Doc Reaper

Not doll, I meant dull, sorry Y'all

Way too much drag for me, used a business card, water, and green compound. Still drags like a yacht on land! Will try another method. This doll out of the box tells me not to get another one!

Use that painters plastic, it's thin. Comes in 4x12 sheets, make a copy on your printer, place plastic sheet over cased leather, tape plastic to table, then tape copy of pattern to plastic. Works well and it works better than tracing paper, more accurate too

Have it professionally sharpened, then make sure the blade is straight with the roller. Then make sure the blade is centered over the roller. Next thing is to make sure the leather is below the roller and not entering the blade higher than the roller. Mount splitter on table. The table should be stout and clean of items. Sounds like your blade is dull, and leather entry is not rolling over the roller but even with it, also check roller is even with blade. Sharpen blade first!

I recently picked up two ceramic swivel knife blades from Tandy, both blades are horribly dull! I'd get a better cut with cinder block! Even though I know that most tools coming from Tandy need sharpening before use, I trusted the manager when he said "they are sharp and ready to use", Is there a way to sharpen ceramic blades or did I waste money? I have been carving since I was 12 years old and have no problem with metal blades. So what gives?

I have a few that I would like to have, first biker type stamps - nobody has a good biker stamp! Also I have seen many stamps down thru the years, like Tandys deer heads. You have one design facing left and another facing right, but they don't match! Customers like balance. How about making stamps some see as taboo (like the old "Prince Albert" stamp) or the Jesus fish with feet. I wish I had the tools to make these, my business would rock! But I choose to work leather and carve wood.

I just got hold of some tools that are from the 80s, a few have some rust on them and the finish is off a couple of the bevelers (contact face). I got these tools for a song so I could not say no (about $600 in today's value). Maybe a toothbrush and mild soap? Or should I use a different method?

I have a set, had to sharpen them on my belt sander, great time saver and leaves a nice pattern when ya get to know it.

100 years from now folks will be on here asking who made this art piece, which is really awesome! Sign your work and date it!

I'm interested, 980-621-5851 ask for Doc

Kman, like what ya got in print! Law officers are told to buy so everything is uniform. Most folks looking at leather items have no clue what a "quality item" is, but they know Walmart has leather belts for $12. Not knowing it is just a very thin strip (toilet paper thin) wrapped around A cheap medium like plastic. Don't give your hard work away to the jerk that says it should cost some figure he guesses is fair to him or her, not looking at quality or material costs! Labor for auto repair is (right now) over $100 dollars, the labor you put into an item isn't even thought of. Thanks again to Walmart! Charge what you have to charge, tooled bike bags will beat out china trash every time! I belong to the 3% or less group that has grinned and smiled at the instant gratification idiots more often than I care to give thought too! Quality sells itself! Don't believe me? Put a pair of Walmart high heeled shoes up against a pair of well made pair of Italian spikes, watch which ones draw more interest! People KNOW quality! Smart buyers seek quality knowing it will last much longer! Ignorance only looks at price! Folks going cheap want an item to show others that they have something that looks nice (for a short period). People that purchase quality items don't have to point it out, it will draw its own attention! Don't get discouraged about what others say it should cost, you know what you have in that item! Ignorant beings will usually offer less than what the material cost, knowledgable ones will come close, quality seekers won't batt an eye! So go to that bench and drip sweat, get string burns and cuts, dye your finger tips black; brown; and red! To hell with Walmart prices and cheapskates! Cut, glue, sew, stain, and polish that leather! It will sell and word of mouth will point customers in your direction!

I see most all of ya have close to the same tools that I do, but most of my hand tools are carried in a small trunk, I travel to and fro every weekend. Great set-ups, I'm jealous of the room some of ya have!

Most vest extenders have line 24 snaps, finding smaller sizes is almost impossible! When a customer brings a vest with line 20 or smaller I usually change them out to a line 24 snap. Yes! I am a biker!

but what lengths do you make the blanks?

I'm lazy, I went to Habor Freight and purchased one of the brief case tool boxes that computer repair people use for their tool and store all my punches in it. Got (hijacked) the idea from a Tandy Leather employee. The foam is cut in a cube pattern and holds all the punches and tools in a perfect manner. Plenty of storage in an easy to carry case. It's the 6 inch deep case, black with brushed metal edges. Go ahead and pick one up for about $35.

Measure the sides to be laced, times it by four, then double that answer.

I have purchased from Zach Whites' Leather and Tandy, for the last few months Tandy has become really bad here in Charlotte, NC. Skitring is substandard and a lot of hides seem to be less than what is listed (8/9) is about the same as a (5/6). I had to get hold of their middle management to get word that their leather is substandard, he helped but not sure that the store will house better stock in the future! Zach had a good hide but it was pricey but loads better than Tandy. I am afraid to order leather items I can't see for fear of getting the stores refuse. I have talked to WC but not ordered yet, SL is now on my list to contact!

I use powder free latex gloves, doesn't stop the dye from reaching my fingers though! Get a gallon of distilled water from the grocery store!

I have picked up some bottles of Eco-Flo ALL-IN-ONE and I was wondering if it can be thinned? I know it has a sealer already in it and it is like a gel but I want to get it to a thinner consistancy. Any input welcome, I have never used this product before and paid $5 per quart. So if it sucks I wont loose too much!

I guess a shoe polish applicator would work just as well when applying edge dye?