Ferg

My point here is this: You lay out the leather so you have a specific area you wish to cut the belts from. Take the "Off-All" from the hide and use it for other small projects for instance. When you cut the entire hide into belt blanks you destroy leather that could have been used. Get my drift? ferg

ENCO evidently has numerous "Numbers" to give you. I called, ask if they had them, said, "yes". I asked how much. $121.00. Sorry but your website says $89.95. "Let me check that, You are correct, $89.95." "Okay, I hear you are shipping that free to some areas of the states." "Oh no! That weighs over a hundred pounds and UPS won't ship it, has to go by truck." "Okay, thanks for the information." I didn't want it that bad anyway. LOL ferg

I cannot let this go past without telling what we use "rubbing alcohol" for. I get leg cramps from working on a concrete floor or climbing around on the roof of our home, usually well into the night. IF I can get my body out of bed my wife rubs the alcohol on my legs. Sops it on would be a better explanation. Isopropyl Alcohol is a mild anesthetic. Do I need to go any further? BTW: Been dong it for over 35 years, I still have my liver. LOL ferg

Jeff, You do glue your two layers together before you sew don't you? I cut my belt blanks with an inexpensive strap cutter from Tandy. Never have a problem. 8/9 oz. top, 3/4 oz bottom/inside cut exactly the same width, glue them with contact cement, sand the edges, burnish edges, then sew. I just don't think the belt blanks are an economic solution if you intend to make very many belts. ferg

I think I have a good solid idea for you. Your offer smells like rotten fish to a large number of us on this forum. Your getting $40 dollars sent to you without knowing what we are getting, mostly nothing probably, has about as much chance as the proverbial snowball in Hades. Sooooo.... I sincerely believe it would be advisable for you to pull your product back into India and snooker the home folks. ferg

tg, The process is well known in "Transfer Technology" circles. The printing machine aka "Direct to product printer", actually places ink, for lack of a better word, onto any substrate that will fit in the straight through opening of the printer. Most have a type of conveyer belt that moves the product through. First printers available for small business use were way up in the thousands of dollars. Some good ones are available for about $15,000. Everyone should have one or two. The transfer dye or ink is not necessarily a secret. Light fastness is the bugaboo affecting most. I do not really know how much scuff resistance it would have but the one year cycle on a well used wallet would be about right. Someone that doesn't have the "dirt" I accumulate in my pockets could probably get two years easily. Then you will have a less than great image. I am not trying to knock these folks product but please do not begin with the "smoke and mirrors". ferg

Well said and much better than I could convey. Thanks ferg

Welcome to the site. I can't help you much on the info you are needing but someone on here will certainly be able to help you. Enjoy all the loads of info available here and ask questions. ferg

Access the Tandy Web Site. Consider one of the Starter Kits they have. This will provide you with a few small items to try your hand at. While on the site read and observe the free content that involves "How To". This will get your feet wet ferg

dirtclod, I am more than happy that you have been treated fair and square by Seigle. There are obvious shortcomings concerning the company at this time. Fact they have been in business for so long does not parallel the problems some have encountered this day and age. ferg

Nice story and nice product line. My take on having fun? If you do not enjoy it, get something else going. LOL ferg

Honey, Get used to it. All we can do is try to make good decisions and hope most everyone else does the same. I could tell you many stories but won't bother. ferg

You have done an admirable job with one caveat. You do need to include what I call "Beauty Marks". The little cuts with your swivel knife to add character and volume to your design. We have all been to the "Sore fingers/hands/wrist" place in the sky. Masking tape on your fingers helps a lot but some soothing hot water baths for your hands is about the only thing I can suggest. It gets better. ferg

I think you will be pleasantly surprised. ferg

Ray, I hope you enjoy your new machine. With unending help from Wiz and a lot of experimenting with foot pressure etc., I have very little problem with the marks on the leather I am sewing. Even with time spent, it was cheaper than a new machine that may do the same thing. just my .02 ferg

Hi TG, I suppose I do piss off a lot of folks. I am opinionated and have never said I wasn't. I have taught all my kids and grandkids that you speak what you believe to be the truth ALWAYS! I started this debacle and think I should end it with this, If you have grown to love this forum, including the ADMINs, as much as I do..... send whatever you can afford to the folks running this fine forum so we can offset the loss of AD revenue, they will have my contribution as soon as I finish this. One more thing. I also tell my kids and associates, "Don't ask my opinion on something unless you are prepared for the answer." ferg

I am curious to know what kind of leather you make your hats from. White cowhide/calfskin, leather is available from some one that has been mentioned here before. ferg

Your are correct, LCI is the manufacturer of the ClearLac that was also known as NeatLac. I just found my info when I bought from them. ferg

There are many folks that share your frustrations. I have to say also that there are some that have had very little to no hassle with them. The song and dance is ,"We couldn't find your e-mail." ferg

You do realize Neat Lac is still available only with an OEM name. Tandy owned the "Neat Lac" brand name if I remember correctly. Without doing some digging I don't remember the name of the company I bought the "Real Stuff" from. ferg

Personally, I think you should tell it like it is ferg

Basement is a bad idea UNLESS you have an area you can store with controlled humidity of about 35 to 40 percent. We lived in an old house some years ago. My stash of leather molded badly because of the high humidity prevalent most of the year. Dehumidifier is a must. ferg

A little more explanation as to how you done the burnishing. What products did you use? etc. ferg