GaryCs

I don't like getting on this,my spelling is not that good. I have only been in this just a short while I started working leather last april. I got what I thought would be a good machine,It was and is still great! It is a cobra class 18 after a few vest,a few holsters,saddle baggs, well you know how it starts. With in a few mounths the machine was to small,7/16 ths of an inch just does not cut it.I got my cobra 4 in january I have had it two and a half months My sales whent from this to 4 times this.If you can swing it get the beast,and I do mean beast this machine eats up leather. I work with a lot of horse butt,4 layers of this and you don't even know it. to have the 16 inch throught it's is great . And let me add this to Big O thanks for your kind words on my first holster. Art you where right about the wife and the cobra 18, but that's ok I got my cobra 4! By the way the cobra 18 was my first machine, veary low learning curve,turne it on and run with it. Gary C.

I'm not sure what he wants to use them for, just that he wants 12 foot reins! I appreciate the feedback as I am very new into this but this area of leatherwork seems to be growing in our area and I guess I am going to have to keep up with it. And boy do I have a lot to learn...

How do you get 12 foot flat reins out of a 7 foot cowhide? I am a newbie, obviously, and have been asked to make some flat reins that are 12 foot long. Where do I start? My hides are only 7 feet long, makes sense to get 12 foot you need to splice or join them somewhere, right? Help.

I am a virgin when it concerns the leather sewing machine. I did some checking, found a Gemsy locally, real cheap, decided that's just what it was after I went and saw it. So I passed on that one. So after looking around - especially on this site - I thought I might like a Consew RB205-5. I went to Zach White's, via the internet, and saw that they had Cobras. Well, I fell in love with the Cobra Class 17. It had a digital servo motor, a speed reduction gear, and from this forum, that seemed to be what most people were switching out and going to. After talking to Tim at Zach Whites, he said he thought the Cobra Class18 would fit my needs better, and not work the machine too hard. My needs include holsters, belts, buckskin clothes, and anything else I can put through the machine. Any and all comments appreciated, and I sure hope I did good... cuz it's too late to turn back now!

It's a small world, after all, ain't it? The weather's not too good right now, but I think it'd be fun later on this spring! By that time I ought to know a little bit more about this leather stuff! Right now all I can tell you is a lot of it comes off a cow and other 4 legged critters! Oops, that's not entirely true is it. You've got the snakes, gators, fish, ostrich. I guess you could say leather abounds in this world. Good reason to learn how to work with leather, huh?

if you know the area I am up the Pipe north of libby. where are you in this world. GaryCs

Hello, I'm Gary. I live in the extreme northwest corner of Montana. I've attached some pictures of what got me into leatherworking: my first holster I have caught the bug now. I got a shoulder holster that was formed plastic, and I did not like it. I had a piece of scrap leather that had been kicked around for about 14 years, I decided to change out the plastic with leather. I had a Meyer's speedy stitcher (I found that's what it's called by going to this site) I laid out a pattern by tracing my gun, put together what I thought would be functional, and sewed it up. It wasn't until I found this forum that I learned things like "wet forming", "burnishing", "boning", "casing". You guys talk in a completely different language - and I'm in the process of learning that now! As my grandad would have said, "I am teachable." Can this holster and mag carrier be changed from just being functional to a really good looking holster, or do I just keep it as a reminder of my humorous "first attempt." Glad I found you guys.