WScott

Take some pics!!! Love to see it

These are all very beautiful

Sounds like you guys had a great trip Hope to go someday myself

Really great work! I love the first bag and how you continued the design from the flap to the front. The designs have a pin striping feel to them that looks awesome Really cool stuff

Great design and execution!

Ya buff the snot out of it I did a nice red band for my nephew who was leaving for Australia for school the next day. Used Tandy's water based...When I tested the rest of the stained leather it ran like a bugger. I am sure he had a red wrist for a month. Do a search on here for using resolene, there was a thread about it last month or so I will try to find it after I finish, ahem,working

Ok I will try. Lots of ways to skin a cat, these are just my opinions and experiences. *Yes you can glue flat and sew flat, I have not had a problem with that . Done this with wrist bands, belts, dog collars, coffee grips.. There is enough flex in leather to accommodate the curves. If you have to form a project you get your leather wet, form the leather around and then line, glue and sew it. *Water based dies are terrible for running, bleeding and transferring to clothes. You can try to seal them up with acrylic like Supersheen or Resolene stuff like that. I like oil based stains better. I saw the stain run on the back of the band and that is why I suggested trying a lining. *There are lots of water resistant products. They need to be repeatedly applied though. For example with my dog's latigo leather collar, I take it off if she got wet, dry it off and apply something called snow shield. There are lots of oils, creams, sprays etc and they all work ok. I suggest trying stuff you can get easily, locally and cheaply carnuba wax is good stuff. * Those are both good products. The neatsfoot oil is really best for softening leather, re-conditioning and re-oiling, when it has dried out and become stiff after casing and tooling it. I have not used carnuba wax or atom wax etc but have heard good things. I like acrylic spray to seal. I made some acrylic painted leather coasters. I sealed them with a clear spray acrylic called Super Sheen. I use one coaster daily at my work desk for my water cup and have not had to touch it in a couple years. No paint runs or fades. Resolene is a real solid, durable coating but it does add a yellow tinge that is not my favorite over painted items. You might want to try it out Really try to experiment with what you have, test it out on leather you are using and see what it does. There are so many different products, methods and religious beliefs on how to do things and products. I hope some of this helps.

Real nice, fine looking design and classy looking! I want to see more of that strap I was expecting to see some AC/DC design on it with your title

Yep you are right, edge gap could occur with such thin leathers as there is less bulk to burnish together when edging.

Hey, good for you to practice until perfect. I get bored and move on to other things before I perfect one project. Maybe try lining a band with a contrasting color suede cemented to the back. Then line one and try stitching up and down the length. That would be working towards a lined, stitched belt while finding a cement you like to work with and can control and getting hand stitching confidence. Just some ideas. Keep posting your stuff and ask lots of questions

You are well on your way to a satisfying hobby. Belts, tooled coasters, then get Al Stohlman's hand stitching book and you can make almost anything you could want

I have used double sided sticky tape as a method of holding top and bottom layers in place for stitching. I am such a slob with glue I always seem to get run out to spoil an edge or have to fiddle with position and get some on my thumb and then it's all over the show face.... Just a thought, it's a good secondary method for us glue spazzes

If you made it with the little semicircle, didn't say anything about the tear-out and posted only the last pic, you would get many compliments. I can see why the customer was happy, your dragon tool work and staining is AWESOME!

I chose a Craftool over an Osbourne strap punch for a $20 saving. Had them both in my hands and went for the cost save. When I got home and took the protective plastic off the blade it had what looked like a sprue attachment that was not polished off on the outside edge of the cutting surface. If I didn't take 20 minutes to reshape and sharpen it, my straps would have a little nose bleb on them. Live and learn. I got other Craft tool punches that were fine though. You are going to have to re-sharpen anyways after a few uses, so buy a good tool and either learn to sharpen it yourself or take it to someone who can. JMHO

Thanks for new supplier to feed my addiction!

I think that Horween keeps the best stuff for themselves and sends seconds out to retail You will still come away with some pretty fine leather as their standards are high

Nice clean look, excellent stitching

Go for it !!!! Lay it out on some scrap and give it a go Post it up and you will get some great helpful tips by people smarter and more skilled than I

Don't worry about that I understood what you meant. You are bang on about how simple yet detailed and intricate the work is. Now correct me if I m wrong It is really like making a mini belt. A spacer is cemented between the top and bottom layers for thickness. I loop my top leather over the bottom and glue it down with a watch pin in between to make space for the attachment to the watch If you take apart an old watch band you can easily replicate a new band. BUT the work is very finicky as a wise man says "the devil is in the details" Cheers, Scott

Certainly could lay it all out and tool it How about printing it off on the computer and transferring it to the leather from the paper or even printing it directly on the leather There was a thred about this, have to look later as I am 'working'