Ferg

I was in the US Navy and served on board about half dozen flight carriers. We wore flight deck shoes with a sole that resembled suction cups, so you didn't slide off into the ocean Unfortunately, the shoes/six inch boots, were a suede finish. During down times I polished the toes of many boots. Only polished back to the first stitching. I used brown KIWI shoe polish and spit. Soon I was being asked by everyone to do their boots. Finally just showed them how to do it. The finish could eventually become a good 1/32 to 1/16 inch thick. If you didn't kick any bulkheads with them you could expect several weeks of use from them before re-polishing. I used an old T-shirt to apply the wax. ferg

Welcome to the world of leather craft on LW, OZ! Does that bridle in your image have a "Bit"? The design reminds me of my younger days when we farmed with horses. Haven't felt the excitement of my first effort at driving a team for a long time. ferg

Name is Keith Brown. Known pretty well in the S&W community. There are a lot of posts in this forum: http://smith-wessonforum.com/forum.php concerning his grips. Keith's new web site: http://www.keithbrowngrips.com/ ferg

I had done a web site for him couple years ago. He has a son that works for Hasbro who decided Dad needed a more modern "viewing" than I gave him, I guess. Don't know what the URL is for the new site at this time, will post it later. I have attached a photo of a set of grips he done, you may enjoy seeing the quality of his work.

My Son-in-law hand carves wooden grips for some of the elite owners of S&W, many of us ordinary folks also ferg

Update to my experience. I am still feeling the same way. I do not like people to talk down to me, even if they are taller. I get that feeling with every communication with them, I don't need the hassle. ferg

You can buy "Buckram" at Fabric stores. Works great. ferg

I am going to assume that you wish to "Emboss" into the finished leather. I used to do that kind of work. You can buy gold foil that is affixed to a thin paper back. You will need a metal "Stamp" with the design similar to a leather stamp. Place the foil on the item, then the stamp, and with quite a bit of pressure you will have a beautiful Gold Inlay. Takes a little practice. I used to use this method to imprint names into Shell Cordovan wallets that were Cordovan Color. Adds much pizzaz to item. ferg

Do not know a thing about the machines you are asking about. Just needed to tell you, "Your English is fine, just wish some of the (Residents ???) of the USA could speak as well." ferg

Just another coat or seven of hand rubbed oil and she's good to go! It's amazing how a little thought can become a reality when you have the desire to create. (A little knowledge and the right tools helps a lot too though). Hobbies are fun... aren't they? Njoy Life... Having worked in construction and then having my own company plus manufacturing business I have built many of our machines. My wife asks me where I am going when I go out the door. Well founded question. It is usually to get some items I need to build another "Idea". Yeah! I love hobbies. LOL ferg

Do you think you might want to "roll" that top edge at the ankle? The raw edge may wear pretty fast. ferg

Nice design. I believe you should cut deeper with the swivel knife. Your beveling etc. will "show up" better. Practice makes perfect. ferg

My youngest daughter has a iPod Touch. I got her a cover from France, forget the name of company. They only make when the item is ordered, took about three weeks or so. Sixty five bucks, my wife about fainted. It is beautiful, sensational piece of leather dyed a great shade of blue. Wife thinks it was worth the money. LOL I believe I could make one after seeing the original but not for $65. ferg

As I stated previously, I built a burnisher similar to the one Bob Park uses in his shop. I have been making some Note Book covers while trying different methods. I know, that is a large piece of leather to be experimenting on. Except for one I threw away I have kept them for myself. I lined one with Oiled leather about 3/4 oz. The "Innards" of this leather is very much like suede. I knew going in that the edge would be a problem. I followed Bob Park's "Edge Tutorial" and really worked the saddle soap and glycerine soap into the edge, then applied paraffin wax. Except for a small section that seemed to separate on the inner part of the oiled leather it doesn't look too bad. In fact, it looks good enough to use that leather again for the inside liner. For any of you that have not used this leather before, it "marks" easily and may not look good to some folks. The vintage look it has suits me for some items, this piece included. Will be interesting how well the "soft" edge withstands use. I don't have the stitching on this piece complete. I am going to burnish it again with Paraffin Wax after. ferg

Bobby, I wasn't impressed with the construction of the wheel. Seems it would be "short lived", maybe not. BTW: I made a burnisher similar to your shop set up. Works great. If I need to renew the surface canvas it is very easy to do so. ferg

I am concerned about the longevity of the photos being against the leather. I think the natural oils from the leather may destroy the photo paper. My suggestion: Place the photo in a clear plastic envelope or laminate the photo. ferg

I read so many references to Pricking Irons by folks that have no idea what a true Pricking Iron is. I do not necessarily mean folks on this forum. A well known Japanese site lists the Pricking Irons for a tool that is obviously a diamond hole punch. Another site insists that you must buy a "Pair" of irons to properly mark the stitches. That is pure bunk. $375 for a pair of No. 9's plus shipping from England. Expect your product in over 30 days. BTW: A No.8 iron marks seven stitches to the inch not eight. The number of stitches is one number less than the number of the iron. You DO NOT punch through the leather with a Pricking Iron, only mark the leather for your stitches. I have read several notes saying you must use a Pricking Iron to get a perfectly even stitch. I'm sorry, that simply is not true. I have a background in measuring all kinds of distances and angles etc. so perhaps I can visualize a 45 degree angle better than some. I own Bob Douglas Awls and Haft. The haft has a smooth cut on two sides. You can align the awl with the smooth cut so visually aligning the awl is a snap, you just have to do it the same way every time. Now that shouldn't be too difficult for most folks. I know there is definitely a certain level of expertise needed to make these tools but I see faults in the way they are made, I believe anyone can learn to use the awl without the slanted marks and have a beautiful stitching pattern. Okay, that is Tuesday September 28 rant for me. LOL ferg

Bobby, You understood my first question better than I stated it. Thanks for the clarification. On the burnishing wheel: Do you glue/attach the canvas to the wheel? I assume the canvas needs to be pushed down into the grooves or does the saddle soap put enough "give" in the canvas to make it conform to the grooves? Regards, ferg

Bobby, I have two questions: When you apply the dye to the edges are you intentionally keeping the dye from the very edge the edging tool makes? The edge next to the flat surface of the leather, if that helps me clarify my question. I find it easier to apply the dye without getting on that very narrow portion of the rounded edge. You showed a photo in your shop on a post, of your burnishing apparatus. Motor attached to a shaft with a wood dowel, perhaps, that you filed/sanded the grooves into. Any particular kind of wood used and did you attempt to impregnate it with saddle soap, glycerine soap, or any other product? Thanks, ferg

Welcome Kayla, I grew up on a farm with most of the family staying with it. I had to laugh about the milking. My dad taught me to milk at the age of five years. He was milking 45 Guernsey's at the time, he cheated though, he used milkers I had to do it by hand. It is like riding a bike, you never forget how. As others have said, "Show us some of your work". BTW: I would also be glad to test some of your cookin- ferg

Boy! I like simplicity more all the time. Beautiful job. Great color and just the right choice on tooling. ferg

Excellent job all around. Did you use solvent based dye? Your brother will be proud to carry the knife and sheath. ferg

Tandy has one with an aluminum handle catalog number 3084-00 $39.99 if you are simply a walk-in. ferg

My wife would say I am not the one to give anyone else advice on this subject but here goes anyway. I have high blood pressure (corrected with cheap medication), over weight (I try to make sure I get all my veggies every week, french fries has to be one of them), Sugar corrected with cheap medication, and I have no cholesterol problems. I will soon be 77 years young. I love sweets, my wife is a fantastic baker and cook. BACON !!!!! never give it up. I have never smoked so that is a "non-consideration for me and I am a Tea-Totaller, don't drink and never have. I watch my salt intake, no problem, I seldom add salt to food after it is prepared, love black pepper, drink more than my share of Pepsi and orange juice. I have never drank caffeine free soda pop, I always thought you were supposed to use it for charging wet cell batteries. I can still outwork most people I know that are less than half my age, I love my life and my family and am looking forward to living to be 100 years old. Especially since my wife is twenty years younger than I. LOL LIVE IT UP BOYS and GIRLS!!! The politicians are tryin- to get it all and I won't let 'em. Have a great Weekend folks. ferg

Eric, There are many free tutorials noted on this forum and at Tandy's Web Site. I suggest you should look at those and download as many as you like, they are mostly PDF format. Great information and How To's and it is free. You can look at some of the "Pay" tutorials also of course. My .02 worth ferg PS: You have a good start on your Leather Worker Library, I have a bunch of them.