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¡Bienvenidos, Luke y Christine! I visited your web site and was amazed at all the beautiful work on display. You clearly have a treasure trove of unique handmade stamps, and you know how to use them, too! Kudos for helping keep the traditional craft of cincelado alive. For those folks here that may not know, Argentina is one of the world's leather capitals due to its fertile cattle land (known as Las Pampas) and the Argentine people's legendary appetite for red meat. I've been told that Buenos Aires is perhaps the best city in the world to acquire leather goods, especially considering the currency exchange rate, which makes most items half-price for American visitors. I'm actually in the early planning stages of a trip to Buenos Aires, and was wondering if you two might have the answers to a couple of questions I've been wondering about... What stores should you visit to see traditional Argentine leatherwork? (Not jackets and such, but rather boleadoras and other specialty items.) Is there a store in B.A. that not only sells finished leather goods, but also supplies like tanned hides, tools, or the handmade stamps you all use in your designs? I'd like to return to the States with an appreciation of Argentine leatherwork and ideas for incorporating some of those traditional designs into my own work. Great to have you here, and thanks for posting your pics! Regards, -Alex

Good gracious! What a spectacular coloring job.

That's a fantastic tutorial, Kevin. Thanks for taking the time to put that together and post it. The way you bind your edges is absolutely ingenious. That, combined with your fabric lining and your unique design, really give your wallets a distinctive look. -Alex

Steve, that looks like mighty fine work to me. Thanks for sharing your pics and your experience with this tool. I was curious about it myself... Best, -Alex

Micah, that's one of the nicest projects I've seen posted recently. The color is absolutely brilliant. The combo of red, black and some spattering leads to a real unique look. Congrats!

This is pretty much off-topic (--please excuse me--) , but since Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig are both mentioned here, I was wondering if either gave tours to leatherworkers curious about how tanning is done...

Interesting topic! I started out doing leatherwork in a small apartment. So small, in fact, that I really only had room for a 20" Craftsman toolbox. I'd haul it out to the dining room table to do some work, and then stow it away in the bottom of the bedroom closet when done. I crammed that thing full of what I needed: a set of punches, about 15 Craftool stamps, scissors, a skiver, needles, awls, rulers, edgers, a mallet, thread, and assorted hardware. When I moved into a bigger place, there was that initial temptation to expand the amount of stuff I had. Ultimately I resisted, and to this day, I still produce my work using only a minimal amount of tools that fit into the same 20" toolbox. This approach is absolutely not for the person who is trying to run a successful business selling leatherwork, but it's definitely proof positive that you can do leatherwork on the cheap. My guess is that the total value of all of my tools is less than $200. Like Bruce, I'll buy tools to try them out, but if they don't get used and can't justify their space in my small toolbox, they need to go. -Alex

Guys, just order a bottle and give it a try. I don't think it's necessarily fair to express an opinion on a product you've never tried. Eco-Flo products are not a scam. They are water-based and they are environmentally friendly. They may not be for everyone, but I've tried them and I like 'em.

Amy, that sounds like a fine design. Two pieces of advice that will help keep that belt out of the garbage can :biggrin: (where so many of my beginner projects landed): Find one of your current belts that wears well, and use that as a pattern for your handmade one. Copy the location of the holes, the size of the buckle slot, the length of the belt keeper, etc. and that should help make sure your custom belt fits just right. I'd do a test carving on scrap before trying anything on good belt leather. You might end up making a couple of rookie mistakes you won't want to repeat when you get into the real thing. You can use this test carving to test the colors and finish you plan to use, too. Have fun with this, and be sure to post some pics when it's done! Best, -Alex

Freddie, thanks for the kudos. That's real nice of you to say. BTW, that clutch/cuff combo you have posted on your site is incredible. You really took the lines to the next level on that one with all those curves and recurves. Sweet. :beer:

Duane, great to have you here. I'm not sure I've ever seen handmade gloves before. Please post some pics when you get the chance! Best, -Alex

To take Regis's questions one step further, I wonder if anyone has ever had a customer who noticed whether they were using a $5 beveler or a $50 one? I consider myself a reasonably experienced leatherworker, and there's no way I'd be able to take, for example, a carving done by Clay B. and identify whose tools were used where in the design. My point is that more expensive tools might make a craftsman feel better, but I doubt the customer is going to notice... Just my 2 cents, Alex

Freddie, really nice work. Good to have you here. Now, can I ask a stupid question? Is there a difference between the terms wristband and cuff? I see them used interchangably and I was just wondering whether one's different from the other... Thanks! -Alex

Beautiful work, Tim. Can't believe you can make something that nice in just 45 minutes! Great job. Best, -Alex p.s. Do you incorporate welts in this design, or is it simply one piece that folds over?

The first DVD you mention, Custom Knife Sheaths, is superb. I don't have any of the others.

That's some fine work, Robert! Thanks for posting the pics, and... Regards, -Alex

Wow -- doesn't get much nicer than that.

Those are about the nicest set of gun rigs I've seen. Congratulations, and two thumbs way up. BTW, what dye and finish are you using for these? I love the deep brown color and the smooth satin finish. Just beautiful.

One word... spectacular! Nice use of the tri-weave stamp.

Wow. That's some attention to detail.

BTW, how did you do the diamond pattern? Obviously, there's a seeder involved, but the lines... Are they cut with a swivel knife, or grooved, or ...??

You know, this reminds me that I tried a rough-out wallet once, and it turned out pretty nice. However, I couldn't get it out of the back pocket of my Dockers without turning the pocket inside-out due to the tackiness of the suede. (I ended up trashin' it, unfortunately...)

I love it when members post absolutely perfect work in the "Critique" forum. :biggrin: p.s. This should be in the "Show Off" forum -- it's fantastic.

Have a great day!!

You're right -- that's different, and that's a good thing! I'd classify a lot of the seat pics posted here as "old school," but this one seems like it would fall more into the "state-of-the-art" category! Really amazing. Congrats on what looks to my eyes to be flawless execution. -Alex