Darren8306

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.

Do you mean a rivet, where those four stitches are, @fredk? Like a double-cap rivet? I'm unfamiliar with the term ready-rivet

I expected that, but didn't know how to approach it better, with the hardware I had around. Honestly, this is more 'nifty' than useful. I doubt anyone will need to pull out their morse decoder very often, though I would like to know how you would have laid it out, to avoid that problem. It does feel a bit vulnerable there, even with the 5-6oz leather. Thanks both of you. Now, if only there was a herd of aged morse-nerds with heaps of disposable income...hmmm...;)

I found a nifty old coin for morse code on the temu site, and grabbed some, mostly because of how I learned something. In movies, I've seen actors send and receive messages over telegraph or other morse codes, but never saw how they did it. Turns out it is the opposite of magic. With this coin (other side has the sending info) and knowing how the code works, this will allow even a novice to decode a message. The code not only works, but is WAY easier to teach/share than I thought. I made a few wraps for them, and will be gifting them to a couple radio nerd friends. I kind of doubt it is an item that would sell well, but I'm still going to have a few made up just in case. They look, and ARE cool. By the way, feel free to offer critique. Especially if it is related to radio, since I'm not very deep into that hobby.

ya, same with ordering food from the ubereats or deliveroo. I have a source in Edmonton, called Buckskin Leather. Found the store in the 1990's in my neighbourhood, then found it again when I sought out a supplier of HO leather. The lady there listens carefully, and takes the time to understand what I'm asking. Being less experienced, I'm sure I couldn't tell between A, B and undergrades, but there isn't another source near me, so I guess I haven't compared it to much aside from Tandy's offerings.

I purchased the electronic thermostat we currently use, and set it to a schedule, then forgot how it worked completely. Rarely, I'll go override it for some reason. It seems to go right back to it's program. We have pretty predictable temperatures here though. Maybe it makes it easy.

These will likely be of no interest to anyone buying leather goods, but I found a cool coin, bought a few, and made cases. This 'morse code coin' is really the first time I understood how easy, teachable and usable that code is. An old friend is a bit of a radio nerd, so I'm sending one to him. Another pal is a younger, newer radio nerd, and I'll be giving him the grey one. As to the other two, they'll sit with my growing stock of leather products, and probably be more of a conversation starter than sellable product.

I would like to recommend a cnc bridgeport to open those blister packs. You'll maybe need a ruby probe to get the positioning accurate enough, but that should get them open for you. Once you get the codes figured out. You can get small ball heads cheap now, I hear... My thumbs are starting to exhibit the pains and limited movement I have associated with arthritis. My plan is to keep using them, exercising them following the patterns of an aged powerlifter (who is still very mobile and strong) and later, when all that fails, complaining about it to young whippersnappers. Dropped off some more wallets to the gallery, and got some more feedback from the proprietor. Good stuff, and if they start selling better, great stuff. Also stopped in to see a local artist and ask her help. My stamps are lacking a bit of pinache, and I asked her about creating a better 'ptarmigan' stamp. Mine aren't satisfying me, and her style of art makes cartoon characters out of them. I expect it will work better for my purpose, as long as the art part doesn't cost too much. She's a fairly successful artist here, and liked the wallets so much she even said she should sell them. Then she said that she also works with Ruperts Land leather, and kind of backed up on that. I said that I hadn't met the chap from Ruperts Land, but would be happy to share all my tricks and techniques, as I like what I've seen of his work. Maybe I'll finally meet him. Have so far only seen his product on a local facebook page. Sweetheart and I took a beading course for her birthday. Hers is on the left, and we both did well, and have a decent handle on how that works, I think. Good teacher. Lady from Fort Simpson, who came by the skills honestly and long ago. Just let the dog out for her patrol of the yard. Set an alarm, as usual, to remember to call her in, in a few minutes. It gets cold here, and she's a bit of a dainty.

I recommend taking up exercise, with some of your newfound time. I've been both lifting things, and jogging. Whichever fills the biggest 'gap' in my physical being. If you didn't have as much of that as you wanted in your working life, this is a great time to fit some in. I have never regretted adding strength.

When others talk to me about leather, often they are asking about upholstring. Skidoos, boats and even some furniture have all been subjects of interest. Our local upholsterer moved his business away too, so maybe I'm hearing about it more than you would. In any case welcome, and I hope you not only find something particular and satisfying, but that you share it here.