TXAG

PM sent to OP re: springfield leather...

Make sure the thread is coming off the bobbin the right direction...also, as stated, make sure to hold both the top and bobbin threads for the first few stitches or it'll make a pretty bad rat's nest there...

Get this book if you don't have it already and read thoroughly... http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Hand-Sewing-Leather/dp/1892214911 I think that will help a lot with the issues you're having...

Your tension will need to be adjusted any time you change thread type and/or the thickness of what you're sewing...

Sounds like a potentially very painful process... Sorry...couldn't resist...

Yeah, the nice thing about yours is they don't have to open the pouch to get a bag out...so even if the snap were stiff, it would only affect them when loading new bags in. I might have to make a couple of those for some friends...

So are they HK "style" clips or authentic HK clips? I've seen some "style" ones that are pretty bad quality, so usually end up going with the more expensive ones.

Does he ever sell them? I wonder how much one like that would cost...looks very nice...

...I think it was last weekend...

I would very highly recommend the online route...my vet and the cremation service had very limited (and VERY overpriced) options...I found a place online that laser etched my dog's pic and info on a black granite container...I can barely move it...it is extremely heavy. They may do exotic woods...I'll try to check for you... They do have some beautiful wooden ones...here you go... http://www.memorialg...m/pet-urns.aspx Also sorry for your loss...

Yes.

Holy cow, that is a big string cutter! Any idea where you'd get one of those or did he make it himself?

http://www.tandyleat...us-8039-06.aspx But I would buy it from somewhere other than Tandy...or SLC...

I need to clarify -- I am not looking for a jeweler to make this item for me. I will be doing it myself...what I need is information and guidance from those familiar with the processes I'll use (dapping being the primary one) to make this item on my own...by myself. I've already tried going the "custom jewelry" route and it was an absolute disaster -- I won't be doing that again...probably ever... (It seems that what really happens is they ask you what you want, you give them a very detailed drawing outlining EXACTLY what you want it to look like, the size, etc. and then they come back with some sort of horse #### that you wouldn't pay $2.00 for and they want to charge you $300 PLUS MATERIALS to make it...I am just not going to go through that headache anymore...I'm tired of it and I won't do it.) ...in fact, with any luck, I will get good enough at it to put a dent in those people's businesses (the ones that want to do what they want to do and couldn't care less what the CUSTOMER actually wants...THOSE jewelers... ) Finally, I would like to note that when my parents went to have custom jewelry made, their jewelers actually LISTENED to what they wanted and made the pieces exactly as they wanted them. I don't know what in the heck has gotten into the jewelers I've talked to here lately, but it's irritating how arrogant and uncooperative they are. Maybe they are better elsewhere, but...I'm not paying any $300 plus materials to make something that should cost $50 at most (along with me supplying my own materials).

That is awesome...thank you so much! I will read the tutorial first and then PM with questions. Thanks again!!!

Right...what happened to me was a result of apathy and it wasn't a single issue either. There were three distinct problems...that is a pattern of behavior...not an "honest mistake". In any case, caveat emptor.

Oh, ok...well that's good to hear...

I am sure someone will be along soon to tell me I'm wrong, but usually I will print out what I want to carve, resize it until it's the size I want, then tape it to the properly cased piece (putting the tape on the back side of the leather)...then I trace over it with a modeling tool...then begin carving, tooling, etc...

Thanks all...I will check out all suggested links...thank you again...

Well...honestly, it isn't very hard to do better than they've done to me lately. Not much of a contest.

Yeah, I am done with Springfield...not going to do business with them anymore, so I don't really care what their prices are right now. I have been buying my tools and supplies from several others of the dealers you mentioned though and have been very happy with them.

If you did not know of any other suppliers, I'm curious how you came to figure that their stuff was overpriced without any other basis by which to judge it...(I mean...*I* think it's overpriced for what it is, but that's after comparing it to tools available from other sources...just curious how you came to the same conclusion without another source to compare it to...) To answer the rest of your question, make things, sell them, use the funds you make to buy more materials and better tools...sometimes you can get decent used tools on ebay...but a lot of time, the people that sell them on there think they're 24k solid gold or something...

I will check those out tonight...thanks for the links...

Well hopefully someone else will step in to offer good quality rawhide lace...the commercially made stuff I bought online was really, really bad...never had a chance to try Bill's, but heard it was good...

Well maybe if you're lucky, they won't suddenly do to you what they did to me. I didn't have a problem with them either on a couple of previous orders, but this ########## they've just pulled on me is enough for me to write them off forever. Ridiculous.