electrathon

You can use it as a devider, just put a sharp nail in it instead of a pencil. Aaron

This is an easy solution if you can not find any over there. Wrap it in a box, declare it as shoe polish and mark the customs form as a gift. It is a solid so no huge issue mailing it (antique liquid could be bad). If you can not find any I will send you a small jar of it and then you can paypal me to cover the cost. Aaron

Use blue low stick painters tape instead of creasing yoru leather with a line. Aaron

I always apply it with a piece of sheepskin. Cut a piece about 1" square and rub it on everywhere fairly quickly. Once everything is coated you then take a clean dry piece and try to gently rub it off. No ponding in the cracke and crevaces. You can usually see when you have done it enough. If you spray it on you likely will be way to thick. Wipe it down after it is sprayed will clean it up. Thhink of this more like you are putting stain on wood as oposed to painting wood. Aaron

X-ray film works great.

I am going to fuess you used too much/too thick on the Neat Laq. Thin application is definatly better if the item is going to flex. I use it on all of the tooled wallets I make and do not have cracking problems. When I first started, I did mess up a few things. Looked pretty till it was flexed. Aaron

You need a foot that will allow you to sew up to an edge. Another alternative is to hand sew it. Aaron

With two needles you push all the way through with one needle, then the other needle back through the same hole, move forward. You are basicly making an S with eash needle, just gong the oposite way. With the sewing all thing is is almost impossible to get nice looking stitches. You do need to premake your holes, either with a punch, awl (best way, and hardest) or drilling them in. Aaron

Sewing all: This tool is pretty much worthless. You will have far superior quality if you use two needles. Stitching pony: You can start without one. It can be easier to use one but most people do without. I have one and rarely use it. Spacer wheel: You either need this tool of something to set your distance. A fork works well, you likely already have one of those. You can also use a divider. Stitching grover: I rarely use one. I like the stitches sitting on the top, I feel it looks better. Aaron

I have seen a couple people say there was no need to cut. Even heard one Tandy manager teach this (it was because he really did not know how to tool). Bottom line is, if you do not cut first your tooling comes out shallow and less defined. Aaron

Hit the Z B107 real hard and it will bend or break, take it back and they will waranty it with a B107.

I am a tool guy too. I have more personal tools than almost anyone I know. I enjoy the searching, the locating and then being able to use the tools I have. I like to dig through stuff and find a tool I have not used in 10 years and then being able to do the job. I find comfort in the security of being able to do this myself. I can proudly say that this has been passed from my Grandfather (who has not gone to be with the Lord) to my Father, to me and now the talent and ability has been passed to my son. My father is now elderly and is doing very much what you are talking about. He has lots of tools and has been asking who desires what tools when his time comes. I still have and use some of my Grandfathers tools, and have many that my Father has not handed down to me. Many have gone to my son who is starting his collection. My first toolbox (with tools) was bought from my Grandfather when I was 12 for $200. It was worth a lot more than that, and he did not need the money, but he know it was a good life lesson for me to show responsibility to send him $20 a month that I earned doing odd jobs, I paid it off early. I wrote this because your post reminded me of my grandfather. He left a lasting impression on my life, very much like you likely will leave a lasting impression on someones life. Aaron

Yes, bevel all of the edges, even the ones you are going to background. It helps clean up the backgrounded edges. As to the different checkering on the different size tools: this is a quality control issue. If you had more expensive tools you would be able to get a set that all have the same size of checkering. If you are going to use low end tools you would be better off to buy all of the bevelers that are the same and then grind down some of them to a narrower size. Another option is the but smooth faced ones so they will all match. Aaron

Helmut, I have suggestion of how you may disperse your treasures. As you are reading through this site you could select someone you feel to be worthy. Since you will be selecting the person, the offer would not be asked for out of greed, but offered out of grace. You would have a few details to work out but that should not be too difficult. Aaron

I have to agree with this. Your knife cits look good, they are usually a problem area. Decorative cuts look good too, one of the highest problem areas with most people. It does look like you are using a backgrounder as a beveler, if so you would greatly improve to get a few sizes of bevelers. I also see you beveled your leaved behind the stems, it is normal to have the leaves forward of the stems. Aaron

Very nice looking work and workmanship. Aaron

I like it a lot. Aaron

Baskets are woven with reeds and spokes, in a similar manor to how a structure is framed. Baskets are not decoration, they are items built for a use. Basket weaving in leathercraft is an emulation of baskets that are woven in real life. I am done here. I apologize to steelhawk for this being in your thread. Lonerider, I removed my critique from your thread, no need to posture.

Interesting retaliatory statement. If you search my early posts, I made a lot of mistakes too. I am indebted to those who pointed them out. To answer your questions: Who made you the judge of what angle basket weaving is to be done??? No one. If you meant to say, Who taught you". My answer would be, Jim Linnell and Chan Geer. What if it's done horizontally or vertically? Baskets are woven with the spokes going primarily up and the reeds going primarily sideways. So if you are inferring that the spokes should go sideways and the reeds should go up, I can not address that. Basket weaving has been around far longer than I have, and there seems to be a very consistent pattern to it. I simply accept the fact that there is a common way to do it. It's up to who is doing it! Not a question, but Yes! It is always up to the person doing things. A framer can put the studs in the wall of your house straight up or to the side. It would defiantly be up to him. Many would feel that he did it "wrong" if they were leaning to the side. He could then say, "it is up to who is doing it!". Where does it say what angle it has to be? If you look through the Leather Crafters Journal Chan has written a few articles explaining basket weaving.

The origional likely had a shoulder strap with it. It did not look like they were ever used but I was simply trying to duplicate it. I don't think I got any good inside pics. Aaron

Pure isopropal alchol from the drug store. Costs about $1.50.

Use a treadle sewing maching belt. It should be about the size you are looking for and comes off a roll, so you can get it in about any length. Aaron

If you care about quality, buy the Herman Oak. If you want cheap stuff for patterns and the like, Tandy is a good choice.

A far easier answer is to simply use your strop that you already have. If you have a piece of leather that is glued to a thin board you simply use the edge (top and one side). Aaron

Sometimes our friends can see the picture that is bigger than us. We are too close to see any more than we can focus on. I have read a lot of your posts, and I see that you are trying to learn. Sometimes learning can be a slow and painful process. Keep in mind that your friend, weather he was correct or incorrect was giving his advise to you to the best of his ability, just as you are trying to work to the best of your ability. Wait a day or two and call him. He is likely feeling sad, just as you are. Aaron