Bluesman

Thanks Randi, Love your site by the way. Very interesting things. You have a neat flair for design. Jon

That is KILLER. How do you do the double step and the lacing.

Wow, nice Tutorial. I used to use antique direct on the finished project. Lately I have been doing over a Neat-lac resist which I like and thne again over a different color. For example light or nuetral and then dark brown or dyes. The combinations are endless. THanks for sharing. Also your rope is killer. Now give it up what was the stamp?

Firm, more like a veg tan. I think the verigated (sp) would make a really neat purse. I'm also thinking of using some og it as backing ot lining. Maybe a two sided guitar strap.

So can I use the Nylex (sp) thread and just rub it with beeswax. The stuff I get from TLF is already waxed.

Until I get a machine, I am going to hand stitch some of my projects. I thought it may be a good idea to use the same thread that is used on a machine. This way i can understand the different sizes and textures. Is this recommended? Thanks, Jon

A customer traded these two hides as partial paymennt on a guitar strap. I think they a chrome tanned, but not sure. Both hides measure in at 5/6oz. One is 21 Sq. Ft. and the other 17 Sq. Ft.. He told me he bought them 25 years ago to make chaps. So, what do I have? What can I do with it? And any other suggestions would be great. They both are in really nice shape, with some creasing that I think would come out. I showed both the top grain and the flesh side for comparission. One of my hounds is sleeping in the background. Thanks, Jon

Can you count the number of times the needle goes up and down before it goes dead? Repeat the process and see if the number is the same or close. If it is, its a timing problem. Something is rotating and every time it gets to that spot it stops. Find the frequency of the failure and then look for a mechanical componant which coincides with it.

By gloves and suck it up, we all get dye on our hands..................................

Bruce, Picked up the R stamp from TLF and the beveler. I still need to grind the beveler but at present it works the way it is. Here's how I have been practicing. I layout two lineS, (training wheels) and the a 45* line and set my first impression. Then i stamp away from me so I can see both lines, the angle and also the overlap of one stamp to the previous stamp. Does this sound about right? Also if I am going to lay the rope up to a belt border edge. Won't the outside rope bevel destroy the edge bevel? My thoughts are to keep playing, post a couple pics for critique and then call Barry for a few R stamps and see if he can just make me a cusotm beveler. it's little bit more $, but then I know all is right. Just making sure that when i practice, I'm practicing good habits and not bad. Thanks, Jon

Thanks, Saved for future use.

Very nice display Ray. There is an awful lot of hardwork there. When I used to do Vintage guitar shows i always tried to make my booth stand out from the rest. My partner and I made custom guitar amps and used this strategy. Make sure the customer has easy access to everything, create an inviting atmosphere and make your space is different. You want people strolling by to take a second look and say, hey what's that?. So, we used neutral table cloths to enhance product colors, carpeted our entire booth, also made sure to tape it down to the floor to eliminate trips hazards. Our product offerings were displayed with a guitar from every vintage and maker. This gave the customer an opportunity to answer thier own questions, "how does your amp sound with a ?" I know leather is a different busines, but the principles apply. Give the customer the feeling of space within your booth. Maybe setup in a way so the customer can see a smattering of everyhing in one spot and have the spot duplicated several times throughout the booth. This way several customers are looking at the same thing at the same time. they may say, "I really like this but I wish it was dark brown". You can then direct them to display #2 were there is a drak brown. I like the celtic table cloths, but you may want to try a nice creme colored for your next set. You have some really great product good luck. Here is a shot of my first show booth. Vintage Guitar magazine did a write up on us after this show. Free advertising, becasue they liked our booth setup. Jon

Get a spray bottle of Simple Green and a pile of rags. No water. This stuff will cut grease. Spray it down and have at it. Post pic too.

That is cool. I go up to the Michigan UP every September with my buddies. The one guy has a cabin right on Lake Superior. I will be looking for a nice piece of drift wood, Oh YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, I like that a lot. Very nice job. I may just have to copy that.

I have a customer looking for two sheaths for this knife. He also wants them to hang under his arms, like a shoulder holster. One on each side. I understand the sheath but am looking for some shoulder holster ideas and ways to attach the sheaths to the holster. Also giving him some adjustment options as well. Thanks Jon

I am customer #1. Better clean up my drill press for that pretty burnisher.

Killer, absolutey killer

Seemed legit to me. Saw his You Tube last month but could never find out how to buy them. Then he showed up here.

Let me ask. how about sewing stingray andy issues? i plan on sanding all the nibs/nubs off first.

Just got some new blades from Barry King and compared them to my others. The stones come out tonight. They are sharp enough to draw blood. Don't ask...............

The way I have always looked at it is this way. First, become effective. Whatever you are doing do it right and with as much perfection as you can. When this is accomplished go for efficiency, kick it up a notch. Effective is quality and efficiency is speed. Junk fast is still junk. Outstanding slow is still outstanding. Outstanding, fast is more money. Simple................ Jon

My guess would be to start with white and add very small amounts of black until you get what you want. I would also experiment with Royal blue.

In your photo you are using the stamp between two boader beads. I am assuming that the bead lines are cut and beveled on both sides before applying the boarder stamp correct. Also thanks for the tutorial. Jon