Cogs

Thank you for sharing the gel info, Ambassador! Now I know how to do camouflage on hunting leather! Bill

How 'bout corners sewn onto the front flap? Same leather and color as the center strip. It would make the corners more ridgid, but that could be a good thing to help the tips from curling up over time. Nice pouch! I think it turned out well and is worth the extras you put into it. Bill

What a great treasure that will be for her for the rest of her life. "My Daddy made that for me when I was born", she'll proudly tell her kids and grandkids. And very nice work it is! Bill

Is that the same head and hands as the first picture? I like each one as it's own piece of art. Just the way you have them in the photos. They would make nice murals on church or public walls. I hope you're not planning to do any more with either of those. I think they are done... nicely done! Nice works of art! Very intriguing and thought provoking. I can't help but imagine what their lives were like. Thank you, Hunio! Bill

That is a perfect match for that iron. Nice choice of color. All 'round nice job! Oh, hey JimBob, I think you got your last comment wrong... " I am gonna be waaaaaaay behind...." I'm sure you meant to say... "I think I'm gonna be waaaaaaay ahead!" I'm sure he has friends that are gonna love what they see. (and we all know what that means! Yee Ha!) Keep up the excellent work! Bill

You did a fantastic job there Bud! Hand stitch? I don't have a sewing machine so I can appreciate the work that goes into hand sewing all that belt! You gotta show us some of your other projects. Bill

Way to go Kev-Dude! Are those LED's? Next one.... change colors? Or perhaps.... Bark ON Bark OFF? Great idea and it looks real nice. Bill

TexasLady, Did you have to deal with scales? (Don't know if Striped Sea Bass have scales or not.) Salmon are running through the back yard and I'm considering the tanning idea for inlays and wraps. (King Chinook and Coho Silvers). Any pointers on the process? Thanks, Bill

I like immike-TOO!

Love it! My kind of bag. Has the look of a practical bag that could have been hand made by an old mountain man way back in the 1800's. No metal, nothing 'machine made', and nothing 'current day' about it. A classic style that wears well in today's world. Love the color. You said you were "trying for a possibles style bag" and I say "you nailed it". Nice job. Bill

Gees Louise! You went ballistic on that! Real nice job! I like it! Bill

Way to go, Murray! It's got style and class. Love the colors! Also love the boarders and your edges. I know it was a lot of work and I can see it was well worth it. Enjoy that! Bill

Crisp and clean, like a Boma machine! I like! Bill

Thanks, Chancey77, Good points. As part of the ornamental buckle display, I wanted the larger shapes of the billet and chave (like you would see on a Ranger belt). I'm sure I could have fudged the size down a little, or a different shape, and could have tightened up the name stamps and concho. As it is, it turned out real nice and will last a long time. Thanks for everyone's input and encouragement. Bill

Thank you tomt, and chancey77. Glad you like it. Yes, chancey77, I did measure from front to the peak of his shoulder. In his photo, he's got the guitar slid back a little further than he normally plays it. I catch your drift on why it's a better measurement to the collar bone. I'll do that next time. I found there is not much space left when you have a buckle planned for the front. Thanks for the measuring tip. Bill

Just received this photo of The Cogman on the Lonesome Goose Ranch. He says it's a perfect fit, super comfortable and loves the way the 'S' strap helps to straighten out the strap (Neetsfoot oil helped alot!). Home run! BOOM! Bill

Thank you, Benlilly1 and Geronimo, I'm not great at original designs so I'm not the first to do a buckle in the front. I saw that on a guitar strap with bullets on it and thought it looked cool. Oh, I've got a picture of that. I don't know who made it but it inspired the idea for this one. (Thanks, who ever made the bullet strap!) Bill

I'm happy with the 'S' strap in the front where it attaches to the guitar. It took the 'twist' out of the main straps and now lays fairly flat in front. I like the padding... I used 1/4" of Neopreme from a pair of leaky fishing waders (Gee, I almost threw those waders away). I wrapped it with goat skin and it's real soft on the shoulder. I know, some of you don't like 'Conchos' on a guitar strap. BUT, you didn't say anything about a buckle! Yes, the scratch potential is there, however, The Cogman is well aware and he's very careful with his Martin. This is 3 1/2" wide at the shoulder and used Herman Oak 4 oz front and the same 4 oz liner. Hope you like it. Cogman does. (Guy with the red shirt is me with a Hohner guitar).

Well, I didn't like the swivel idea after all. I went with an 'S' strap and it works great. Here's the results. (More pics in "Show Off"). Bill

Hello Danny, I think you did a great job! I like the rattle hanging down. Nice touch. All pieces look fantastic! Real nice leather work! Is snake skin an import item or is it readily available in Germany? Best regards from the other side of the world, Northwest USA, Bill

That's cool! Nice work!

I'm liking the swivel idea. It's the most sure fire way to fix the twist. If I get the right kind, I'd like to wrap it with a felt liner to prevent scratching when he puts it on and off. Perhaps it could look real nice. (Cog's wheels are turning...) Thanks everyone for the help. I'll be working on this this weekend. May not get it done till the next weekend, as I have a regular job to do all week. I'll let you know how it turns out. Bill

We tried the reverse attachment idea and it came out twisted the opposite way. I came up with an idea that might work. I'll make up a test piece and see. Don't you think this will work?

How would I correct the twisted strap? To be making a new strap and I'd like to make it so it lays flat up the front. (not twisted like his old strap). Swivel? Shape a 'J' at the end? Or, should he have a new button installed in a better location? Any ideas? Thanks for helping, Bill

Nice work Doug! I like the Navy one. (Or is it a Marines symbol? I better learn the difference real soon because my Navy son, who is a medic attached to the Marines, is coming home next month). I've been wondering about the color. How did you achieve those shades of military green? Bill