized against so many things that we ate when I was a kid. They would probably kill half the population now. Use common sense folks. I like to think most Leather folks are at least a little smarter than the average Joe/Jerry. ferg