Tallbald

I'm still so new to leather crafting, but I love it and will, Lord willing, probably be enjoying it until the day I leave this earth. Three years under my belt, and I finally had to buy a sewing machine to do the stitching my arthritic hands and joints have stopped letting me do. As a side note, I am loving learning to use my new Cowboy CB3500, and because of my machine I now have new capabilities and want to branch out to additional styles of holsters and personal accessories. I love full flap holsters, and have made several of different styles and patterns. But to date I have never made a lined holster. I've read many threads here and have taken notes to remember what I've studied. So far I think the best method for me is to use two layers of 4/5 ounce veg tanned leather, gluing the flesh sides together and proceeding as if I was using a single layer. But I have a few questions I've yet to find answers to in my reading. I wish I could locate a tutorial on lining a holster, but for now I will just ask and hope members tolerate what I'm sure are oft repeated questions. When gluing the flesh sides together shouldn't I apply a coating of contact cement to the entire flesh surface? When the cement is cured and I bend the leather for the holster bucket, will the inner layer compress and conform to the bend or will it buckle and separate from the outer layer at the inside of the holster? If it tends to buckle, how do I prevent this? In the case of a lined full flap holster, will the frequent bending and flexing of the flap as the holster is used eventually separate the layers at the "hinge" area? My holsters are completely edge sewn and I expect that will help prevent this, but would I be better off to sew stitch lines in flexing areas to prevent separation over time? Does a full layer of cement between the two layers of leather make the completed material so stiff it is harder to form? I really appreciate help. I'm trying to learn from the folks here who have been down my road before. Don

Rick those are beautiful stitches. AND, I am well aware of the beautiful items you craft, being the proud owner of one of your custom gun belts. Incidentally I posted a 1 month happy follow up on The High Road gun forum about my belt from you too. I'm a proud member of several special interest forums, and it is help like I have received in response to this post that makes a forum what it is supposed to be. Wiz and Rick, thank you so much. Don

Wonderful information to have and it's just what I was needing. I'm taking notes each time I receive help. And I thank you so much. Don

My Cowboy 3500 is a fantastic machine and I'm tickled to have it. I am learning to use it with scrap piece sewing, making some simple key rings and a few other small items. I am learning it's behavior when going from single thickness leather to double and triple thickness. Something I am not sure of is what an ideal bottom stitch looks like. If I leave the top tension as is when changing from multiple thickness to single, the bottom stitch seems to flat out bury itself below the surface of the layer. Should the bottom layer stitch look just like the top surface stitch? Should I learn to adjust top tension as I change thickness on the same piece? I mean like when sewing away from a welt on a holster toward a double thickness and vice versa? Is there a tutorial here that might show me what to aim for? I have looked without success. Thanks so much. Don

Forgot to thank you all for the answers the other day. Thank you! Don.

I wish to make multiples of several small items like key rings, cell phone cases, and dog collars. I have on hand a sheet of thin, tempered aluminum flat sheet I was given, perhaps 1/16 inch thick. I can cut and trim the aluminum with my band saw and smooth the edges with my sanders to make durable templates. Most postings I read here though seem to choose clear plastic or bag stiffener for templates. Why not aluminum? Am I missing something important? Don

Thank you all so much. I was doing it bass ackwards. Oh. And I am having a ball. Sewing thick leather with this machine instead of the hand stitching I have become unable to do any more gives me the same satisfaction that I think using a bulldozer would for the first time if all I had ever used before was a shovel. Don

It's evening and I'm really getting to try my new CB3500 for the first time. Most information available seems geared to the 4500 which has an integral winder, instead of the off-the-machine winder setup of my 3500. I'm sure it's there but I cannot locate the instructions. How should I be threading my winder, or rather how many wraps around the tensioner before going through the eye guide above the tensioner? I tried to find a youtube video without success. Thanks. Don

The voices of experience have spoken. It sounds like I should reconsider my thoughts. I'm glad to be a member of the forum, and thank you for being open with me. Don

Once again, and informative and entertaining conversation. Thanks. Don

I have in mind making heavy duty men's billfolds from some of the beautiful oil tanned leathers I see for sale. I'd like to be able to permanently stamp the initials of someone in the wallets but don't know if it can be done. Would simple block letter stamps leave a lasting impression on oil tanned? Thanks. Don

I guess a long winded post I made a few minutes ago about this got lost in cyberspace. Basically, I was asking if other leather craftspersons, once they have a leather sewing machine (or develop hand stitching skills), find that family and friends all of a sudden "need" you to make them a holster, four wheeler cover, motor cycle bags or some other time-consuming thing? I always tried to be a helpful man to strangers , friends and family when I could before I got hurt. But when I respond to those nowadays with a "need" for leather work projects ( whom I gather aren't planning to pay for my time or materials), I usually respond "I'll do better than that! Come to my house, I'll teach you to make a pattern, help you order the material and show you how to hand stitch or use my machine when I get it.". Without fail, the subject never comes up again. Same thing happens to my wife when people even at church learn she has a quilting machine and necessary skills to use it. Am I being a stingy old man or am I on-target to politely redirect requests for essentially free time and materials and turn them into offers to teach the person themselves? I don't ask my mechanic buddies to change my truck shocks for free, nor my cattle farmer friends to give me free hamburger. Is everyone but me giving family discounts? Jumping at a chance to do something for free? Don

I do have really have wonderful friends and family members, but sometimes having a skill like my wood working, leather crafting, or machinist training can lead to annoyances for me. Today I shared the joy I expect from having a true leather sewing machine by discussing it's capabilities with others in my circle of family and friends, and explained that I want to do some projects when I'm able to, to help pay my savings account back. Today alone (at a holiday gathering), no sooner did my wife bring up that I was buying a machine than one member said that he now knows " where to come" to get his "custom brown leather motorcycle saddlebags". His interest seemed to fade when I replied "Sure! I'll be happy to teach you to use my machine and even put you in contact with the place I buy my leather hides and tell you how to make a pattern" (he knows I sew my own gun cases, make my own holster designs, and do fabric quilting). Another friend who has an appliance repair service on the side learned I as buying my machine and said" Great! I'll get you to cut and sew a wet weather soft top for my four wheeler because none is commercially available!". I may be totally wrong, but I kinda really don't think that paying me for my time or material was in their thought processes. Two years ago a nephew saw a holster I made for his Dad's Ruger Bisley Vaquero and said "I want you to make one for my Smith and Wesson 686.". After I said to him "Hey I'll do better than that! You come to my house and I'll help you make a pattern, show you how to cut the leather and teach you to saddle stitch it", he never mentioned it again. I'm a giving man and have always jumped in the days before I got injured to help friends and family whenever I could. But sometimes family and friends seem to view my tools and skills as some sort of federally funded free social or entitlement program. How do others here deal with these situations? Am I just being a stingy old man with my time and materials? Do you give "family discounts" or do as I do and offer to teach them how to do it for themselves? My wife has had the very same thing happen to her at church and with family when people learn she has a quilting machine and the skills to use it.

Here's my thinking. Beautiful modern zippered handgun cases abound and I admire them greatly. It's nice that they can be un-zipped and laid out flat as a pad for the handgun. But zippers themselves can be a pain. Great zippers are expensive, have fabric components that will rot and break down over time from frequent movement and stretching (I know from experience), and are plain hard and time consuming for me to do well. In the 1800's long gun field cases were often essentially scabbards with a folding flap end closure secured by a strap and buckle. I want to begin making the same kind of scabbard for pistols from leather with an appropriate soft lining. What modern lining materials would be appropriate for a pistol scabbard lining? As traditional fabric quilters, my wife and I have come to prefer 100 percent cotton low loft batting which can be bought in many sizes and several grades. The variety of fabrics that might be suitable for the fine finish on a gun could include I suppose cotton canvas, cotton felt (although it might fray over time) and maybe a few others. Perhaps too, a 1 1/2 to 2 ounce vegetable tanned leather lining could be used over the batting. I'd rather not use fleece because of moisture retention and possible chemical issues. I really want to move forward with this idea and would appreciate thoughts on construction and materials. Thanks as always. Don

With the encouragement of my family to expand my leather crafting hobby, I finaly decided to go ahead and order a new CB3500. Initially I was going to go for the CB3200, but being in Kentucky and figuring that I may be called on to repair horse tack I felt it better for me (and possible future resale value) to go with the CB3500 and its greater capacity. Bob and Bobby at Toledo Industrial Sewing Machine have been very helpful so far by phone. My machine should ship later this week I am hoping. Quite a leap to go from hand stitching to machine sewing, I hope to expand to larger projects than the holsters and knife sheaths I have done thus far. I'll be selling off some machines from another hobby I've enjoyed in the past but physically am unable to do in the last several years (lathe turning wood bowls and spindles). I've been using a fabric sewing machine myself for many years, but the CB3500 will be a completely new animal to me. Please bear with me as I ask lots of advice here. I'm so looking forward to this folks. Don

I'm awaiting arrival of my new Cowboy CB3500. Looked through the accessories but will have to build up funds a bit before buying anything extra. A lube/wax pot is one option, but a search here says no results found (for wax pot). Why and when would I need one? Are lube pots an electrically heated tank for lubing the machine's parts or the thread? I expect to be using only synthetic threads, not cotton. Thanks. Don

I'm awaiting arrival of my new Cowboy CB3500. Looked through the accessories but will have to build up funds a bit before buying anything extra. A lube/wax pot is one option, but a search here says no results found (for wax pot). Why and when would I need one? Are lube pots an electrically heated tank for lubing the machine's parts or the thread? I expect to be using only synthetic threads, not cotton. Thanks. Don

Hope I'm not being rude to ask. When leather crafters who stamp names and initials in leather belts and accessories on site at craft shows prepare their works, are they using unfinished veg tanned leather belts and such, stamping the products then applying finishes after ornamentation? I have been advised to look into personalized accessories at shows. But won't a finished product resist stamping? Does a craftsperson stamp and apply finish on site then hope the finish dries before the customer returns to pick it up? I'm thinking I'm missing something important, but I just don't know what. Another person tells me of having seen "a machine" that runs and does the stamping. Not sure I know of this sort of machine.Thanks. Don

This has once again for me become a very helpful and interesting thread. I'll add this in to my situation. Leather crafting is not a business for me but rather a hobby that I need to turn into a self-supporting one. I did it in the 90's with wood sculpture turning and bought all my tools with sales proceeds at the time. Nowadays though I am unable to even attempt making leather crafting into a business because given physical limits, I cannot take volume orders much less turn out an item at wholesale rates. Some days I can produce and some days it's a chore just to move around in our own home. At this time, I have paid for my sewing machine, which as some have pointed out has resale value should it become necessary (comforting). I have also placed for sale a large wood turning lathe I am no longer able to use. I have a few other things I plan to place up for sale locally, to help fund what in essence is a mandatory change in hobby. I am not being forced by my loving wife to do this, but as a practical man made the choice myself and look at my hobby change as a change out of necessity. I respect the admonitions to buy quality tools and materials. I'm a retired ER nurse, but in addition to that I'm also a Journeyman Tool and Die maker who knows the value of good tools. "Buy quality once, cry once" of course can be taken to an extreme and by some, be used inappropriately to rationalize over-buying, but it's been a good rule of thumb for me. But high quality materials and tools that work will I think remove one roadblock to any potential success. My wife and I are currently networking with other craft show participants, two of which have many years of experience with shows in a 75 to 120 mile radius. Together she and I have "done" two shows in our town, and are learning what does and does not work for us. The advice of our networking friends has helped immensely, and our extended family has been very encouraging and emotionally supportive. I have had a sales tax number for many years, and since making the Leather Decision have used it to good effect setting up to wholesale accounts with a couple suppliers. Makes a BIG difference in purchase prices of tools and such. My wife and I are all above board and did turn in sale tax receipts for the few items we sold at the two shows last fall, and we both keep good and honest records (both of us are retired nurses used to detailed record keeping). What I plan to do at this time is to get my machine, learn its use, and make several copies of items I want to try marketing. Handbags, snap style belt key holders, billfolds, book covers, phone cases, messenger bags, and generic folding knife cases. I think that given the economy, items with a price point of less than $20 would sell quicker than higher priced items. I will be experimenting. The amounts I see others here having to spend seem right in line with what I have earmarked for my tools and supplies. I feel better folks. I truly appreciate the sharing of experience here. Thanks again, Don

Hey thank you everyone. My question has been answered better than I ever would have been able to bouncing around blindly looking myself! Don

I'm a happy leather crafter, having been hand stitching and making some holsters and small accessories for over three years for self, family and friends. Due to a serious spinal injury and spinal surgeries, along with a total knee replacement in the last 4 years, I've been forced into an unwanted early retirement at age 55. I also have had to give up another favorite hobby, wood working. I can no longer stand or sit for more than an hour or less, and psoriatic arthritis has smacked me down yet more with swollen sore joints and limited mobility. Add to all this that I'm going deaf in both ears from a heredity problem and you kind of get the picture I'm painting of where I stand (or sit) these days. I've made a big decision with family encouragement, and have purchased a Cowboy CB3500 sewing machine using some retirement funds and selling off some wood working equipment. I have hopes to use my machine to extend the amount of time I can occupy my mind and body, and perhaps participate with my loving wife in craft fairs and shows that let us remain active as our doctors suggest, and hopefully recover some of the costs of our materials. We'll see. My question is this. Aside from the cost of my machine (which has yet to arrive), how much in a ball park figure have folks here spent on materials to get started making enough stuff to offer at craft shows? I already spent about $230 on materials including a modest Hermann Oak veg tanned hide, a little lining leather and a bag of 100 line 24 snaps. I'd like to be able to make a few messenger bags as gifts (saving money on Christmas expenses), but also offering a small line of high quality lined big dog collars with stainless steel hardware, heavy duty dog leashes, some nicely stitched men's clip style key hangers, some cell phone cases,and some biker's billfolds. Hardware for maybe 10 of each of these type items easily runs close to $400 when I add prices up online with a couple of different suppliers. I don't mind the risk I'm taking hoping to begin crafting with an eye to recovering materials costs but am I wagering too much on this kind of wish for a relative beginner? Perhaps it comes down to what I want to do. Some men have hobbies like beautiful motorcycles, bass boats, travel, or sports cars. I tend to think that $3000 spent toward a hobby that might last me the rest of my life isn't too bad. But when I phone in an order, it would be comforting to think I'm in good company. Opinions sought and welcomed. Don

Well I'm not a "joiner" as some talk about, but I'd like access to the area in question please. If it's OK. Will it show up as a section in the forum? Thanks.Oh. I'm 55 years old if it matters. Don.

You've all been tolerant, patient and so helpful. Everyone has shared generously of their experience and insight. I have yet to run into a responding poster who's said "learn it on your own like I had to". I frequent other hobbiest forums dealing with interests besides leather crafting and occasionally, despite using a site's search feature, have come up empty handed for answers.In some specialized forums it's not uncommon to get a sharp response from an old member who's tired of answering the same questions over and over. But here it seems that courtesy reigns supreme.Wow. Impressive to say the least. There's no dogging of different opinions that I've found yet. In the future, I hope I can maintain the same kind professionalism I see exhibited here. Kind of reminds me of the courtesy I worked to show my patients for all those years in the emergency room as an ER Registered Nurse. Don.

Thank you everyone for the information. All facts duly noted! Don

I see now. I'm not the sharpest tool in the chandelier....Don