Tree Reaper

For small items you can use a wood form and wood workers vice. I use this method for forming molded pouches.

Beaver tail is stiff and durable. When commercially tanned it can be more pliable. I like to back it up with suede or light leather but it is easy to work with and reasonable to buy. The tails I have are from beaver I had trapped years ago, sold the hides, saved the tails and tanned them. I bought a beaver tail wallet that was crafted by natives and that's when I realized the tails could be put to good use. They are usually left on the carcass and discarded. Kevin.

One with a beaver tail inlay.

For the coat, look for a Furrier in your area.

Could you use a screw post?

Looks good to me, nice work. You can smooth those beveling marks with a modeling spoon.

Hair removal is done prior to tanning, you would be better off trying to sell what you have and buy what you need. The hair will be locked in and will be difficult to remove without damaging the hide not to mention the work involved.

I'm pretty sure you can order anything from Ohio through Springfield.

You can measure corner to corner diagonally to see if the two measurements match. If the box is square and your two angles are cut at exactly 45 to make a 90 then everything should fit. A one or two degree difference and they won't fit tight. In that case you can measure the angle and cut the leather to match or cut leather scraps the same width and put them on the box, if there's a gap then cut the leather to bring the two corners together then transfer those angles to the real piece.

Looks good. I would replace that rod with a carriage bolt, put a coil spring on the bolt between the jaws so the jaws open on their own then put a flap of leather with a snap over the wing nut so your thread doesn't keep catching it.

Check the pawn shops.

Do you have a picture of this ?

Do you know for certain the box is square?

A mitered corner would just be marked at 45o cut and joined to another piece the same width at the same angle. A mitered edge for sewing is a little more complex. Are you having trouble with corners or edges? Kevin.

Hello Leonard and welcome to the forum. Kevin

Looks good Bob, will look really good once the finish is on.

Thanks HJ.

Can you download them into Photoshop?

I saw it and like it. What program was that?

That works. I just need some fancy letters.

That's great, thank you.

I've downloaded the program, have created text and added a spiral but can't put the text to the spiral so I'll have to spend some time trying to learn the program. Thanks for the links and the examples. Kevin.

I went through that site and it appears to be a tutorial for a specific program, is there a download for that program somewhere?

I have photo express I can use for making words but how do you get them to follow the curve on the coaster? Are the letters put on individually or can you make the word and then use a program to curve it? Not sure if 1/2 inch letters would look decent carved then beveled. 1" or larger would be easier to work with but won't work on a coaster.