Mike516

I like it. Good job.

I'm with electrathon. Those things are huge right now. I would go to Macy's or JC Penny and check out the kids section and look at the sizes typical to kids' stuff. Bring a tape measure.

I really like your site. Very easy to use and navigate. Your merchandise is cool also. I have my eye on a couple of things I bookmarked your site and will definitely be checking back regularly. All the best to you and your new business.

I think whole threads can't be deleted without causing issues with google. Not sure but I heard something like that once.

Ah ok that makes more sense than they just gave money. Thanks for clarifying that

Ok, now I'm confused. What's the difference between an "Ambassador" and a "Contributing Member".

I can only speak for myself, but I accept your apology. And I wouldn't say you've disgraced EVERY ambassador So how about them Yankees, huh?

I thought it was funny that this post started with; "OK everybody. I quit" But yea, Bruce I agree with the last couple of people, you're a good guy. I actually thought moderators and ambassadors were pretty much the same thing. I was surprised when I saw Pete was an ambassador but I'm glad you all straightened that out. I wasn't going to ask lest it be deemed to be a dumb question

Thank you

Being a noob myself, I'm glad I got the answers to my stupid questions before I saw this post or I may never have asked any of them. As someone who's gotten frustrated with the search functions on more than just this site because I have trouble phrasing my searches (maybe I'm just slow), if I have time I'll answer the same questions 100 times because I got the answers when I started and needed them. If I don't have time, I'll try and come back later when I do and answer them. I'm sorry you feel this way Pete, but I'm glad you're in the minority here.

That's funny, I was just talking to someone telling them my cell phone case fell apart and instead of buying another piece of crap I was going to try and make one. What tools do you need to do the stitching? I've never laced or stitched anything. I've only used snaps and rivets on everything but have been meaning to learn to stitch and lace. I don't have anything to do either except lace I use for other projects.

As far as I can tell, a lot of different snaps require different dies. I have a hand press and dies that set Tandy line 20 snaps, but the dies don't work with line 20 DOT snaps. Are there snap setters that will work with all snaps?

I think hardware is the last last step. I think she meant last for dying, waterproofing, etc.

I was having fits over this very thing. I got the same press that Chief linked and, even though it's a little pricey, I counted it as an investment well spent since I don't worry a customer is going to call me that a snap or rivet failed. In my opinion, I'd rather spend 200 bucks now than lose even one customers.

I basically do the same thing. I have a 4 foot t-square from when I was hanging drywall. I lay the leather on a piece of cardboard under where I'll be running the knife on my cement floor in my basement/workshop and cut along the long edge of the t-square with a very sharp utility knife. I don't buy huge pieces of leather so the most I've ever had to overlap the ruler is once. I just use the replacement blades that Tandy sells for .50 cents each, but I use mostly 6/7 and 3/4 ounce leather only so I can't speak for anything thicker.

I have the new and unimproved wooden Tandy one. It may be cheaper than the old one and cheaper than the other brands, but I'm new to this and still haven't had any problems with it. Matter of fact, I really like it. One thing I would mention, as someone was having issues with this cutter some time ago, is that it will only cut as straight as your first edge. If you get an uneven hide, you have to cut a straight edge with a long ruler and a good knife or the strap cutter won't work.

I am a beginner also and, at the recommendation of others, picked up "Leatherwork Manual" By Stohlman, Patten and Wilson and I love it. If you are looking for the very basics, this is a great book with plenty of illustrations.

I've always used a sponge. I got a big pack of them and cut them into squares. Dry sponge or damp, I always put the dye on the sponge, wipe it on the leather, then right away wipe it off with a dry paper towel folded into a pad, not crumpled up so the dye stays in the low spots. I think damp sponge on dry leather usually works better. Works for me. Hope this helps.

Thanks Cheryl. I sent you a PM. I included a link to my cragslist ad only because the pics aren't on this computer, but those pictures aren't too bad.

That's a cool story. I actually have one of those on craigslist, crank and all, but the market is pretty narrow. I'm thinking about putting it on ebay but it's so heavy I'm not sure how to package it.

Wow, that's sick. Looks great.

My favorite book is "Leatherwork Manual" by Al Stohlman, AD Patten and JA Wilson. Very basic and old (I think it was printed in the late '60's) but I love it. I got a used copy in new condition for like 10 bucks.

The line 24 snaps from Tandy, if those are the ones you're talking about, have a 5/16" post and are for 8-10 oz leather. You'll bend the post and offset the snap if you use them on 5-7 oz. I think you meant to say line 20? I could never get the Tandy snaps to set right, they're just kinda weak and flimsy, but I got the Tandy snap press and it works great. I also got some very good high quality strong snaps and the regular hand tools work just fine with them (unfortunately, the dies with Tandy's press don't work with the new snaps).

I have a really small, old old beveler that was with a set of stamps my father in law found for me, and it didn't work too good when I got it. I watched GH's video on stropping bevelers and went and stropped the crap out of it and it works really nice. Now I strop it after every use and it works like it's new. I think the more you strop it the easier it'll be to use, but I'm pretty new to this also so maybe get confirmation on that.

It's like wax or something? So far anything I've gotten from them that's sharp has that on it. I think it's like a liability thing so you don't hurt yourself unpacking it. You were using it with that stuff on it? I'm surprised it cut at all.