Northmount

Edited. There is a timeout for editing the original post. Once past that period (whatever it is), you can't edit your post, so a moderator has to do it for you. Tom

Photo includes view of the holster. http://collections.theautry.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=M539660;type=101 Also see https://gunsoftheoldwest.com/2015/09/45-maker-tr-cowboy-holster/ Description says the original had a sewn in toe plug.

@humanshoes I would suggest you add your location to your profile. It helps to get answers that are relative to your area of the world. From your IP address, it appears you are in Atlanta Georgia. Tom

See this thread The tool used is very similar to the R956. Tom

You want something that can be molded to keep and have the shape you want. That sort of pushes you to using veg tanned leather. Not too heavy either, or you wont want to wear it. I would suggest 2 to 3 oz. thick. If you are not concerned about molding the typical dents in the top, you could use chrome tanned, or other, but again, you need to keep the weight down. Give yourself some air space between the top of your head and the top of the hat. Else your head will get pretty hot out in the sun, especially if it is a black hat. I wear a sort of cross between a cowboy and a floppy hat. It doesn't have the height that many cowboy hats do, and makes it easier to get into a car without knocking my hat off. The top sits pretty much on top my head, thus the comment about the heat in the sun. Male pattern baldness doesn't provide any insulation! Tom

I will just throw this comment out for your general information, not to get a war going or anything like that. Take what you wish from it especially for spraying and good ventilation. I had a discussion with a renowned wood worker / finishing personality a few years ago. The discussion started of with safe use of acetone in paints, etc. where fast drying time is needed. He was of the opinion that acetone was completely safe since it wasn't regulated by the EPA. The EPA has their definition for VOCs which doesn't conform to the chemical aspects and definitions. He quoted from some EPA literature indicating that acetone is not a VOC. The reason the EPA doesn't count acetone as a VOC is because it doesn't contribute to certain types of pollution and smog. However, it is an organic chemical, and is quite volatile as you note from from its smell and how fast it evaporates. Just because acetone is not regulated by the EPA, doesn't mean it is safe to breathe. Continuous exposure to acetone is certainly not good for your health or the environment. Be careful with its usage and stay healthy. Tom

See this video for instructions on making an expandable wallet liner that hides the center fold and doesn't bunch up in the middle. The pattern for the liner is here https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/download/K33pit53cr3t/Blog_Project_Patterns/TLF_BillfoldBlog_1115.pdf Tandy has a number of helpful videos on many subjects. Tom

Looks like your learning is going very well. Have you looked at Eugene Solomin's site http://www.en.leathercrafting-journal.ru/ His magazine has lots of good information. Tom

Thanks ABR, show us some photos. Everyone likes to see photos of work, both successes and learnings from things that didn't go quite right. Helps us all learn and improve. Tom

Use filter cartridges designed/listed for organic chemicals on your respirator. If you start to smell the chemicals, it is time to change the cartridges. When not in use, cap the cartridges tightly to keep the adsorbent being used up by the ambient air. Tom

Ostrich leather is probably harder/firmer. Try a larger needle so there is room for the thread. Also watch to see if the leather is lifting the presser foot on the way up. If so, it won't form a loop. Increase the presser foot pressure if so. See also this thread/needle chart http://www.tolindsewmach.com/thread-chart.html Tom

Welcome to the forum. I got my horse when I was about 12 or so. Couldn't afford a saddle. Used an old bridle with blinkers that my grandfather gave me. It was in brand new condition. Rode bareback all the time. Decided to take up leatherwork so I could fix a really old saddle so I could use it. That was about 60 years ago. The saddle is long gone, never got it fixed up. My horse is long gone too! Life is what happens when you are making other plans! Tom

Can also resize jpg, tiff, bmp, png, and other graphics files in Photoshop and other graphics software. And scale to your printer for the exact size you want. Most of this software will let you save in PDF as well. Will even import from PDF so you can manipulate the image to increase contrast, remove stuff you don't want, etc. Tom

@Killerwork moved this post to patterns and templates. Help wanted is like the classifieds in the newspaper. Also every post has to be approved before it becomes visible to others. You'll get more responses from this area or in the forum "how do I do that". Browse through patterns and templates and see what you find. You can also do a google search "site:leatherworker.net Sheridan patterns" if you want to limit the search to this site. Tom

Here are a couple YouTube channels with useful information. https://www.youtube.com/user/alexogden49/videos https://www.youtube.com/user/11061004/videos I have watched a number of bookbinding and repair videos. They use white PVA glue as it stays flexible. In some locations, they use wheat flour paste, depending on how fast they want it to dry. And they use very thin coats so it doesn't wrinkle the end papers. Have fun. It is a good project to play/work with. Tom

Try this link http://www.leatherworker.net/California Holster Tutorial.pdf It may be helpful. Do a google search "site:leatherworker.net 1860 Colt 44" without the quotes. Lots of pictures and comments. This pdf was in the results. You could add "pattern" or "template" or other search parameters to the search string. Tom

Do a google search "site:leatherworker.net leather hat" without the quotes. You will find lots of posts. You can modify the search parameters to narrow down what you really want to see (could add "pattern" to the search to limit it to include only posts with patterns). "site:leatherworker.net" restricts the search to this site. I've copied a few hat patterns from here, but have yet to try making one. Tom

Moved Tom

It is sometimes very surprising at where connections do match up, or how few hops it takes to find someone that knows someone who knows the person you want to contact. When my brother-in-law had some problems in India after he was mugged, I put him in touch with a lady that had temporarily worked in my company, taking over work to be done in India. Sometimes these connections are very fortunate. But long story short, I don't know your friends. Tom

Perhaps you could expand on what you are asking or telling us. Are you starting at the beginning of a story or starting at the end and working back to the beginning. Rather cryptic. Tom

The needle information from JLS is all for machine stitching. Tom

Be careful of alcohol fumes being drawn through a fan where the motor is open to the fumes. The motor needs to be a non-sparking type, no switch in the motor or totally enclosed fan cooled (TEFC). A spark in alcohol fumes can give you quite an unwelcome surprise! Tom

More information is available at these URLs http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=72539&dir=2017/october/20 http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=72539&dir=2017/october/20 Tom

Also do a google search for "diaper bag pattern" and you will find lots of hits. Mostly fabric, but will give you good ideas and useful patterns. Tom

Chrome tanned leather often has white to blue in the middle. Tom