Studio-N

Now that I've got my laser engraver working again, I'm having some fun. Here is a homemade craftaid for a set of spur straps. I laser engraved it on delrin and you can see the results on a piece I pressed it on to. I have made a left and right plate. It is ready to start carving and I've marked all the shape cut lines and holes. Now all I have to now is make a few of these.

You can sharpen a pipe of the appropriate diameter.

Look here: http://bighousedaddy.com/bighousedaddys_biker_patterns.htm

Its been a while since I made any stamps due to some laser problems, but all that's behind me and so now I'm relearning some things I forgot. Here are a few new stamps I finished. These are done from flat Delrin sheet rather than rod. I just double stick tape them to a blank stamp handle I have but also for use on my shop press. The first is based on Jeff Dunham's character Achmed the dead terrorist with a little bit of white cova paint to bring out the stamp, the second is a darwin fish, and the last is a masonic stamp. Each is 1" tall.

You can find the wooden briefcase frame at grandpa's pastime. You provide the leather. Here is the link: http://grandpaspastime.com/BriefCaseFrames.aspx

I believe the rules of mail order apply: You only have to collect sales tax if you have a store (presence) in that outside state. The presence part applies when you cross your border to do a show.

Thank you Bruce! I picked up the Dixon Plough guage. Can't wait to break it in.

Don't look at Hobby Lobby. They didn't have it.

Hello. While I have not done it, I have sold a fair amount of leather to tattoo students. Apparently it is very common to use veg-tanned leather to practice with before they are allowed to try it on a live person. One problem that occurs since the hide has been tanned and has no natural oils in it is that the dye tends to expand due to capillary action so it is difficult to get sharp lines. That's all I know about it. Cheers!

No one has mentioned a bench press yet, so I'll add my 2 cents. I'm using the press from Weaver. It is well made, totally welded so there is no movement in it, and is ready to accept some steel plates, which they sell as well. I've been using it with my embossing plates without problem. My only complaint is that it only comes with a 5 ton bottle jack which is a little weak. I upgraded to a 12 ton jack from sears and am happy as a pig in mud. Cost of the press was about $350 US. Cheers!

From the Republic of Texas

Have you tried using some skirting scrap. It's not going to be as stiff as a sole bend, but it's comparable in thickness. Cheers!

Hello. I'm going to give a vote to the Dusty Johnson video on chapmaking. It was no nonesense, very straight forward. It's available direct or from various other sources including hidecrafter. Cheers!

that looks like it would be fun just about everytime you go to click something. Nice find.

Thanks Tim, and Thanks to ArtS. It was his article and pictures on here that motivated me to make them. Cheers!

Here are a couple of purses I finished. One has a basketweave trim the other is embossed. These are total fun to make. The basket weave has an adjustable strap. The other makes use of handles.

I'm glad you brought this subject up. I really hate seeing big makers marks in the middle of the item. I go to a lot of gunshows where people are selling holsters. Even on plain holsters the big honking mark is right on the front. I would never buy one. Leather holsters are expensive (relatively speaking). I am not going to pay a lot of money to advertise for the person selling it. I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels that way. There is a nice spot on the backside of the holster where that could have gone and not distract from the holster itself. Now on smaller items like the spur straps you mention, I have no problem with a small mark on the buckle piece. On belts, up near the buckle look is a spot that is not gaudy. If fact, it might even be covered by a trophy buckle. The bottom line - I can see the need for brand recognition, and I can see that you will be proud of the item you made, but somewhere where it is a bit inconspictuous (sp?) is a good spot. Look at it this way: when you buy a nice table the maker didn't put his big gaudy mark on the table top did he? It is usually on the bottom, or it is in the drawer of furniture items. As a woodturner, the signature is always on the bottom of the bowl. You see this in most crafts. That's my 2 cents, but at today's prices it's only worth half that much. cheers!

One of the best setups I saw when I was on the circuit was someone who had a marine battery mounted atop a battery charger on a dolly which ran an inverter. This powered his wares and florecent bulbs. He would simply plug it in at his hotel to recharge it after each day.

Is this the type of thing you are after? Do a search for 'plate staple' or 'staple plate'. These are available at most hardware stores for about a buck each.

They are both technically a split - there is no top grain. Suede is a more 'softened' version and used more as a garment grade. Seating and moc splits as an example have a much firmer feel.

I live in Wichita, KS. It's boring. 'nuff said.

It looks like a buildup of EdgeKote. It's available at any leather supplier.

The whole rig looks great! I loved both shows. And if you are interested in obtaining a mare leg - check out: http://www.jbcustom.com/mares.htm There is also a picture of a couple of holsters for it. Cheers!

Thanks Tom, I'll be in touch.

All I can say is that it all came in the original Tandy packinging. I've seen several others sell on eBay since and all the pictures have always been resin. I did see the one that sold last night on eBay and the picture was wood.