Rawhide

Sounds like you need a lacing fid. This is a small tool that has a blunted point and a tapered shaft that is used to open or "swell" holes. I've also been known to use a marlin spike (pocket knife version) to swell holes.

I can't explain much on the splitter, but Beaverslayer wrote a tutorial on cutting lace that's pretty handy. Click Here

Yeah I know. A lot of folks feel the same way. I guess I'm pretty lucky. I live about a 15 min. drive away from them. So it's easy to just drop in. I also noticed they have some exotics for sale now. Pretty pricey for me right now, but they had alligator, ostrich, lizard, fish, and frog skins. If I remember correctly, the alligator was about 450.00 (that's U.S. not pesos) for a 6-7 cm (across the belly) gator. It may have been 20-24 inches long. Marlon

Kate, Sorry for the late reply, but he did say this summer on the website. I can't remember which month though. He said that's what they're telling him. He said he doesn't expect it to be up and running when they say it will. He says he'll believe it when he sees it. On a lighter note about them, they have started to carry Artisan sewing machines. Steve will be in town for an onsite appearance in late April. Marlon

I asked Ron, the store manager, that the other day. He said they are working on getting the website going first. They are going to have it where you can order online. It's just a lot of quantity issues with the ordering process that's giving them trouble. He said they are planning to have the new catalog out this year, but the website is first on the agenda. Marlon

Look in Al Stohlman's Leathercraft Tools book. I think it's in there. Marlon

I can't stand these things, They love my pool and i have to fish them out everyday. I hate 'em . Come by my place and you can have all you want.

Try this page from S-T Leather. I think I saw some there at the bottom of the page. Marlon

Thanks John, Good luck in making yours. I have a feeling I'll be making a lot more. Marlon

This is what I do. Plus I keep hotel cards as well, because the card contains your personal information until the next customer comes along and needs a key, then they erase it and recode it with that person's info. After learning this, I now keep my hotel cards and use them for spreading glue and cut them up when they aren't useable anymore. Marlon

Barry King sells them, but I think you'll have to call him to get one. I don't think Montana carries it. Marlon

Tim, The only problem with the stirrup bolts would be that I would have to offset the lamp mounting hole and it would look asymmetrical. Thanks for the compliments Tim. CollinsMS, Thanks for the compliments. BW takes patience and straight lines. Most try to rush it. It took me an hour to tool one side of that stirrup. Marlon

Ian, The cord is ran through a hole in the bottom of the stirrup, and up the inside of one of the sides, then it goes in a groove under the block that holds the lamp assembly and out of a hole in the center of the block. Spider, Aw Shucks! thanks for the compliments. I hope to help as much as I've been helped. Marlon

Thanks Tina. It was fun to make. Marlon

Funny you said that. I've already got "orders" for my mom and uncle. My wife tried to steal this one, so I imagine she's attached it to her list without saying so. Marlon

That's great Anne. I'm sure glad it worked out well for you in Ca. You're blessed to have instructors like Wayne close by, he sounds like a gem. Hope it continues to go well for ya. Take care. I will mention to everybody a HC you said hi. Marlon

Hi Ann, how are you? Miss you at HC. I did get the idea from the George Hurst Video. Very good instructions on creating this piece. I didn't know they sold the lamp kits as well though. I'll look for that next time I'm in there. I think i got mine from home depot. Thanks for the compliments Kathy. I did think about tooling on the interior as well, but decided against it. I did however use a camoflauge tool around the border of the tread cover. The next one will be for my uncle. I may embellish it a bit. Marlon

Not my idea, but a great one indeed. The only wood that's used is the block that goes across the top. There will also be a base made of wood that the stirrup will sit on (It's still drying with stain which is why it's not pictured. The stirrup is made of hard plastic. I'm sure you can find wooden stirrups though, but I'm sure more expensive. Thanks for the compliments. Marlon

I use Barbour's unwaxed flax sinew (#5 cord), and wax it myself with beeswax. Marlon

Here's a project I've been working on lately. I've got almost finished. All I have to add is the base for it to sit on. Enjoy, and as always, feel free to critique. Marlon

You may try cement thinner. Barge makes one and I'm sure other manufacturers have it as well. You may also try naphtha, but if denatured alcohol doesn't work, chances are naphtha won't either. Marlon

Hey Beav, what's the name of it?

I don't use tandys anymore I use a red jewelers rouge that I bought at woodcraft. Pete is absolutely right about Henley. You have to be careful not to cut completely through the leather. Marlon

Actually Pete, it's not the tip that gets rounded with a leather strop, it's the corners of the blade. Since the leather gives way to the pressure from your finger, you actually make the leather cup around the blade and it begins to form a "U" shape around the blade and rounds the corners off. EMSNUT, I would strop the ceramic on card as well just to keep myself in the habit. I use Cresent illustration board, kind of like a buisness card, but I can cut longer strips. I don't know if leather has the same effect on the ceramic or not, but better safe than sorry. I had to regrind all my steel blades because they had been rounded, Until Peter Main hipped me to this, I was clueless as to why my blades wouldn't remain sharp and cut with ease. (Now I know). Marlon

Welcome back Beav . We missed you! Hope all is well, and thanks for the tutorial!