Darren8306

Thanks for the books @Sheilajeanne! I have snow falling now, so I'm girding up my stuff with a coffee and a browse of the recent posts. Then procrastinating may move on to a jog around the trail. With the snow covering the well-packed track, I may enjoy an error called 'post-holing', where you slightly misstep, and instead of stepping into 2" of snow, you go in to the hip. We don't have the mess that Barrie has, but we DO keep every flake that falls from late 25 until spring gets rid of it. It can be quite a lot. I'm having trouble keeping the banks around my driveway low enough to see over. It's why I back in, instead of backing out.

sure, but sharing of that nature is sometimes restricted on forums. Should I post it here? DM it to you? Or give you hints like my cell # is a dirty word, my email is a dirty joke punchline, and my new leather email has hints of vinegar...

Being wrong is just ONE of the hazards of cynicism in this lol. I can zero in on bad bits, at the mm scale, but sometimes it takes me awhile to zoom out and see the whole thing as easily as fresh eyes can.

They are in my cart, but now I have to find another 150 bucks worth of Tandy order, to get the free shipping... I could go check amazon.ca, or pirated e-books, but maybe I'll just have a quick look...

It's fun, for those of us who have lived or worked around men, but we have all kinds to entertain here. I'm a bit soft, and have a tough time taking in criticisms at best, so I work at it. Here in typing-land, if someone takes the time to compose a criticism, I try to wring every drop I can out of it. In person, I seldom get useful feedback. I blame that on most people around me knowing nothing about leather. Combine that with 'everyone gets a trophy' communication style that is encouraged, and all I hear about is how nice my work is. If I believed all of that on its face, I would be bewildered as to why my products aren't selling like mad. Of course, being in the habit of dismissing nice noises as polite bleating, has it's hazards too.

I don't find AI any good at being 'ungentle'. It seems that it is reverting to rapport and kindness as a default. If you can prompt it out of that, I assure you it will drift back to it. With no leatherworkers around me though, it does have a go, and can make me think about what I'm looking at a bit differently. I just asked it to tell me which fuse to try, and it was mushy in its verbiage. I suspect ignorance masked. Asked it to be specific, and circle it in the image (of the panel I had provided). It generated an image of a different fuse panel, and circled a fuse that wasn't even the correct colour/amperage. Easier to sit inside and complain about Grok, than to stand outside in -50 trying to figure out how to push electrons.

I did try putting one in the corner, but it looked too crowded. But a ROUND awl? I've only used this weird shaped one. I only got one awl, to go with my chosen size thread/project/practice. Maybe now I should learn how to use other ones... This may sound funny, but can you recommend a book for a beginner? I think I'm good enough at stitching now, that I might be able to learn at a beginner level.

Thanks! I've BEEN starting there, but maybe too far with the first stitch. I use a pricking iron, space the first stitch one full stitchlength away from the corner. Do you put one precisely in the corner? Or start some distance from the corner on each line? I think I'll try the sanding method. I recently got a knife to skive with, but it's unreal how skilled I'm not. Sanding might be more my speed. Beveling last makes sense too, at least on the exposed edges.

I've tried uploading images including mechanical parts, electronic parts, or even wildlife or portraits, and just ask it to tell me all it can about it. Interesting results, but nothing I would think of as particularly useful yet. Maybe I just don't trust enough... My results on critiquing my leatherwork were shallow, and unexpected. I noticed a clearly crooked stamp (as did a member here) but the groks never mentioned it, while it did mention things that might be important, it was a big miss.

I noticed the crooked logo, long corner stitches, and (still don't get it) edge skived wrong. Was a bit surprised the AI directed me to different errors. (I may just sand progressively, as it suggests) As to the edge, I am not only bad at skiving (take too much often, very difficult to do it with my fingers right there where I'm working) but I'm not sure what you meant by... "Also, when you are gluing two pieces together, don't edge-bevel the glue edges, just the outside edge. When done glueing it up and stitching it, sand or cut the edge clean and square to the world then slick it up." I have been skiving the middle layer only, and just on the flesh side (as I said, occasionally going all the way through) If you can have a go at my misunderstanding, I might get more out of your critique. Honestly the AI missed things I knew, and called out things I didn't know. One thing I realized I don't know enough about, is finishing. I've only ever used supersheen, and maybe poorly (sometimes bubbles dry in the finish) Oh, and this one I hand sanded, rather than going to my sander/burnisher. It's -30C out, and I'll call it a shortcut.

I ran a test on a AI, to see how it viewed my results. Maybe for fun you would like to see if you agree with it's assessment. (I had already asked, but then added more about my process, to aid in it's critique)

I've just started using inkscape to take silhouettes and turn them into stamps, with tinkercad between to make the printable file. I have always had trouble with design software, 2d or 3d. But inkscape (or illustrator, or any design program) is a slog for me. I can photoshop the heck out of stuff, but for some reason, that doesn't translate well.

Got one from Temu. Their dies are inexpensive, but light duty. If one seemed useful regularly, I could see it being worth getting a better one. I expect to get 50-100 cuts at least out of it, for under 10 Cana-bux. I don't think links are wanted here, but the title of the ad was '1 Piece Steel and Wood Circular Punch Manual Leather Craft Punching Die Set for Scrapbooking, Embossing and DIY Leatherworking' They were available in 5, 6, 8, 10 and 11cm versions (diameter, I hope)

I haven't been good at finishing an inside edge, such as would be needed in a coin. I just ordered a circle die though. If I like it, I might get a few more to try this.

Great idea, and maybe I should copy it as well. Though we have very few marines up this way. A few friends have been in various branches of the Canadian forces...hmmm... Currently, I have a stamp that is a snowshoveler. I usually keep a fob or wallet around, so I can give one when I see someone doing it. (I appreciate the seemingly-futile effort)

I'm as guilty as anyone with regards to poor video choices. In an unrelated story, my dyeing is sometimes unsatisfactory. Knowing your affection for books, @chuck123wapati, can you suggest a book with good info on dyeing leather?

Thanks! I am getting good treatment. Which I think means the retailers see possibility. I never did continue with the fobs. Made a bunch, but haven't yet made a batch to figure out exactly how much they cost. I got the die-cutters to use scrap more than to make stuff. I think the stores would like it plenty, but I have to run through enough of them to understand how many hours etc. they take. Plus I haven't yet figured out just how to use more sealhide. The stuff would sell better, for sure, but to me it looks wrong. So far. I do make traditional mittens, and THOSE look good, but I don't really want to compete with those anyway. They go for about 350 for a plain set, so it pays well enough...but I guess I like tooling leather better, even though I don't tool so good.

Some years, I get weird allergic reactions for a week or three, that locals blame on 'snow mould', or other phrases. Usually well before anything pollenates, or even having the temperature up to zero. Glad your furnace doesn't need more, but that reminds me, I have to schedule some inspection/maintenance on mine. I still don't do everything myself, so try to book this stuff when the lads aren't busy.

I suppose hand-carved may have some value there too, but my skills aren't ready for market in that arena yet (in my opinion) Wallets have sold from at least 2 of the three shops I'm stocking, and in the case of the airline shop, I'm quite surprised. Didn't really think it would fly alongside some of their other branded items. At the airline shop, they are currently just sitting on shelves for display. (pic showing 2 black wallets) I'm starting to think I may be able to do something better to show them in-store. Going to think awhile on it though, since my lumber stock is currently under a couple feet of snow. The biggest gallery has them in a glass display case, very near the checkout. I am a bit flattered, because it does look like a very good spot in their store. The last (smallest gallery) has them in a small shelf cubby, along with some other leather goods. Not optimal, but we'll see how they do with sales. On the one hand, there is other leather there, but on the other, I think mine looks like better quality. I also have been closing in on another leather worker in town. He sells at some of the galleries too, and has very good designs and skills, though he machine sews. His inclusion of sealhide will surely catch more eyes, but bigger pieces are a bit tougher to sell, and tougher for a tourist to fit in their bag to go home...I'm now given to understand that he wears military fatigues, and looks a bit younger than me. I may decide to send him a message to go snoop around his shop, or lure him to mine with some whiskey or such. Be good to know someone around me who pursues this. Most 'artisans' selling here have shifted focus to production. While this leathercrafting lad may do the same, he still seems to be small and experimenting. Lastly, the young man from the airline suggested again, that more story would sell them better. I should write something, since he is probably correct about that. Not sure why I hate the idea so much, but I guess it's because I wanted the work to be the only thing being judged...

Some people do an inattentive job. I don't want to accuse your fine tradesemen, but if I were stuck doing it... I would examine the ducts, and plan my attack. Generally, attaching a truck-vacuum to pull from where the main fan was (I move it aside) Then, I take a specialty tool, and go attack the ducts from the opposite ends. Starting at the furthest end, the air-skipper goes in, and skips around knocking dust loose until satisfactory. This is repeated at every vent, from furthest to closest. Then, a small hole is punched into the bigger ducts, to allow more access for the skipper. There are a few versions of the skipper, but the important thing is, if they didn't go to the far ends of the ducts with such a tool, then they didn't get as much dust out as they could have. In the end though, it may not have outpaced your sensitivities anyway. Stay warm!

My friend just got into the 3d printing hobby. The other day, it was his birthday. In true hobbit fashion, he gave me gifts. several animal stamps, 3d printed with carbon fiber plastic. When I tried the previous stamps, a texture from the printing became visible after finishing. This time I sanded it a bit and got rid of that. So now stamp production is so cheap, it almost isn't worth considering buying a metal stamp for these. He has also made some rollers, which are for impressions on clay, which is a hobby his sweetheart loves. (I sense some motivated learning there) If you want a stamp, it is now shockingly inexpensive and easy to have. I may devise a durability test, but the one I tried last went over a dozen uses with no visible wear.

May I ask, why you stretch some hides with string, and some with lumber? Welcome! Welcome!

I think it's the kind of frivolity that immature people might buy on a whim, but never seriously want or use. In unrelated news, my younger brother wants one. So I guess I might as well order a bunch.

As I said, I doubt these will sell. Still likely to purchase a few more with my next temu order. The rivet looks like a more tidy choice, Seems the fewer stitches there are in a line, the less forgiving it is, aesthetically. If that makes any sense. Oh, and now I may just want to make a key-chain coin purse for Sweetheart. She doesn't like the 'app' used for parking downtown, and neither do I.

I hope you are proud to have earned the skills to allow you to build in such an innovative way! She is lucky to have you. It's often more difficult than it should be, to work with anything near the medical equipment world.