WinterBear

I think I've hurt something, I just laughed so hard at that description. I always wondered if underwear snags were an issue with some holsters.

Probably the best thing to do is to find people on this site that live in your country or in the same general region, and find out where they order and what kind of quality they get for the price they pay. To get more feedback, you can also compare what the people in the tannery's home country think of what they get, compared to someone who ordered the same grade to be shipped and imported into their country--just to see if what they call Grade A in their home country is what they are calling a Grade A that they ship elsewhere.

I actually took the Tandy awl (not the 4-in-1, but the flat-sided awl haft with the small Tandy diamond awl blade in the chuck) and ground it down a little thinner or a stone, then resharpened the edges (they don't come nearly sharp enough). When I sew using the awl, I place a block of beeswax on the backside of where I want to push through (helps me get a clean punch, plus lubricates the blade). The blade is sharp enough I don't have to wiggle. When pushing through, I line up the top of the awl on a line I've lightly marked, with the short side of the diamond aligned at the top, and the longer sides at an angle. Sort of like so: (sorry, spelling error!)

Nope. It's scaly, so not a frog. Frog has a really weird texture too, rubbery and usually warty. I don't see a thing in those pictures that's warty.

I didn't see any frog in those pictures?

Lizard yes, and if that other stuff is shark, yes, as long as the rubber doesn't hang up on the sewing foot. Stingray--that stuff is the problem, but you can cut it with tin snips and use it as an inlay piece behind a veg leather window. Sanding is NOT required unless there is an exposed edge. That stuff is sharp!

I'm seeing quite a bit of lizard. The zebra striped thing with all the green leathers looks like printed stingray. The very first picture you've posted...maybe shark?

Those thieves must be pretty well bone-headed. Anyone who knows what DB stuff is, well, they are going to know this stuff is stolen. With any luck it'll be found. Have you posted a notice in any motorcycle/Sturgis forums and let them be on the lookout too? They might be trying to sell the seats in a local or online classified, and the motorcycle groups would give you a bunch more eyes across the country to find the stuff.

A really sharp awl, a little beeswax, some fabric first-aid-tape, a pair of shears, and a bone folder wouldn't be a bad idea either. Gotta make the holes for the needles, the extra wax will keep the thread and needles from breaking and can be held behind the leather as a support when you push the needle through, the tape is to wrap around your little fingers so you don't get cuts from the thread when you pull it tight, the shears are good for cutting linings or thin leather for the "wallet guts", and the bone (actually, most are plastic anymore) folder can be used to smooth down liners, crease folds, and to smooth bubbles out of where stuff is glued, and can be used as a burnisher if you get the one that looks like half a wheel stuck to a flat stick.

You might try Moscow Hide and Fur out of Idaho. They accept small orders (if a very small order, there is a $3 surcharge for orders under $30). I've heard good things about them from other people on this site, and plan to place a small order there soon. http://www.hideandfur.com/inventory/5623.html

You have a nickle and copper allergy, possibly. You'll probably want stainless steel or other "hypoallergenic" metals for anything that has skin contact. For a quick cheap fix, clear nail polish can be used to "lacquer" the metal of the Tandy buckles and should partially solve the problem for you for the buckles you currently have. It will need to be reapplied periodically as it does degrade and wear off. I use the nail polish on some copper cuffs I have, it keeps the verdigris off of me and that way I don't turn green and rashy. I have to reapply the nail polish about once every 2 or 3 months if I am wearing the cuffs daily.

Have you ever considered a making yourself a needle wallet or needle case from leather? That way, you get to showcase some of your work, and keep the needles where they should be at the same time. Needle cases: http://www.etsy.com/listing/98011222/small-wood-needle-case-red-pink-floral?utm_source=googleproduct&utm_medium=syndication&utm_campaign=GPS http://www.wymarc.com/apprentice/THE_NEEDLE_CASE.pdf (see Figures 19, 20, 22, 26 for examples of needle cases of leather) Needle wallets: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93148273/watermelon-print-sewing-needle-wallet http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-LEATHER-SEWING-NEEDLE-WALLET-HOLDER-CASE-CLOWN-IMAGE-/250896939791#vi-content

Those pebbles on the stingray are impossible to stitch. They'll break or deflect your needle, or the nubbins will break and leave a sharp edge. Some of the users here use a dremel to grind the nubs off the sewing line (wear a respirator as the dust is bad for you), border with veg tan, or drill the holes and hope for the best.

Yeah, they don't make that one any more. Sad. If you find a substitute from Fiebings, Let me know what you think of it?

Birdman--click on the picture and it'll enlarge to its uploaded size. They're just thumbnailed.

I don't actually know if it is going to be possible. Veg-tan leather can be tooled because it can absorb water, and then the fibers can compress and the collagen fibers will form a glue of sorts that holds the carving in place after it dries. I can't think of a single man-made or plant product that will give that gluing behavior/effect and yet still remain flexible. I suppose you could potentially shape something out of a non-woven cloth or vinyl with either the cloth or the underlayment saturated or infused with glue to mimic this, but the glue itself could be out as the most suitable types are likely made of animal products too. Maybe you can use that "fun foam" stuff they sell in craft stores, and shape it a little bit by heating it--you definitely don't want it hot enough to offgass as the fumes are nasty for you (wear a respirator or work under a fume hood of sorts), but you might be able to "carve" it to a degree by using somewhat hot tools to partially melt instead of stamp and burnish the patterns on. A warning-- heating some tools can damaging them by ruining their temper.

The Tandy Eco-Flo All in one? They still sell it, it's even on sale this month. Look at page 13 of the sale flyer: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/eflyer/1204RT-USA/1204RT-USA.aspx. No mahogany any more, but there is midnight black, prairie tan, desert tan, fudge brown, acorn brown, light mocha brown, chocolate cherry, marine blue, grape purple, cactus green, cherry, and primrose red.

Arf? There are other ones using straps, but most seem to use the pockets. A lot of people will also add clips, straps, or buckles to the outside to hold the book shut as well (there is a pretty nice example of this in the Gallery right now).

Miss v, book covers usually have two pockets that the outer edges of the book's own cover slip into. Each pocket runs the full length of the leather book cover at the edge of the front and back halves, and about 1/4 to less than 1/3 of the width of the book cover. Each of these pockets is sewn or laces along the top, long edge, and bottom, leaving a long pocket on each half of the book cover with the opening facing towards the spine. Here are some examples: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=31323&st=0&p=195524 http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2029&st=0&p=38599

Nice belt! Your friend is lucky to get that. How much time do you figure you have before his buddies see it and you get mobbed? I think I have leather envy too--that was one big steer.

Everything else! You know...like widgets, a bacon stretcher, muffler bearings, and the kitchen sink!

Oh heck, forget using it as a purse, that's a great tool bag or a camera bag! I might have to try this--but replace most of those little zippers with snaps? Little zippers break a lot. No bullet loops for me either--stuff on the outside of a bag that's going to get slung around will eventually fall off in my experience.

I think this one is still my favorite. I find the pattern, the floral, and the colors very aesthetically appealing.

Helmut, try looking up "targe" here on this site. There are some good examples of this Scottish shield, and some discussion of the construction. The Tandy Leathercraft Library also has a doodle page targe pattern and instructions--I'll see if I can find that if you want to message me later so I don't forget. This guy shows some nice finished ones: http://www.targemaker.co.uk/, and you might also try the forums at http://www.xmarksthescot.com (you'll have to register there to view the photos and use the search engine). And this topic here seems to have some good discussion and links: http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?p=143225

So when do we get to see this demented tiki that cracked up the Monster King? You're running out of month!