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Do you not have a picture of an item you made with this leather? It may help identifying similar products. The information you gave - soft, not thick and black can be so many different types of leather.

You can make them for free from scrap leather that would otherwise be tossed out. You have probably already purchased the leather. The parts that are too small to do anything with - take a punch and start punching! I got three round punches on Ebay for $9.00 including shipping - sizes 3/4", 1", and 1.25". The center hole I make with a punch set I got from harbor freight for $6.00. (9 sizes from 1/2" down) With this set up I can make any size I need, and how many I need, whenever I need them. Just a thought! Karina

I use washers on the waxed canvas bags I make all the time. Although they can still be seen, they are usually on the interior of the bag used for added strength in attaching the leather handles to the waxed canvas bag. I am sure you can do the same for snaps. I simply use one of my round punches to punch holes in scrap leather to use as a washer. I make them all different sizes and keep them in a baggie for when I am ready to use them. Unless someone is using a round punch that is not round, they are pretty symmetrical in shape. Karina

I was told sometime ago that Hermes use to make their own zippers but now have them custom made by a company in Italy. I have two Hermes bags and the zipper has RIRI on it. Research lead me to this company RIRI Group. My mother has a Hermes Birkin Bag and that one has the name ECLAIR on it. I have the LV luggage set and the zipper just has LV embossed on it so I couldn't say who makes it or if it was made in house. My guess custom job in-house. Here is my take on this. Most hardware on high end brands are custom made specifically for the item being created. When they sit down to design an item, they also design the zipper that will be used all the way down to the color of the zipper tape and the polish being used on the metal teeth. If you notice, the zipper tape and the color of the leather bag are a spot on match. That is because they are custom designed that way. I couldn't say who has the best quality brass or metal zipper, but YKK has never failed me. Good luck in your search! Karina

The bid for this machine is now $610!!!!!! Ouch!!

Mine is a Franklin and I got it for $180 including the shipping. It took me three weeks of bidding on about 10 different auctions before I was able to get one that was in my price range. I already had type that I was using with my arbor press so all I needed was the hot foil. Didn't know there was different type for different machines but luckily my type worked with my machine. Early this year someone on Ebay was selling full unopened sets of type for $10 each. I got 6 different fonts and sizes. That Kingsley that is currently being bid on now would be a great buy IMO for $149, but I am sure by the end of the bidding, it will be much more than that which is what killed many of the deals I was bidding on. The ones I lost the bidding on, not one sold for less than $350 which was more than I wanted to pay for one, and it seemed that everyone waited to the last possible minute of bidding to throw in a bid that ran the price up. (I do that also - so I can't blame them ), but the prices have been on the high side these last several weeks, and if they are selling the accessories along with the machine they have been even higher. Karina

Yes, get a hot foil stamp machine, some letterpress type, and some hot foil and voila! I got mine off Ebay. The foil and the type were easy, the machine at a price I was willing to pay was a bit more difficult.

Ditto it's hot foil stamped.

Your photo is not showing up.

Can't wait for the finished product. As usual I am sure it will be awesome! Karina

That's just an easy way to round your corners. You lay a round object at the edge, and continue to cut straight lines all the way around and you will have a perfect rounded corner. Of course there are other ways to round your corners, this is just one easy way to do it. Karina

Awesome list, thanks for taking the time to share with us. Karina

For those in the Atlanta area and may not have heard, Tandy opened a new store on the Westside on Monday the 18th. (Thornton Rd.) I went and checked it out Wednesday and it is a pretty large store. Leather prices off the chart as usual with the new pricing structure, and this was the first time that I actually walked out of a leather store with no leather, but it is a really large store. The Manager said they will carry items that the Norcross store will not carry. Didn't see any - would love if they carried some Buffalo. I did load up on Hardware and dye - just no leather this go around. Karina

Welcome to the forum.Glad to have you!

Very nice, and my favorite would also be the black one. Karina

Do you mind sharing a pic of the edge done with the Carnauba and Angelus paints mix? I actually have the same tips I picked up from the same Ebay seller last year. **Edit: actually that was not the seller I got mine from, mine were much cheaper for the set. Here is a link to the ones I got: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321112978613?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 Actually I got my set for $35. He had a "Make me an Offer" button at the time last year and I offered him $35 for the set.

There is a post on here where the member discussed where he used rubber stamps and archival inks (The inks you but at hobby stores) as well as the rubber stamps with dye inks to make his designs. The post is still up, but unfortunately the pictures have been removed. Here is the post - scroll to the bottom to read his process: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=46247 Good Luck! Karina

Nicely done!

I got a side of Buffalo Leather when I was in Argentina last month and wow what a nice piece leather. I looked at the usual places Stateside and didn't see any Bison leather so thanks for the link. Also the url in your post is incorrect, just in case anyone else is interested it is http://buffaloleatherstore.com Thanks, Karina

Congrats! It is nice to have that exposure. Here's to hoping it brings you more business!! Karina

That is an awesome case from one awesome friend! Your friend is going to love it I am sure! Katrina

Nice job for your first ever leather project. Looks like you are pretty much on your way. Karina

Waterhouse Leather has some Awesome leather and free shipping in the US over $99. Springfield Leather, although the pieces I have gotten have not been Awesome, they have still been great pieces to work with. A few spots I had to work around, but that's to be expected I guess. The best part is that you don't have to order the entire side, you can order by the sq.ft at Springfield. Great option for those on a budget or just starting out. The shipping is very reasonable. They don't gouge you on the shipping like other shops. I also just got a side from Brettuns Village Leather - a very "unique" Leather shop, free shipping included on all orders, my first purchase from them and I must say I was extremely nervous, but it was a very nice piece of leather for what I paid for it. Karina

I am in the Atlanta Area also, I reside in Fayetteville (part-time), as I split my time between here and Central America. In the Winter is when I retreat to the warmth of Panama. I have not found another local leather supplier here other than Tandy. As for the GA Leather Guild, I fav'd them on Facebook, but from the looks of things, they haven't done anything since May. (I could be wrong and they just didn't update the page.) Haven't really seen any cobbler stores around either, but that's not to say there aren't any. As for shopping around at other Leather suppliers, that is a definite must. I get leather from several places now. I made quite a few bags out of the Kodiak oil tanned leather that Tandy carries. I have never paid more than $120 for a side. The last 8 to 10 sides I got were from $79- $99 each. The new pricing structure has it a $180 and that's the Elite price that I get. Can't afford that, so I had to shop around for better pricing and now use Waterhouse leather for oil tanned leather. I also Use Springfield a lot, but if it is something I need in a hurry like dye, buckles, etc..., I will run up to Tandy and grab it, but the new pricing Tandy have is just unreal to me. The leather has to be on sale at huge savings for me to get it from them. Karina

Kickstarter policy says that ..."if a funded campaign is not able to fulfill the order for whatever reason, they are required to refund the backers money, then they go on to say....."Kickstarter is not liable for any damages or loss related to rewards, is under no obligation to become involved in disputes between parties, they do not oversee the delivery of goods, and that Kickstarter users release them from any damages, demands arising from disputes......" Basically...I take this as use at your own risk. Once the campaign has been funded, Kickstarter will deduct their fees, then transfer the funds to the Company. If the company fails to deliver the goods, Kickstater has nothing in place to recoup backers funds, but relying on the company to act accordingly, and are pretty much saying "My name is Bennett and I ain't in it!" Karina