Darren8306

I'm sorry you are having discomfort, and that you had to say goodbye to your dog. I'm giving mine an extra hug right now. I'm sure she would let you do the same. She's a golden named Ethyl, and she likes old people. Getting old sucks, but not as much as all the alternatives. I'm glad you stayed and shared that with us.

I lived in both Edmonton and Calgary for years. I still drive (about 1000 miles) 1500 km or so south to visit family in Edmonton. The winters here are like the ones in Edmonton, but are long and cold. I love winter, and the summer heat, while a treat, is only good in short bursts. Currently we are at (61F) about 16C, and if I don't hurry up and get my run in early, it'll just get warmer.

Glad to hear it! I'll pour one this afternoon, and toast your (and your daughters) success

Didn't know you and your daughter were having such trouble, glad it's going well. Long drives can add stress to even the smaller medical issues. I just got back from driving my sweetheart to a medical check. First, we drove 5.5 hours away. There we placed the camper. Next day, we drove the remaining 11 or 12 hours south to Edmonton, then back a day later. All went well for her, and I got to stop in Tandy, and Buckskin. Honestly that might have stung more than the drive lol Good for you getting your own oil changed.

I've run with Alaskans who use a firearm as bear spray. Their method was to have the non-running partner pace the one training on a bike, carrying the extra weight. I don't remember which one they chose, but the one that had enough stopping power for their local hazards, was too much extra weight to run with regularly. Repeatability does sound like a critical piece, especially when it is so seldom used. My thought was the can having some kind of cover or 'glove', which itself mates with a belt or receiver on the person, also leaving room to carry it in hand (hand strap?) for short jaunts (5k run or small hike) or set it on a table in camp. A great place to wear it would be on the lower back, sideways, to be slid out with the dominant hand. (right in both our cases). This would allow the person running behind similarly easy access. That's likely the best place for running, minimizing bouncing would constrain it a bit further, perhaps fixing it at both ends of the can. While I can sometimes outrun my sweetheart, I hope my stubbornness prevents such. I know it prevents inviting others along on some of our romantic forest runs. Bringing along a 'bait-runner' isn't always practical, so I'll have to do my best with planning this. We run with belts already, for the dogs leash, phone, water bottle and whatnot, and the belt area can get busy. We sometimes run with hydration vests, but that is only for longer efforts of an hour+ We also have a teeny 'coyote spray' for in town. We just started seeing coyotes up this way, and I've been followed by one, for about a km before I decided to run it off. It never got close enough to spray, but if I was shorter, it might have been braver. Maybe I should start with that, as a practice round. I feel my skills are a bit below 'rudimentary' at times. Design, by the way, is about the most daunting part for me. Found a way to insert the image...

Pretty and solid, but I might find it bouncing too much when we run. product on sale here There are many ways to skin a cat, but a really big win would be one that can serve in all situations, and can take being sweated on near-daily by a corrosive old chubby guy. It's downright abusive of me really. At the same time, it would be dainty enough to please the aesthetic constraints of a girl I like.

Hi everyone! I have a need for a leather item, but don't know how to do it. A holster for bear spray. This is for various purposes, but a most challenging aspect is to use it when running. (either on a belt, or clipped to a run-belt or hydration vest) It would also be used hiking, or just around camp. May I ask to see your designs for such things? Thanks very much.

Sorry for your loss, and thanks for sharing that sling. Beautiful work! I've had hardware around for years, but since I don't use a rifle often, I haven't tried to make it. Maybe I'll copy yours, and make one for a friend.

I am making some wallets, with this kind of money clip, mounted in the fold. Wanted to ask a couple questions... 1. Do you guys know of a better type, which mounts the same way? 2. Do you affix the pin somehow (contact cement or ?) or leave it able to pull out? Thanks for your moment.

Beautiful work! Something about the photos though...it looks like a miniature.

I took a different approach, since a decent leather sewing machine is a couple thousand bucks. What I decided to do, was to practice a lot of hand stitching, until I was 'adequate', then revisit the question of whether I needed a machine. In the time since, I've found a hand-driven cheap sewing machine online, for around a hundred bucks. However, now that I can sew adequately by hand, I don't want to spend even a hundred bucks. I like the quality, and the practice of hand sewing. You might too, but in my opinion, it takes a lot of practice. Probably more without in-person instruction. I suggest making a bunch of test things out of scrap. Once you like your handsewing results, a machine would be a choice.

Yeah, if I worried about it at all, I would simply send them a wallet, and ask them if it was a bother. Most copyright holders (or trade mark holders) are clear about that, either way. I didn't call garmin because I'm reasonably sure no-one would care at this scale.

Can't be too careful...;) I think for me, anything I copied by hand, and did not profit from, is fair use. I understand that 'fair use' as a legal term may have different boundaries, but in my real life, I do whatever I want, and only try to limit myself to such legal boundaries if I were trying to sell. A friend with a gallery asked me to get a stamp done up of his fox image. I did so, and the cnc enthusiast who did it for me (out of scrap maple) also added the artists signature as another stamp. The artist, who didn't ask for that, ended up asking for a few with the signature. So I think it's fine in development, as when the artist first saw the stamp, he said he wasn't interested. When he saw it applied to a product, he liked it enough to ask a few. Of course, this particular artist seems to have no fear of someone stealing his art. He once put a class on to teach people how to paint in his style.

I may have infringed. I wanted to 'carve' a swimmer, but can't draw. I found one online that looked simple enough to trace, then printed, traced, carved and beveled. Made some running ones, too. Later, a pal said 'hey - that's the garmin guy'. When I looked at the garmin connect icons, they were VERY close. This gives me the feeling I should maybe stay out of the US for a few years. Lay low.

Does anyone here share their design files? If there is a forum for that, I didn't know how to find it. Thanks

I had one of those spring bars lose me a garmin watch a few years ago. I doubt I'll ever use them again. Not that I'm your target market anyway. I have lots of leather to play with, and won't even do it myself. Your work is beautiful, and probably not at all suitable for daily sweating and abuse I wish I could sew as carefully as you have.

I was hoping to see how they were attached.

The detail is very well executed. Great work!

your fine work makes me wish I was a better carver. Guess i better go pound on some leather

I didn't do any ph testing, but my vinegaroon was made with 10% acetic acid, and when the belt was finished, it smelled of vinegar. After a dunk in a solution of baking soda, then drying, the vinegar smell was greatly reduced. I'll wear this belt, so I guess I will find out if the leather is damaged. Neutralizing the vinegaroon just before application willbe my next test. Makes a lot of sense, and hopefully reduces the odor. I don't mind if there is a smell of vinegar when I drop my pants, but a younger man might have different goals and prioroties...

Super job on the sheath! The handle on that knife looks amazing though. Beautiful job on that, too. My only criticism is your profile. I'm pretty sure Indianapolis is in OH, not IN

I've tried baking soda stirred into cold water. Soaked it good, and then dried it. Being careful not to stretch it. These were probably made with an under-ironed solution. I'm going to add steel until it stops dissolving, and let the batch air out indefinately. I've been trying to avoid using dye. Just found out from a leather supplier in Alberta, that they aren't allowed to import the oil dyes anymore. Fumes were mentioned, but I have noticed it is tough to find good dyes here. Also, I just don't like a dye that can come off. For a wallet or belt, it should NEVER mark my clothes. It's one of the reasons I was so pleased with vinageroon - no DG paperwork, no import duty, no way for a bureaucrat to get another nibble... I should try looking around the site here to see what other chemistry tricks have survived from leatherwork history. There may be other good colours available Thanks everyone. I'm going to repeat the baking-soda bath on the other belt. Hopefully, it stays lighter gray, though when I oil it again (I oil after water each time) it may darken.

a well-stained belt turned out very nice, and I like the look a lot. Then, when I took off my pants, I could smell vinegar. Not exactly the cologne one might choose for such an occasion...so I tried getting rid of the odour. First attempt: soaking it in (cold!) coffee. it's drying on the counter now, smelling of vinegar. Any suggestions on what to try next? To get rid of the vinegar smell, I mean.

Thanks, I might try that. I had a terribly naive accident trying the other way... I thought I would add tannins to a belt, to get it to turn blacker. So I found a bowl which held the belt (and a couple keepers), put in a handful of tea bags, and poured in the boiling water. Then I let it steep awhile, and pulled it out. Anyone like to purchase an irregular belt? I'll try COLD tea, and some test samples. I guess it isn't good to run experiments while sipping gin with my sweethearts curling team...

I started a new side of leather, and the vinageroon produces a dark grey, nearly black. Now I want to get the light grey back...anyone know how to remove tanins from veg-tan?