Northmount

Please add your location to your profile. You may get more responses to this and future posts from people in your area. And of course, we like to see where everyone is from. Tom

Tandy's works, comes with 3/8" staples, 1/4" works better. Leaves staples proud of the leather. Use a pliers to help clinch them tighter. Tom

Try Tandy's Leathercraft Library for PDF. https://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/p-1158-horse-tack-accessory-pattern-pack.aspx? Tom

And yes you can use a light crease as a stitching line. You can apply a crease anytime it suits you in your work process. Best to make sure you have the final edge you wish to follow. It is a little easier to use the creaser before you use the edger as you have more depth on the side of the leather to help guide your creaser. Tom

@Frederick Please allow the server time to respond after hitting the post button. During times that the server is busy, or that the internet connection is slow, just be patient. One hit is enough. If you have edits to make and the period for making an edit has timed out, then just add a new post to the thread with any additional info or corrections that need to be made to your original post. You should also add your location to your profile. It helps make contact with people in your area that may be able to help or that are interested. I realize that you have your location in this post. Tom

Here is a Facebook post you might like. https://www.facebook.com/groups/elktracks/permalink/2048162658805107/ Tom

http://www.baier-praegetechnik.de/baier/en/home.nsf/contentview/8914AFA9466CBFE4C1257CA70040DA08 Company website, has a little company history. Also google search results https://www.google.com/search?q=leonhard+kurz+furth+bayern+press&lr=lang_en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwimhIfK8ojaAhUF-GMKHfjVCikQuAEIJA&biw=1070&bih=658&dpr=2.22 Tom

I give it a couple wacks with a hammer. The punches, anvils, etc. pop right out. Tom

Have you tried the thinner thread on both the top and bottom? Also, get some new thread of a known size, that is within the specs for the machine and try it out. Eliminate extra twists and turns around any posts. Tom

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