rscow

That is just lovely work. I wish I could come out with something as beautiful and practical. Well done!

Very nice. Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Woooooooo. Pig. Sooie! Razorbacks!

I appreciate all the comments above. I wanted the handles thicker, because the purse is a bit bigger than the little ones I have seen before. I think I will go with a thinner leather, though with the second, inner layer. Compromise. The braiding...I think I agree with the comment on spacing from the edge. I did it this way because other stirrups I have seen were like this... However, I think I like a neater edge. So, will change the spacing on the next one. For my wife. This was a fun project, and raised my skills with the grommet setter (bought a good one), and with lacing (bought decent lace from Springfield). Roger

I know about some...alas. But I'm very interested in your comments. Thanks.

First project photos I've posted. Other than my rawhide dog chew maul. Somewhat fearful of the experts... But I like how it turned out. Made on spec for a lady whose maiden name is Bearpaw.

A manatee, usually. Or sometimes an Orca. But always UNDER a poundo board.

That is a very nice sheath. Very well done! Roger

Looks like a nice Puukko. I think the sheath turned out well. Did you make the knife, too? Roger

That asphalt trick is very clever! Nice work on that sheath! Roger

Go to tandyleatherworks.com and see where the nearest shop is. They have classes you can take, kits of tools you can buy, and when you know what you are looking for, individual tools as needed. Spend some time on this website. It is full of ideas and interesting projects and is populated by a very friendly and helpful bunch of leatherworkers. Decide what it is you want to make: holsters, belts, cases, cowboy gear, knife sheaths, clothing items.... Do you want to carve? Dye? Paint? All of the above? Are you looking to start a business? Do you need a sewing machine or will you hand stitch? Where are you going to set up your "shop?" Then consider some books on the subject. Look on the web, on Amazon.com, and then come back here and see what others recommend. I'm interested in a lot of things, but recently bought the 3 volume set of The Art of Making Leather Cases, by Al Stohlman. They are on sale at Tandy for ten bucks until the end of June 2011. Very good sources for ideas, techniques, etc. THEN, go for it. Roger (a new leatherworker in Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA)

Add my vote for a really interesting design. It does look like reptile scales. Or fish. Or mermaid, or whatever. I think that the neatsfoot does all of the things mentioned, and makes for smoother dye/stain application too. I'm a newb, but I have noticed this. Very nice project. Roger

I'm working on a ranger belt. I have the parts almost ready to go. I have questions about how to secure the three keepers on the buckle end of the belt. Is the big keeper that holds the tip end of the belt attached to the belt, or does it float free? How about the small keepers? Do they float up and down on the buckle end? Or are chicago screws or snaps used? I haven't seen an answer in photos I've looked at. Newb question, I know...since I already have a bunch of pieces I should know how to put them together! Roger

I just used some common nails about the same length as the block of rawhide. The heads show, but I don't care. Finish nails would probably have looked better... I marked the circles with a sharpy, and cut them out with some kitchen shears. When done, I sanded them on the belt sander. RDS

I have been doing some work ... holsters, belts, lots of sheaths. Wasn't happy with my stamping. Read that I needed to upgrade to a decent granite surface and a heavier whacker. I was using a wooden mallet. So I decided I needed a maul. Instead of buying, which would have been simple, I decided to DIY. I used some doggy chews. Went down to PETCO and bought some, then soaked them in water. Nailed them to a frame I built out of 1 x 3's. When dry and flat, I cut out circles and made the rawhide part. Instructions on how to do that right (in other words I did it wrong the first time) are found here: http://leatherworker...92 The core is a 9 inch 1/2" carriage bolt. The handle I made out of stacked leather disks. The black thing is for extra weight. I found it at a farm and ranch store here in Arkansas called Atwood's. I think it is a part used in automatic feeders or gate openers or something. All I know is that it is heavy, and it fits. I just figured that I should share my experiences. This is a great site and a great community. Thanks for looking! Roger

Here is the end product. Thanks for all the feedback and help! Roger

Awesome reply. Thanks. Time is definitely required to dry these disks. I will go back through your post, and make sure I've got it right. Then get working. No wonder they cost so much. Foolishly, I tried gluing the disks together. I used some Titebond. However, they didn't really stick very well. So I took them all apart. Using dog chews probably wasn't the best idea in the world. Or at least I should have used thicker ones. The ones I have look like a bunch of Pringles potato chips. But flat, at least. So, I separated them all out and soaked them a little and put them over a 1/2" mandrel. Added some plywood backers and a couple of fender washers at each end, then nuts. I have been tightening the mess down periodically all day. I get a turn or so every hour. In other words, following your directions. Once I have squeezed them as much as I can, I will take the whole assembly and hang it somewhere and leave it alone for a couple of weeks. Now, question: What kind/size of nails do you use? Finishing? Common flat headed ones? Do you put a ring around the whole end? How many would you suggest for a block that should end up about three inches long and three inches in diameter? Off topic, but I was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Beaufort for a few years (from 1998 to 2001). We loved that town. I hope it is still as great as it was back then. Thanks for your advice. Roger

Awesome reply. Thanks. Time is definitely required to dry these disks. I will go back through your post, and make sure I've got it right. Then get working. No wonder they cost so much. Roger

Hi, first post. I'm making a rawhide maul. I am building it over a 1/2" carriage bolt. I have made a handle from stacked leather disks. I have collected some heavy stuff for additional weight in the head. Not to heavy, I hope. I have procured a bunch of dog rawhide chews, soaked them, dried on a frame. Cut out a big stack of 3 inch disks. Dry, they compress down to about 3 inches. That should be good for what I have in mind. So, I need to assemble these disks into a blank, shape it up and drill out for the carriage bolt. What is the best way to secure these disks? Should I glue them? If I glue, with what? Epoxy, gorilla, carpenters? All the commercial ones I've seen disassembled and the head was a separate chunk. Not a stack of loose disks, so I assume I need to glue them. ANy experienced maul builders out there with suggestions? Thanks. Feel free to email if you prefer: rdscowjrATfastmailDOTfm RDS