almac

thanks for the replies. i was curious about them, because i see them on sale at TLF frequently... the belt craft aids are pretty cheap, so i guess a few dollars would be dollars well spent.

i have been considering buying a few craftaids from TLF. are they really worth it? do craftaids have any advantages over tracing your own patterns? thanks guys.

so i got brave today and decided it was time to put my tools to work. i have a bunch of scrap kicking around that i got cheap from TLF to practice with... i've been meaning to make a sheath for a bunch of bushcraft accessories, so i thought i'd start with my LED flashlight. this is what i ended up with: lessons learned: 1. punch the hole for the snaps before the project is sewn together. i assembled it first, making the snap mounting a pain... never again. 2. bevel and finish all edges before assembly. 3. "clamping" pieces together with a mini clamp makes "stitch hole" punching easier! 4. staining project before assembly made dying easier than afterward. i suspect things will go quicker for me, the more projects i build.

the blade can go all the way in, i just didnt push it all the way in for the photo. i had a tandy awl, but the thing broke the first time i used it. after that, i went to the 4 prong chisel.

hello all. i received my new Osbourne head knife, so i decided to make a sheath to protect it. this was my very first project involving stamping and stitching. first, i traced the knife blade on a piece of cardstock. then added about 1/2" to it for stitching. then i use a stitch groover for the stitching border, then for the inner pattern border. i punched the stitching holes using a 4 prong 8066 punch and stamped it with the x502s triweave stamp. after stitching was complete with waxed thread, i used an edge beveler and burnished with gum taraganth. then i used eco-flo "Briar Brown" to stain it, followed by Dark Brown Edge Cote. i really need to find a better way to punch holes for stitiching. i had a difficult time lining up the holes of the two leather pieces... i think it turned out ok for a first try. some of the stamping was a bit off, but i can live with it. i think i need more dye practise too.. be gentle with me... its my first time!

very well done! i really like where you mounted your pen. wish i could get my stitching that straight.

all i can say is WOW! i think this is the nicest journal i have seen. i especially like the dual straps and how you stitched them together... im currently drawing mockups for a journal cover that flips on the top instead of the sides... very inspirational... thanks. any pics of the inside of the jounal?

this is probably one of the best wet forming tutorials that i have seen! thank you so much for your time on this. one question tho. if you were going to basketweave stamp the pouch, would you stamp it on a flat surface and then mold it or mold it and use the face of the mold to stamp the leather before it dried? thanks again. al

nice bottels! how do you waterproof them?

i just got a gold membership 2 months ago. last month i sent in the craftool code to TLF Vancouver by email, and they honored it. they screwed up, and gave me the wrong tool, but they honored the deal. i emailed them and told me that they would send me out the proper tool with my backordered products. its been about a month, and im still waiting.

can i find these somewhere online?

i lucked out yesterday. i picked up a piece of marble about 10"x24" for free at a local stone shop.

i just received my first 8/9oz 'bend' from Tandy. it came rolled up in a box. can i store my leather rolled up like this for a long period of time? will this damage the leather in any way? pardon my ignorance, i'm a newb... LOL. cheers, al

thanks for all your useful comments. i've been thinkig more about this, and i think i'm going to wait for a sale on a small drill press for this instead. i think it would be more versatile for the outside and inside(like belt slots) edges of my upcoming projects. all i need to do is find a drill press with an adjustible speed down to around 800 rpm. my 8-9oz european single bend just came in last night! i look forward to using it. thanks again for all your input. this forum has been a great learning experience. al

hello all, i have been considering getting a smalldrill press for finishing the edges of my projects, when a friend offered me an small old router table in good condition. would a router be suitable for this or would it spin too fast and burn the leather? please forgive my ignorance as i am a newb.

very nice job! :D i'm currently looking for a pattern to make this, but with a second flap/holder for a small LED flashlight.

i am absolutely facinated with leather. even more facinated with the work that you guys show online! i am a complete newb when it comes to crafting leather, and am looking at dropping a few bucks on tools, etc. i am currently interested in making belts, pouches, book covers, holsters, and bags. my question is the Tandy Ultimate workshop kit actually worth it? http://www.tandyleat...e/55512-01.aspx or would it be better(and cheaper) to find the tools elsewhere, or seperately, or possibly any substitutions? what do you guys recommend as a starting kit? i suspect that my first project will be a bag to hold all my leatherwork tools... i suspect that when i get into this, i will spend a fair amount on tools in the near future... thank you for the input my friends!

hello all, first post here. for an absolute beginner, is the "Leathercrafter's Ultimate Workshop" kit, a good buy? $549.99 http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/home/department/Beginning-Leather-Kits/55512-01.aspx?feature=Product_1 i am an absolute novice, and want to start out right.