whiteeugene

Looks like it's starting to come to gather just takes time, how did it look after the finis? If you get a chance look at Learn Sheridan Style Leather Tooling by Chan Geer (Leathercraft Book) from Pro Leather Carver's Supply on eBay if your on face book look up Chan Geer and call him he has books, the one I purchased has you practice on each different element in a carving and then you can put all the elements to gather in a checkbook cover. It has step by step pictures on how to carve along with what the look looks like. Doug

Hi cowgirl1954 1954 was a good year I was born that year also. I ordered “Learn Sheridan Style Leather Tooling by Chan Geer (Leathercraft Book)” from Pro Leather Carver's Supply on eBay if your on face book look up Chan Geer and call him he has books the one I purchased has you practice on each different element in a carving and then you can put all the elements to gather in a checkbook cover. It has step by step pictures on how to carve along with what the look looks like. I you have internet access you can subscribe to leather craft library at leathercraftlibrary.com they have many online videos’ that teach the subscription is very reasonable. Doug

Finished this mule deer antler Bowie knife and sheath today, the sheath is 5 layers or 8-9 oz leather with a good thick welt in it. The loop will handle a 3 inch belt and runs the entire back. Sorry for the pictures I will try and take some with the shadow box. Thanks for looking let me know what you think. Doug

Great job I like how you Incorporated the rope.

Hi Andrew I use file folders for most things it holds up well if it's something I like I use spray contact cement and glue it on to a piece of Plexiglas cut it out on the band saw and sand the edges smooth. I then write any information pertaining to the design. For some items I don't have to trace the pattern I just use the pattern and cut along the edge. If it's a tooling pattern I make a copy first then use the copy to trace with. I use a red pen to do the tracing so that I can see where I have been, when I'm dun I just toss the copy. Doug

Like the carving, but it looks like you have the same problem I do I get i to much of a hurry and don't wait for the dye to dry. What I started doing was to put 2 or 3 coats of finish on the outside areas it acts as before I dye it acts as a resist that way if I do get dye on the outside boarders it comes. Doug

Looks great how do you keep the strands separated every time I sit down and try to learn to braid my head hurts not to mention my hands. Doug

Thanks K-man I have a foot pedal on my sand blaster its from harbor Freight also. The current press I have has a pump to the side and a slave cylinder attached to the top of the press. It works great for small items but if I want to punch several things out of a hide it's kind of hard to hold onto the leather and die and pump the handle at the same time.

Thanks Billymack hows the weather in Altoona this time of year I used to go to the national guard armory once in a while in the 80's when I was stationed at Indian town gap.

Thanks JJ I sent you a response to your also Thanks Doug

Looks good did you put a toe plug in the holster or leave it open? Doug

Another great job Doug

Nice job look stout

Hi K-man how does the air-over-hydraulis work been thinking of doing the same but not sure if it works on the up strock as well as the down stroke. How do you control the amount of presher do you use a gage, also how do you release the preasher do you have to still twest the little nob on the jack? I would like to have something that I can control with my feet that away I dont have to take my hands off the project I find that when I have a large piece of leather it hepls to have someone else turn the nob and pump the handle.

Have you considered using a Plier Staplers I think Al stohlman talks about using on in his book on belts I use one and it makes things a lot faster. Doug

You may want to ask this in the Leather Sewing Machines forum.

I have read where some folks make a wooden circle using a hole saw rap and nail metal banding tape around the edge and sharpen it. I think if you were to cut a circle part way trough a ¾ inch piece of plywood the size you want then using a larger size hole saw cut the circle out. Slip the banding material into the slot you created in the first step add a little gorilla glue sharpen the edge it would probably work ok. If you have a press you could probably use it to make the circles. Doug

They look great Doug

Beautiful great Job I bet he likes them.

Do you just use the blue tape? I may have to give that a try.

What do you plan to ask for a nose band with halter and one with out. I go with who has the best price and the color and style I need. I had an orger last week for a nose band for a pony with a hot pink halter. It took me a while to fing a hot pink pony halter. You need to mark the cost of the halter up to help recover the cost of your time finding it and installing it. Doug

Looks like you didn’t receive many responses sorry about that, folks can be odd about responding. I keep a few black, red, green and pink halters on hand for rush orders of course I don’t have any volume just a few a month. When you’re looking at the cost of a bronc halter the halter is the bulk of it at least the ones I make. Letting the customer dictate the type and quality of halter has an impact on the overall cost of the Item. If I’m going to a craft show or I’ll put some on inexpensive halters and leave the rest sitting out. Doug

I purchased the spot setter from Tandy and it works great for me. I purchased my spots from someone else, I tried the spots that Tandy sells and they always bent or fell out. I buy mine from Oregon leather not sure where they buy there’s but they are a little thicker and the prongs are bent out enough that when you put them in the tool they stay put. I use a piece of 12 oz leather under my project and set as many spots as I can then pull the project off, its usually stuck pretty good but I think this helps to set the spots. I use a small flat tip screwdriver to bend the prongs over. I place the project back on the 12 oz leather spots down and using a mallet I smash the prongs down. One thing you can try is put a spot in the setter and draw two lines down the spot setter on either side lined up with the points on the prongs. On your project mark a line where you want them set. When you put the spot in the setter line the prongs up with the lines on the sides. Line the lines on spot setter up with the line on your project and with one quick blow with your mallet set the spot you have to make sure you strike the spot setter straight on. Hope this helps Doug