Art

Hi Bruce, I have used the Artisan, but they all really look the same and I am sure come from the same factory in Tiawan. I wouldn't consider the strap cutter as a general shop tool; however if you do a lot of straps or belts it could easily justify the costs. The skiver I just can't get a handle on. It is probably used for something specific although for a saddlemaker or a holster maker I can't see where those things would ever do any better or faster than a razor blade skiver. Again, if you do a LOT or belts and straps maybe a motorized skiver would help. Art

Hi Marilyn, Ruby was all the rage 15 years ago. It didn't last long as ruby is hard but quite brittle resulting in dings on the blades which never really were fixable because the ruby usually came off when attempting to regrind the darned things. I found they could be sharpened on a flat steel grinder with diamond paste if not dinged too bad but were still prone to ruby detachment which can be reattached with jewlers cement sometimes. What I am getting at here is you have a collectors item. Current technology says steel or ceramic, you pick em. Art

Hi Holly, I agree that George's tapes are great, I use them for Scouts. However, there is one video about airbrushing where George does a horsehead. I have never seen all of that video and I have had it for at least 8 years. It just puts me to sleep. I could take that thing on a roller coaster and not even play it and I would go to sleep. If you have trouble getting the kid to sleep, put that video in bed with him, and if he is really cranked-up, play the darned thing and he will be asleep in no time. Art

Hi abn, From experience Pecard's (great on MC seats and bags) is a little better than Montana Pitchblend. If you need antifungal properties, Montana Pitchblend is better than Pecard's. The tree sap they use is a natural antifungal. I also use Pecard's to "rejuvinate" leather. Art

Patrice, I don't know about Québec, buy around here CAS is the primary LARP for good leather sales. If quality and authentic, name your price within reason. SCA and CW Reenactors don't generally have the deep pockets of the SASS folks and a lot of the reenactors reenact the leathersmith. Like I have said, if you want to do leatherwork as a business, you will have to treat it as a business. You will have to make what the customer wants and for which they will pay a reasonable price. You may have to specialize in one or two disciplines. In CAS, you will make a lot of sales at a match, and if you give out a lot of cards you will get business from them. Have a lot of product made-up so they can feel and touch and buy. Horse shows and rodeo are the same. Print thousands of business cards and make sure everyone at the shows gets them. You must know the folks you are going to deal with. Don't do the rodeo circuits if you don't know what is going on or more importantly, what the participants need so you can talk to them intelligently. Know where your potential customers are going to shop so you can have product there in front of them. Many times you will have to invest hard money to produce enough product and pay for travel and table fees to do a major show. Be careful and spend that money wisely, always attend the show the year before to see what the sales are like, spend every minute there watching and take notes. There are many strategies that can help with sales, if your customer won't buy, then look at your customer or your product. I don't know how many times I have seen businesses who are just selling the wrong thing to the right market or the right thing to the wrong market. Except for the oldest business, every business has to adapt to survive. Art

Hi abn, My favorite finish is Pecard's. My second is Bag Kote. Art

Nice work, I like the snake. Art

Hi Alex, Would I still do leatherwork if I didn't sell anything? Yes, but on a much smaller scale. I am by no means a huge producer anyway. I have pretty much paid for all my tools and supplies and trips to different shows with the wife through my work. I just wouldn't have the toys (needed and unneeded) that I do without selling my work. However, I would have some of them if there was no income from leather. I will retire in the next 3 or 4 years, and I can't wait to spend 8 or more hours a day in the shop because I want to, not because I have to. And if I don't want to go into the shop one day, who cares but me? Doing anything as a business requires study and diligence. On the other hand, a hobby is just that, a means to keep mind and hands occupied without the necessity of making a profit. You just take it wherever you want to go with it. If you want to put a roof over your head or to feed the kids, then you have to be a bit more serious about it. Art

207 or 277 would work well. Artificial Sinew from Tandy also works. With drilling, you shouldn't have to wax. Art

Hi abn, I don't know how Bruce would act, but I am from a school that taught you to make lemonade from a store full of lemons. I have a day job that keeps me more than happy and the leatherwork I do is more for artisanship or the artsy side of my head than anything. Nonetheless, there are more than 300MM people in this country and if you get your product out there, someone will buy it. Now not everyone is a marketing genius, but if you have something that isn't selling, you become one or you fail. If you fail, you start over doing something else. Art

Hi Johanna, I always price work at the PROFIT the market will bear; but always a profit and always ENOUGH profit to satisfy me. Since I make men's belts and gunleather (Cowboy and Duty), you would think that Cabela et al would be a worry. Not so, I am glad to see they charge what they do. At least they are not selling belts for $12. The Cabela's customer is looking for at least decent quality, and are willing to pay for it so some of them will gravitate to me if they see my product. I tell my customers the steps in making one of my belts and what is used to make them, I sell my quality. With holsters and gunbelts it is quite a different story. With the CAS crowd (that includes me) they are looking for HIGH Quality and that is what I provide with authenticity the next criteria. Cabela's just isn't into that. I don't know what it is with the pressure molding of gunleather, but on other than Duty wear it just looks cheap. Molding does make duty holsters a little thinner which for concealed carry is a plus. I do them either way. You can make good money just selling belts and at very profitable prices too. Art

Hi Abn, I think what Bruce is saying is that he would find new customers who would pay his price. Art

Hi Regis, I don't know if latigo was the right choice for your first bag. Veg tanned shoulder is easier to buy and much easier to work. All advice here is good. You should find a leather supplier who can help with questions. Seigel of California is both reputable and knowlegable. Don't use the website, call them and ask questions about whatever you are doing and what leather you should use. Of course you can always ask here. Don't look for, or buy cheap leather, it is just that and unless you are knowlegable, it is seldom what it is cracked-up to be. Your bag is good in a minimalist sort of way. Great for a teen or pre-teen and their style of clothing. Bags get rough use and sewing is recommended. Some latigo is fast and some likes to run; I always test a piece even if I have used it before. Always try to ask specifics, for instance; I am making a _______, what kind of leather should I use, and how do I finish it? Art