buzzardbait

Thats done with a Barry King seashell and a Barry King 6 hole filler

when you are swivel cutting small details and narrow lines don't cut any deeper than the width of the design.

The Watts knife has a bearing that makes the rotation very smooth and precise, and the blade stays securely in place. They are an excellent high quality knife. I had one for a couple of years, but after 20 years of using a standard swivel knife I just couldn't make the transition and sold it.

Duane Watts makes the knife. he sales on ETSY.

Tips and tricks with Cobra class leather working equipment is a Facebook group that is your best bet for info. you need to change the rotation on your servo, but I don't remember how it is done.

I've always put the gun in a ziplock bag. never had a problem, but some folks don't like to leave their guns with you.

Looks like veg tan dyed Cordovan brown

I am in western N.C. and have the same situation. white vinegar will kill mold and mildew on the hides but it takes a month or more for the smell of it to go away. Oxalic acid also works for surface mold. Several years ago I put a small fan in my leather storage closet and when the humidity is up I leave it on to circulate air over the hides, I haven't had any problem since.

That looks like a large zipper. when I put a zippered pocket inside a wallet I use a standard 6 inch "jeans " zipper from the fabric store. they are much smaller but strong enough to do the job with minimal marking. anytime you have metal verses leather the leather will take some marking.

Craft Japan tools are higer quality than Tandy tools, Barry King tools are well worth the price difference.

I'm no expert, but I have had a machine for several years and use it often. I am aware of several other machine users in my area. never heard of anyone lubricating nylon thread. a saddle shop near me has been in business for longer than I have been alive, I'm 60 and none of their dozen or so machines runs lubricated thread or uses a lubricater. I have heard horror stories of people who ran waxed thread through a machine. take that with a grain of salt because as I said I am no expert.

I do those borders with half round punches of the desired diameter. I make them by cutting half the diameter off of a round punch with a bandsaw.

you have to have the setting tool for them

natural stretch marks in the leather will cause that.

Search "used leathercraft tools" on E-Bay. there are lots of used tools on there and you can get an idea of what they are selling for. those Tippman Boss stitchers consistently go for 800.00 up. The value of the stamping tools will depend on the maker and when they were made. Check out Brucejohnsonleather.com. he deals in used tools.

Contact BK and ask them to send you a sales flyer, the stamps are shown actual size in the flyer.

Barry King makes push beaders and beader blades for a swivel knife.

That rounded border can be done with a push beader or a beader blade in a swivel knife or a slicker in that profile. It takes a lot of practice to do it that nicely. the backgrounder looks like an E-294 these may be available from Springfield Leather.

I agree, I think they are called a bush tool.

Back bevellers will round over those corners. Barry King makes them to fit into a swivel knife and they work great for this.

If you can get your hands on a back issue of Leathercrafters & Saddlers Journal Vol 22 No.3 May /June 2012 Bob Klenda shows how to wet form that gusset for a saddle purse project..

wet mold the outer skin and lining together. clamp them in place until dry, once dry ,take them apart and apply glue and put them back together. once the glue is set you can dampen the leather and do some fine tuning if needed.

I have done it numerous times. I use a damp, not soaking wet, sponge and work from the stained area out until the whole project is good and damp then let it dry completely. this works most of the time but not always.

Take a look at Weaver Leather, Barry King , Ranch2arena.com is Jeremiah watt's website and Ron's Tools. all make great hand tools.

I don't have bar grounders but I have several Craft Japan stamps. they are much better quality than Craftool and Springfield's tools and most of the other stuff you find on E-Bay and such. If I was going to get serious about bar grounding I would hold out for Barry Kings.