salvi

I have just bought a set of Barry King's stamping tools for sheridan Style small/medium work then surfing the web I have seen that other tool makers use different types of Steel. I think Mr. King uses Stainless Steel, Tandy uses plain carbon steel and other like Hackbarth or Robert Beard use 1080 Steel. It is suposed that different steels makes different quality so can someone explain what are the differences between Steels as well as wich one steel is the the hardest, the bets and the most durable for stamping tools? Thank you

I've recently bought a DVD from Chan Geer called 'Sheridan Style Carving'. After watching it I got very impressed on the perfection and the ease with wich he works the leather. He explains every aspect of tooling with extreme detail so I must strongly recommend this DVD to anyone but it is a must have for any beginer. At the end of the video where the Finish is explained, Mr. Geer takes a plastic bottle containing a kind of oil, then applies it on the tooled face and recomends to left it dry overnight. I think the only detail he forgot to mention is the oil type and the purpose or effect of the oil on the leather so, can someone explain what kind of oil you use normaly as well as what is the purpose of applying this kind of product before the Antique Finish then the Lacker? Is it suitable to use sweet almond oil for general purposes? Thank you

Hi Tina, wonderful work. As usually, extremely fine and creative.

Hi all, According to the incredible works I can watch here I feel sorry to bother you with this my first project. Please considere that I received some Craftool stamps and an inexpensive Swivel Knife last wednesday so I started on thursday to practise some cuts and impressions. I dediced to begin tooling just yesterday morning and today sunday is almost finished. I would like to know what are all those small violet specks that appeared on certain zones of the leather strap just a few hours after dampen it. Do you think there are particles from the fabric chrome treatment?

Please send me a PM.

I have received my first bunch of stamping tools and I would like to make a beautiful stand for it. I have got a dense pine log so I'd need some ideas, patterns to cut and information about distance between and depth of the holes, Cutting patterns, pictures from your stands or racks as well as meassures drilling holes would be very appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you Clair. Great books about handcrafting of the past.

Enjoy!

I just received my first maul yesterday. It is 16 lbs. and well balanced. I think this is the average weight for confortable tooling and small works but some questions come to my mind. Now I am ready to start tooling but I can also imagine because of its weight and size that this is not the proper tool for a heavier duty. I mean hitting a Strap-end, an Oblong punch, or even a standard punch for lacing holes or perhaps to set rivets or eyelets. My questions are: When is it supossed to use a mallet instead of a maul? How many mauls or mallets do we need in our tool boxes? I mean wich one are needed for stamping but for belt making, wallets, etc. where it is also needed the use of rivets, grommets, eyelets or punches. Please, specify type, size and weights because it would be a good reference for beginners. Thank you. :brainbleach:

Ooops... perhaps I was wrong... Anyway, do you find it useful as a learning tool?

I'd like to know if it is interesting to invest on those Tandy's Craftaids made on plastic that can be hard pressed. I had supossed that these sheets had only carved the main lines of the pattern but most cases are almost the final result after a stamping work. This made me think that they have been designed not for learning but for other purposes as a for example amusement. Do you think craftaids are a serious tool or a help for newcomers to leather stamping or perhaps it might be better forgeting them forever? Thanks

Hi Chris, thank you very much for this awesome review. Thank you all for being so sincere and clear when talking about Swivel Knives. I am sure that this is going to be a great support for newcomers to leather crafting.

Hi all, I'm going to buy my first Swivel Knife and my question is obvious after seeing prices on internet. I didn't want to mention any manufacturer but it is absolutely necessary in this case as I have decided to buy best tools in order to set up a good tooling box and to obtain the benefit of those tools on my learning process. Whereas Tandy is selling swivel knives from $20 to $70, Barry King (famous for the quality of his tools) offers one for $45. The highest price is from Leather Wranglers with its famous SK-3 starting on $125. As long as the tools seem to be almost the same, why the price difference is so huge? I can't understand it. The other question is about the tool size. I have an average hand but this kind of tool have many different configurations for the yoke, barrel and blade. What is/are the best size/s for Sheridan Style? and What other aspects of the tool should I have in mind to not be wrong on the purchase. Thank you

Hi Hilly, I'm so sorry for having been misunderstood. I am completely new to leather crafting. Almost by accident I saw a video on youtube about carving and stamping. Then I found this great forum and I have starting to buy some tools but I need tuition so as somebody told that it was the best source to learn leather carving and stamping and as someone sold this course here and I had not been able to find these videos on any shop found through google, I really thought that this was something like an odd course difficult to find. By your words I think that Jeremiah Watt is still working so I'd be grateful to find a phone number or better an email to contact him personally. Anyway, thank you very much for your advise.

Full color scan from an old and descriptive book about prepared leather for handcrafting and leather industry. http://hotfile.com/dl/107794966/3b7a0a0/1917_La_Croix_Frederic_W._-_The_Leather_Specimen_Book.pdf.html

At an affordable price, please.

Impresionante!

Pure art applied to the manufacture of tools.

Let me suggest you to build up a website? I think there is many people interested on your mauls and being sincere I haven't seen anything better in the market.

I'd like to start with my first leather project so I have decided to try carving, stamping and making a few holes on belt strips. For that reason I'd like to buy a couple 1 1/2" 8-9oz Veg. Tan belt blanks at the cheapest prices possible. The most reasonable price I have found till the moment is on Springfieldleather.com. Do you think $5 a good price for? or it is better to try getting a strap cutter and buy a leather shoulder? Thanks

Simply spectacular. Thanks for sharing a part of your knowledge.