mrdabeetle

http://www.the-blueprints.com/ This has mostly older models, but many images are scanned directly from the manuals and some include dimension information. You can check manufacturer websites for correct dimensions of specific models

I need to have a custom cutting die made and do not know of any manufacturers or even where to look. Has anyone here had a custom die made?

I'm always worried about the seal being "food safe" and I have also heard that the wax can alter the flavor slightly, so for the mugs that I have made, I've been using plastic inserts from used frosting containers. They are just about the right size and you can put coffee in it without altering the flavor. I just make a koozie (sp?) with a handle. (make sure that you punch a large hole or series of holes in the base if you plan to remove the plastic to wash) I would suggest this as a good starting point for inexperienced persons who would like to try to make a mug. Also, it's an excuse to have cake! I wish I had pictures of a finished mug, but I gave them out as Christmas presents. Anyway, Great tutorial. I have been meaning to try it, but I have been too chicken to get started. I'll give it a shot.

Last year, my dad's van did the same thing. It was the fuel pump that caused it, but I have no idea how.

Make her some earmuffs!

It may actually be a graphics pen. I used to do that kind of thing on bracers. This is what I used. The ideal position for using these pens is completely vertical, as opposed to the way many people hold a pen at an angle to draw. They are refillable, and use India Ink. You will need to use a spray-on type sealer. Some rub-on/buff-out sealers may smear the ink even after it is dry.

Looks Great!

Michael's and Hobby Lobby both carry dapping tools. I saw a full kit on clearance at Michael's today.

Thanks, BearMan! It's not what I had hoped, but it is much better than previous attempts. My carving needs work as well, but it looks like I have come to the right place to get better. I accidentally let the two sides come together before putting the dowel inside, so it doesn't sit centered. I am pleased that it came out looking this good. I don't carve much at all, and mostly I dye everything black, so this is a welcome change to the routine.

Sign me up!

How do you blend two colors of dye on a single piece of leather? I want the edges to be a reddish color and fade into a yellowish center similar to the pic below. I have tried this before and had poor results, but I guess I just want to know the proper way to do this. I'm making a leaf-shaped fan but I don't want to ruin all of the carving work that I've done so far.

Dirty Jobs Season 3 Episode 12 http://www.megavideo.com/?v=3APN4AHK Very educational and tells about the sources of the "ex-livestock".

I did this with no real plan to start with other than "I can make goggles out of this" so they are not very good looking. I will try some nicer ones later.

I made a corset pattern, but as I am male, I don't really have a way to test it. I figured I would put it up here anyway. I modeled it in 3d and unfolded it in Pepakura Designer and converted it to .pdf format. As it is made from a 3d model, the curved lines will need to be made more "curvy". I guessed at the scale, so you might want to assemble it in paper before wasting good materials on it. Download it here.

Thanks for the info guys! I just found out that my mother has a Singer 29K70? sitting in her garage. I'm going to check it out and see if I can do anything with it. She also has a Consew ? somethingorother that she has never used. I might be able to get away without spending any money.

There are many traditional styles of sporrans. Dress, semi-dress, military, etc. Dress sporrans will usually have a metal cantle (the metal doohickey at the top). A "day" sporran can be as simple as a pouch that hangs directly from the belt. Here is a tutorial for making a hair sporran (some of the pictures are bad, but overall a good tutorial). The website has moved to http://kiltedunited.myfreeforum.org/ but it looks pretty empty. Metal cantles range in price from $10 - $YOUGOTTABEKIDDINGME! There are tons of cantle suppliers on the web. A simple dress cantle can be made from a single sheet of brass plate cut to shape with a dremel type tool and riveted or Chicago-screwed into the leather. I hope some of this helps you find what you are looking for.

I plan on making hats, shoes, and other items and I have seen several types of machines to stitch these items together, but I have no idea which one I should throw my money at. I would like to hear which ones members here use and what they use them for. This is a big investment, so I don't want to waste my money on something that may not be the right thing.