jk215

Cool thanks all.

Really like the way they look. Any help is appreciated.

SOLD

For sale is a like-new Campbell-Randall BF-110 Hot Glazing Tool with 2 separate iron tips. I purchased this about a month ago and used it only a few times. I wont be doing as much chrome-tanned/exotic work as I expected so Id rather see it put to use instead of collecting dust on my table. Here is the breakdown of parts: - BF-100 Burnishing Station - BF-68905 - Edge Glazing Tool - BF-68906-1.5 - Edge Creasing Tool - 1.5mm (1/16") The original total cost to me was $319.00 including shipping and I will sell it for $280 shipped in the US. Price is firm I have only used this thing a couple times and it is in perfect working condition. I dont have the original boxes or instruction manual but you could get that from CR online Im sure. PM me any questions!

SOLD! DavidL - It was from Charles Hardtke.

I purchased these for an upcoming project but decided to go a different direction and looking to pass these along! These are buffalo calf (billed at 7 sq/ft each) in navy blue and forest green. They are vegetable tanned and billed at 2/3oz. They are nice and glossy and look to have a really good amount of usable area. I havent used anything from either of them I basically unrolled just to take the pictures. They cost me $77 before shipping but I will sell them together for $65 shipped within the US. Dont really want to sell them individually because I only have one box. Send me a PM if interested I can get them shipped out asap! Thanks!

Here is my theory on this issue. Trying to compete on price is a losing game. If you check out Etsy and the like you will see hand-stitched wallets offered for like $20. Both from beginner leathercrafters and from overseas "companies". Trying to attract the customers who just want the cheapest option just isnt worth your time. Going the high-end route requires equal parts quality product and marketing. Barret Alley can charge $400 for a veg-tan wallet because they have social proof. They are associated with names like John Mayer, Red Wing, and Levis. Are their wallets nice? Sure. Would they be getting that asking price if they didnt have those types of endorsements? I highly doubt it. Marketing and social proof is the same reason Hermes can charge $200k for a Birkin bag. They are masterful craftsmen and have the endorsement of almost every major female celebrity that has ever existed. They have years long wait lists for people willing to drop that kind of cash on a leather bag! I would say you should find a happy medium. Dont be the most expensive but dont be cheap. Create something unique using different leathers, designs, etc.. and make sure your brand image is conistent and speaks to the demographic you want to attract. There are plenty of people out there that understand the value of handmade items you just have to make sure they notice you.

High end shoemakers like this only use top grade calf or shell cordovan leather none of which they are dyeing on their own. It would be drum dyed at the tannery in the colors they select.

Been follower this guys work and think his pieces are beautiful. I especially like that indented "channel" area that runs around the edge where the stitching lines are laying. Does anyone know how he is doing this so well?

Im always searching far and wide for new thread suppliers and Im pretty certain Fine Leatherworking is the only US retailer of fil au chinois. If another company exists they are doing a terrible job of marketing! In regards to the post about Royalwood. They are decent and its well priced but the quality is no where close to fil au chinois.

Heavy top pressure on your straightedge and light passes with sharp blade.

You can check out Waterhouse Leather I think they have a pull-up variety. There is nothing similar to Horween though they are their own beast.

The good thing is you are in the UK where thin, finished veg tan (mostly calf) is very popular as opposed to here in the USA. The bad thing is its expensive unless you can find scraps or work out a deal with someone. If pricing is going to be your hang up leatherwork might not be the hobby for you. The price of leather is very expensive and is only climbing each year.

Ok so here is my soldering iron update. For an experiment I purchased a generic soldering iron with adjustable temperature gauge off amazon and tried to mimic the edges done by the more expensive fileutuse. I planned on buying the after market brass tips from China but they wont fit in the weird model iron I bought some Im stuck wit the stock pointed tip. The first few attempts I had the temperature wayyyy too high and while it didnt burn the edges it did release some weird silver metallic specks all over. Dont know what that was but failed that attempt. Next time I kept the temperature very low and while it takes a lot longer it seems to work out.... ok. In the wallet below I have some Horween Cavalier as the outer shell and english bridle as the interior. Obviously the english bridle would traditionally burnish fine but the Cavalier does not. First I sanded and put a base layer of edge paint down and let dry. After the base layer I sanded again and went around with my edger. The dried paint actually helps the edging process on the softer Cavalier leather. Repainted a second coat especially over the parts I just removed with the edger and let dry. I then coated in beeswax and went over with the soldering iron lightly. A broad tip would have made this step a lot faster. i repeated another layer of edge paint and another round of soldering iron treatment. After I was ok with the outcome I added some gum trag and went over it with a plastic bone folder to get the final shine up. In this photo the edge closest to you is "finished" and the other is untreated except one layer of edge paint. Im still very interested in purchasing the unit from Campbell Randall but they havent returned any of my inquiries about purchasing one.

Ive thrown more card holders and wallets across the room in fits of rage then I can remember. You just have to come to terms with the fact you are always going to mess something up and thats how you master the craft.

You can approach most tanneries directly even for small orders. A lot of us use Wickett & Craig for a good variety of high quality veg tan and you can buy as little as 1 side. You can also contact Horween's "little guy" extension called Tannery Row where you can buy as little as 1 side as well.

I bought a generic adjustable soldering iron off amazon last week and have been playing around with it. I will post some pictures of my results when I get a minute. Ive been using it on veg-tan with black acrlyic paint as my edge dressing and its been going ok so far I think.

So what were your verdicts on edging veg tan with the heat tools? Ive been a lot of combination veg tan and exotic pieces and id love to be able to seal a combined edge nicely like in the original video.

Its a Tandy problem the dye should not be coming off.

You should look into oil tanned leather if you want to acheive the finish of the saddleback briefcase.

Very interested to see how the Japanese irons are as well!

I love the style of this Coach tote bag and want to practice re-creating something similar. I have made a couple totes before but cant put my finger on how this one is constructed. I guess Im getting thrown off by that bottom piece. Is that piece sewn on after the the stitching inside is completed and flipped back from inside out?

After I decide on a design I want to reproduce multiple times I made templates on the computer using adobe illustrator (vector graphics software). I print them out on cardstock paper and cut them out. They work great but after a couple uses you need a fresh batch. If its a design I am deadset on and wont be changing soon I get them produced out of acrylic from black river laser.

I think CS Osborne makes 1 size but Ive never seen it for sale retail. I wish there was a quality USA made alternative with the amount of options Blanchard offers.

Ive never used the Dixon's but have used the Blanchard tools and they are beautiful. I think there is a post somewhere comparing the two brands and the consensus is spend a little extra for the Blanchards.