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Fantastic! Nice work!

I happened to catch a half-hour show on Florence, Italy on the Travel Channel the other day. A portion of the show was dedicated to Florence's reputation as a major leather producer -- Gucci is located there, and a few other famous names I can't remember now. I've also heard that Buenos Aires, Argentina has a fantastic leather industry, both factory-based and handmade, due to its close location to the Pampas and its large cattle trade. So, my questions are these -- 1. Which cities would you consider the world's leather capitals? 2. Which city would you pick for the United States?

Clay, congratulations on a very informative post. Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate these techniques. Johanna, I wonder if it would make sense to "pin" this at the top of the Dyes and Finishes forum? I think this is a classic example of a post that folks will refer to for some time to come... (Good idea!~ Johanna)

Oh, and there's one more reason why you should dye prior to assembly. Glue can act as a resist, so if you glue before you dye (and you're a bit sloppy, like I am ), you may find that your subsequent dye job turns out mottled around the glued areas...

Hi, Regis: I do the dyeing prior to assembly, as well, but I wait to add conditioner (like Lexol or neatsfoot oil) until the project is put together. If you're concerned about surfaces adhering during the gluing stage, simply rough up the places you plan to glue with a little sandpaper for a solid bond. Good luck, -Alex

Truly spectacular!

Jack, I took a look at your web site. The quality of your work is extraordinary! Please hang around -- I'm sure we can all learn a lot from your experience. Welcome! -Alex p.s. You gotta be kidding posting this in the "Critique My Work" forum. Your stuff is about as close to perfection as a leatherworker can come.

Add me to the list of people who clean their glasses using whatever shirt they're wearing. BTW, I recently read that if you periodically put a little shaving cream on your lenses and wipe that off, then your glasses stay fog-free...

I've heard that some folks use Dremel tools as alternatives to awls, however, I've also heard that you have to be really careful to make sure the holes are evenly spaced and line up on the back side of the leather. Apparently, a Dremel tool has a little more propensity to wander than an awl does... (I don't have any experience with Dremels, I'm just passing along what I've heard others say, so YMMV...) Best, -Alex

I think we can squeeze one more "Bruce" in, and we'll wave the standard $500 additional-Bruce forum fee. Welcome aboard! -Alex

So, I was talking to an acquaintance of mine the other day who sells paintings done on scrap metal for around $1,400 a pop. I asked him about pricing his work, and what he does when he can't sell an item. To my surprise, he stated that he never lowers a price, and if an item doesn't sell, he actually increases the price. In his experience, this almost always results in a quick sale. I guess the moral of this story is that many customers correlate price and value, and if you underprice your work, you're also diminishing its perceived value.

More on waterproofing: I've also heard that putting several light coats of water-based polyurethane (a wood finish) on both the outside and inside of the leather product provides nearly complete waterproofing, but tends to harden the leather. Again, I have no experience with this, just passing on what I've heard...

Patrice, above is a link to a product I've heard is good for waterproofing leather, but I must admit, I've never used it. However, here's a customer testimonial from their web site: "After a 2300 mile trip from Washington, DC to Memphis, TN and back on my motorcycle and in the rain. Does your product work? I'd say it's miraculous. My motorcycle boots and gloves stayed waterproof." R.K.E., Jr. If you decide to try it, I'd be curious to learn if you end up liking it or not. Good luck! -Alex

I'd be interested in knowing this as well. I like nylon thread, but wasn't aware that some folks claim it's more durable than linen...

We now have over 500 members and only a handful have weighed in on their favorite finish... If you have a preference, please vote! And for anyone who has a "special formula," please consider sharing it here for the benefit of those who maybe haven't tried it yet! Thanks! -Alex

Bruce and Art, Thanks for your replies. That makes perfect sense. Since I don't consider my leatherwork a business, it's interesting to hear the points of view of those who do. Best, -Alex p.s. - Sorry to hear that you lost your wife, Bruce.

Regis, I saw a neat (and very simple) design for this on RedEnvelope.com: RedEnvelope Leather Catchall The corners are snapped together...

The only reason for my post is that I'm wondering how much of a motivator money is for leatherworkers. I think it's great that we can sell our products, and the business and marketing side of it is probably fascinating. However, I also think there are folks that just enjoy working with their hands, and worrying about markups, profit and advertising just pollutes the whole creative process. For that reason, I think there will always be craftspeople that undercharge or give away work, and there's probably nothing wrong with that. -Alex

Yep, I know what Bruce is saying. But let's say, for the sake of argument, that no such customer existed. Would Bruce still engage in leatherwork or would he switch to another craft that provided better income? I'm just wondering...

Bruce, there's a great deal of wisdom in your post, but playing the devil's advocate (as I often do ), are you saying you wouldn't do leatherwork anymore if customers suddenly couldn't afford your prices?

I agree that anyone considering an article should think about posting it here. With any magazine, the shelf-life of your work is 30-60 days, and then you're a back issue. Here, you're contributing to an online knowledge base that will hopefully be available to leatherworkers for a very long time. Plus, there can be interaction, if folks have questions, etc. I'm with Clay... I'll probably never build a motorcycle seat, but I sure would be curious about how it's done. -Alex

Looks fantastic. Congrats!

Wow, those look great to me. I made one handbag about a year ago... not too pleased with how it turned out... but would like to try again this spring. I suspect I'll be asking you for advice!

¡Felicitaciones!

I've made probably 20 wallets, and believe me, you wouldn't have wanted to see the first ones! I've always been partial to bi-folds (thinking that tri-folds are too bulky), so I got the pattern by measuring one of my favorite store-bought wallets. The exterior ended up being 9.1"x 3.5"". The liner is 8.7" x 3.5" (a little shorter than the exterior for easier folding). And each pocket is 3.5" x 3.5". I hope this information helps, and if you decide to make something, please be sure to post some photos so we can admire your work!