BIGGUNDOCTOR

Absolute bare bones? Look into brain tanning. There is a lot of info out there for buckskining.

I'm not seeing it as a skiver. Have the seller show you how it is supposed to be used.

Try googling the image. I would try looking for items called links , connectors, etc

Acetal is Delrin, which is a trade name used by DuPont IIRC.

You may want to include what type of plastic. There were two typical types, nylon which was kind of mushy, and Delrin which had a nice snap when closed. Are these made by Fastex, or someone else? I am not interested myself as I have around 3,000+ of them.

In regards to hardening them. 1st conduit has too low of a carbon content to harden, but it could be case hardened. 2nd conduit is galvanized, which is zinc plating, and the fumes that it gives off when heated are toxic. 3rd they are so inexpensive that when one becomes unserviceable you just replace it for pennies.

Instead of asking leather workers, you may want to ask the people who will be using them what their preference is.

The hole saw will tear it up. When punching it is best to use end grain wood under the punch. I use the ends of 4x4s at work when I have to punch a hole. Cross grain can dent, and dull the edge. End grain just let's the punch edge bury in between the wood fibers. Use a soft wood like fir, or pine.

Do you have any friends with a drill press? Put two steel bars together,and drill the holes needed down the centerline between them. Radius the edges, and done.

Lots of videos on YouTube about making shoes

A couple of brass screws shouldn't be that much.

Getting straps cut right isn't that hard with a good sharp cutter. If you do sheet metal work, toss the hide on a shear

Get a chuck, and a live center for the tailstock....life will be easier.

I'll pass that info along to work. Saving money is always good.

Don't feel bad Cody. I have two of the kits I got years ago from a Craigslist ad, and I have yet to make mine too.

Waterproofing is a final for finishes. If it seals out water it will seal out finishes too. For superproofing I use Sno-Seal, it is a beeswax based product that works excellent on my hiking boots. Waterproofing is different from snow proofing as snow does not have the surface tension that water does. Silicones, and other chemicals may repel water, but snow will melt right through them.

Uline is a company we use at work.http://www.uline.com

This may take multiple pieces to get it to come out. I don't know if you can form that deep of a bowl with one piece of leather.

When I had my machine and fab shop we cash flowed the entire operation, I was 22 at the time. I agree that starting a business in debt is not a good idea. Start small, and grow the business as sales improve, don't get into a hurry. Too many want it, and they want it NOW! Unfortunately for them they were the ones that I purchased items from when the auctioneer was selling off their shops. I was buying machinery, and tooling for an average of 10¢ on the dollar for new. As Dave Ramsey likes to point out, The borrower is slave to the lender. My advice is to learn the skills to be proficient in what you want to do before you start offering them to customers,start small, and build the business on the profits. Too many also don't realize how much time the business side gets in the way of doing the work itself. Advertising has changed tremendously since I had my shop back in the late 80's. Today I can sit here in DaBoonies and sell worldwide through the wonders of the internet. I know artists who sell through Facebook, and do quite well - $500 paintings sold in 15 minutes a few times. How many people still get a newspaper? I don't. Social media can be a tremendous boon to a business if it is used correctly.

It will be interesting to see how it holds up to use, and the elements. How did you attach it to the cover?

Those are great pistols. I prefer the 6" full lug models myself, but those are not for carrying. I have a group that a quarter will cover all 6 shots, and I could hit an 8" wide H-beam from 100 yards offhand with mine.

They are turned with a rod inside. Doing it without one can be dangerous if it comes apart while turning.

If I was going to spend that much on a dog collar I would want the edges finished, those look unfinished to me.

Check with your local gem and mineral society.

If something like Sno-Seal is used to protect them they would be totally waterproof. What do you use for the baseball cores?