Heligan

Very helpful thread (wish I had seen it sooner). So I carve, dye and apply the Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner/Conditioner, can any finish then go over to add waterproofing?

Hi All, Just had a report back from a customer that the wristband I made has faded quite a bit over just a few months. I used the Tandy Eco Dyes "Eve Blue" and "Deep Violet" (which I understand from browsing the forum here were recalled for fade reasons back in 2008)... I sealed with resolene (she hasnt had any dye come off on her skin, so it does appear to be a UV light caused fade..... this is further confirmed by the fact my stock pieces of the same age have not faded, but they are stored in a suitcase). I started using resolene to be more customer friendly, by avoiding the need for them to rewax proucts. Im not sure what to do at present my options seem to be:- A:- If the new Eco Pro range are not causing these issues I will just try to mix colours from that range... though Im doubting I will get the zing of "deep purple" out of mixing those primaries. B:- Can anyone recommend a better sealant (with UV protection in it maybe). She asked me if items could be recoloured; as far as Im aware this is impossible after the finish has gone on... unless one of you guys knows a trick!

Thanks...much appreciated!

I have been asked to do a wallet with 8 credit card slots, a coin pouch, and 2 currency pockets. He doesn't want plastic inserts. AND It needs to be able to fit in a pocket....Im starting to think it might be impossible. I dont have a sewing machine yet so its all by hand at the moment, meaning any sewing is quite chunky or there is a real issue with creating perforations. I had some very thin lining leather with which I made a trial version, gluing rather than stitching the bits in to make pockets for the cards (had to make it sort of bi-fold in the end, with a double sided credit card bit making up the extra fold).... it was fairly chunky even without the tooled face on... but I was fairly happy with the result. Since then the only lining leather I have been able to get has been thicker, the thinner stuff was very thin indeed and was in holes in places (lots of waste). Im far too far away from shop to go and select the stuff myself and Tandy have stopped selling the lining polyester in UK (and although it seems like a good solution, Ive never used it before)... I suppose what Im asking is:- 1) Can you glue lining polyester to lining leather successfully? 2) As I have to go elsewhere for the lining polyester, how can I know Im ordering the correct stuff... does it have a special name when its the ultra thin stuff? 3) Any other ideas

I agree about the brass not being for older people. Its just about what fits a design really and I think especially with earthly colours it looks way better than chrome.

Ive used it over the yellow (that was dry) on flower petals and was quite pleased with the result. It is a bit hard to tell if you have got it where you dont want it though, as it doesn't really seem to do anything much until dry- when it looks a bit whiter and much more shiny.

Isnt that is what everyone is saying... maybe I was reading too much between the lines....you certainly come right out with it though LOL. It doesnt make sense to me what Tandy are doing though and I wonder how they calculate these margins. For instance how on earth can they know how many people are put off carving entirely by really low quality tools... and when you figure in how much anyone serious about leather carving has to spend thats easily hundreds of pounds lost per each one of these customers. As for serious leather crafters, once we leave Tandy for greener pasturers, do we ever look back? Makes you wonder about everything they sell if they are content just to be a "low cost trying-it-out-to-see-if-Im-any-good first step". What really annoys me is how they advertise these tools as "an investment for years to come" as if they are quality items... its frustrating as I have already paid my wholesale membership (couldnt just give my business number as it hadnt come through when I was buying most of my kit, so had to pay this first year) so I feel tied to Tandy to get my moneys worth (although to be honest it has probably already more than paid for itself). Also Im in UK, as far as I can determine anything I need fast has to come from Tandy as they have a shop in UK. Also there is a wait a bit longer and see issue: Much of what I need will be dictated by how my style develops and what the demand turns out to be for (Ive only been in business for a month so I havent even done my first craft fair yet... (I need this for market research really to work out demand from listening to comments from customers). .. so now might not be quite the time to invest heavily in quality tools I might never use much. Some stuff can be said now of course, I doubt the basketweave tool is ever going to get much use by me. It also hard to imagine what I could do that wouldnt need backgrounders, bevellers, pear shaders and seeders now and then... so I think Im going to risk a few of these types of tool from the likes of Barry King, Hackbarth, Gomph, Clay Miller etc. But right now its a speed of delivery issue, I need tools now to get stock ready for the craft fair on the 26th Nov, so I cant wait for a delivery to crawl from USA...(it takes long enough for Tandy to get stuff to me, in Isle of Lewis, from their England store). So thats just the practicality of it right now. As I say, after the craft fair Im going to have a better idea of, what demand dictates I need (Im pretty sure its going to turn out to be celtic stuff not my own designs... people are sooo boring) so Im basically window shopping at the better places until then.... Im getting a nice list of them bookmarked though thanks to you guys (nothing like a recommendation to put the mind at ease). I have also been bidding on a few vintage tools on eBay, I recognise its a gamble as to the wear state of the pattern though.

Blimey, how long had you had them before that happened?

Hi Glen, It was the deluxe Kit I bought.... and while I was happy with the backgrounder until it broke I didnt know any better. The replacement they sent me is really really naff though (Im thinking its out of the basic kit)! Luckily I had ordered an a104-2 and am really liking that, the size is great for celtic patterns and getting into carved leaves etc too- BUT MOSTLY its giving a much nicer impression than I got with the previous tools, makes getting a decent background pattern easier- (so I guess that confirms what you say).... but based on what everyone is saying I think moving on to other suppliers is the way to go. I have to say I think its very short sighted of Tandy to sell really bad tools, if I had tried out leather carving with the really naff thing they sent as a replacement I would have figured I just couldnt do it and given up on the whole idea! I nearly went for the basic kit too (I think I read something recently in Tandy literature about it having much lower quality tools in it). Im bidding on stuff on eBay sold by the proleathercarvers folk at the moment, hopefully get some decent tools soon.

Thanks for the replies, Im certainly going to invest in a few tools from both Barry King and Hackbarth.... they just look so nice its hard to resist. Tandy sent me out a replacement (apparently they did try to email me but the emails kept bouncing back- so I got angry for no reason- guilt!). Weird getting used to a new tool though, even though its an A104 it just doesnt feel the same!

Im a bit concerned about what just happened to my background tool, the head snapped off...I was just hitting it with a mallet (not a hammer or anything weird like that) and it was at a slight angle to get into a tricky area. I cant really understand why this would happen unless the item was faulty, even though it has had a lot of use since I bought it a few months ago. I sent Tandy an email on 6/11/11 but they have yet to respond. So naturally Im wondering if they are really the best folk to be dealing with now...yes I know its only a few days but I feel a response to a faulty item email should be pretty much instant. So, where do other people buy there tools (Im in Scotland- UK) and does anyone have any idea WHY the head snapped off?

Looks amazing

Thanks, having real trouble deciding where the needle was going in the Tandy instructions.