Anacott Steel

I struggle to get the edges of my projects to burnish as well as you have done with the cross ! Really nice work - like the colour as well. Don

Some really nice work Ken. And given the work you must have put in tooling these, they're a steal !

Use a badger anthem 155. Dual action and bottom fed. Pretty happy with it and have seen it on eBay for around $60.

Chris I am with you - I dont understand the cowboy fascination with flowers - I mean these are about as tough and rugged blokes as you are going to come across (they ride angry bulls for fun right ?) and yet they're having their gear adorned with pretty much the most effeminate symbol that exists. Im in the love skulls crowd. I dont think that it comes from a place of anger or hate at all - for me its more a fascination and embracing of the unknown but (obviously) inevitable. BUT....I do look on in awe at some of the sheridan etc carving that I see in these forums. So much talent and while I'd never do it (remember i mentioned the talent bit) I can see the beauty in it.

In Sydney, Birdsalls will cut you a smaller piece. Contact Tracy http://birdsall-leather.com.au/home.php to ask them directly. I'm not sure whether NSW Leather co will. Birdsalls sells tools etc, NSW Leather co only sells leather - no tools. Both are located east of Sydney, about 6ks apart so you could check both out. Just a heads up that NSW leather co isn't open on weekends. Tandy leather factory has opened a store, but it's in Minto - around 60ks from Sydney CBD. Hope you enjoy OZ.

Hey Sylvia - I finally got round to testing this. It was definitely the result of using waxed thread pre-dying. The latest attached was sewn post dying (but pre-sealing) and I can clearly see my chubby waxed paw prints all over it.... Many thanks to all of you for your advice and help cheers Don

Thanks guys.

Hey Reddevil - im curious as to what program you have used for the templates ? I've tried to use InDesign but it's so complicated I gave up after making a rectangle ! Cheers

You do some awesome, awesome work.

Twinoaks has it - its not a single blow but needs to be walked around the mouth, gently. AND make sure it's the appropriate length for the thickness of the leather you're using.Osborne make a setter - less than $20 so might be worth considering. https://www.osborneleathertools.com/product_details.php?pid=307

You hand stitched that ? Now I hate you. Ok I'm kidding - that is just amazing work. Please please (i can beg more) make a video. Don For those that are interested in Oz to mm: http://www.gnnusa.com/leather_thickness.htm

Hey I recognize that punch. It's the same one I bought..."it's like half the price of the osborne one and almost as good...". Pigs behind it is ! Art nailed it. Send it back to whatever hell it came from and get a decent one.

Jon - you go for the stitching awl or harness awl ? Looking at both on the Osborne site, I would have picked the harness awl to punch diamond shaped holes. HOWEVER the name "stitching" awl has thrown me because I wan't to make holes so I can "stitch" right ??

Hey Justin - the Al Stohlman books are a good resource to have on hand (some of the projects may be ambitious for a beginner but a lot of the ideas/methods can be applied to beginner's projects). I can recommend http://stores.ebay.com/stecksstore as a good source for leather gear. It might be a long-shot but I would check out the craft markets in Hobart. You might come across an old timer leatherwork crafter who can point you in the right direction - either advice or to a guild/workshop. Im sure given the current 12 degrees temperature you would be able to trade a hot cup of coffee for some info . Spend as much time as you can in the forums - you will pick up so much from these guys. I also like to peruse the sites of professionals like www.xianleather.com (and heaps of the forum members) as an inspiration boost - to see just how beautiful leather work can be. Stick at it - dont be discouraged if your first results arent great. Its definitely addictive. Don

Awesome. I like the creases in the spine - apart from looking great does that help in keeping the spine in shape ? I really like the subtle wings (angel ?) on the inside cover as a contrast to the vibrant colours on the outside.. Just a great job.

FWIW - Rolled skin side out in a cardboard packing/postal tube (9cm diameter and 85cm length)

Hey Particle. The reason I had sewn it first was because I have been afflicted with a disease (it appears to be incurable) that renders me incapable of cutting out two pieces of leather, supposedly the same measurements, and assembling them so that the edges align. Bless me, but i just cant do it ! Soooo - i left a little extra around the edges and trimmed it. I thought by sewing it first, there would be no room for the pieces to move around when I was cutting it. Next time I am going to do as you suggested, die first then sew. (Maybe cement the pieces to keep 'em in place while trimming the edges ?). thanks for your advice.

Thanks Sylvia. I'm going to do just that. (Should have thought of doing that first before i asked ! ) The more I think about it the more that seems like the likeliest culprit. I really want to thank you and the other guys for your advice. I'm always amazed how generous the people in his forum are with their knowledge and for newbies like me it's a great help. Thanks and bless you

Hey guys. Yep i kinda layed it on thick with the dauber ! Hand sewn with wax thread. Im wondering if it's the wax causing the problem (me touching the thread and then holding the leather) - i tried sewing this project before i died it. (hey don't tut tut me I'm still experimenting / learning !). Definitely veg-tan. Ok Sylvia I was desperate ! And was happy to experiment with the soap - and I have read elsewhere that people have washed before dying. I used the die prep and apart from knocking me out from the toxic ammonia smell it didn't seem to help. Bluesman drink this and you will be feeling blue. Or is it green. anyway I really appreciate your comments. Definitely something I'm doing wrong and it sounds like no one else is having this problem. Given I went for a dirty brown look, it actually doesn't look too bad in real life - its just that I want to be the one that decides whether the leather should have this "effect" ! Cheers and bless you all..

Hi guys / gals. I am trying to pin point the reason that die will not take in certain areas. You can see from the attached that the die has trouble taking in a few places towards the edge. I'm talking about the marks that look like the leather was scratched post dying and the color has come off. So I've tried : 1. Fiebings Die Prep - I originally assumed that it was my grubby fingers preventing the die from penetrating but I used the prep (and I've tried saddle soap as well in the past) - no joy. 2. I airbrush the die on - so thought maybe that was the problem - but even applying the die with a dauber over those areas didnt help 3. Various dies - EcoFlo, Fiebings (both spirit and oil based). I can only assume that 1. I am damaging the leather somehow when cutting / sewing (as it seems always to occur towards the edge of my leather) or 2. that im still not getting the oils from my fingers off the leather even though I have washed the leather with prep/saddle soap. As it doesnt occur in the middle of my projects im going to assume that the leather itself is ok quality. sorry for the long post but if anyone else has had this problem (and better yet a solution !) I would love to know. thanks folks.

Cheers Wareagle - many thanks. Pete thanks for the inside info - lets just keep the SEC out of this.....