Rawhide

I bought on at the class he taught here in fort worth. I will post a picture of it when i get home. Great tool by the way. Peter doesn't even use a beveler, just the modeler. Marlon

Thanks Tina, I've been quite facinated by your coloring as well. You create some fine work. Marlon

That's funny!! What page is that in the Rule book? Nevermind, I don't have one!!

Actually Clay, Peter carved my name himself. It's amazing to watch him carve that. Thanks for the compliments. I still have a long way to go, but I'm going to keep at it.Marlon Thanks William.

Ok ClayB, Here's the picture you've been yammering about. It's not finished, but I will attempt to finish it. Marlon

I don't think I can help you with that, I think you're supposed to dissolve a teaspoon in a pint of warm water, but don't quote me on that. However, I would love to know where you got it from. As a matter of fact, does anyone know where I would be able to acquire crystallized oxalic acid? Marlon

THAT'S IT!!!!!!! Works great. Good pull skipj. Marlon

Ok. I would like a copy of the plans my email is in my previous post. Just click on the word "here". Thanks for the offer. Mucho gracias. Marlon

Clay, That is an amazing story. Now I envy you!! My story is I emailed him after finding some of his work, specifically the tool box he used to use to carry his tools in, and surprisingly he emailed back. I didn't really expect it I guess. Anyway when I heard he was giving a class, I immediately signed up. On the night before the class he was to arrive in Fort Worth. I waited at the Tandy store with the manager so she wouldn't be alone, until he arrived. Well the directions got screwed up and he got lost. The manager is really just getting to know the area, so she couldn't give him really great directions, so she asked if I would. ME? Talk to Peter Main on the phone? So, I get the phone, and he tells me where he is. I tell him to turn around and come back the way he came....THEN HIS PHONE DIES! Ahh! "PETER MAIN IS LOST AND I CAN'T TELL HIM HOW TO GET TO US!!" We spend the next half hour trying to call him back. Finally he pulls up in front of the store, and explains that his phone died. The store manager introduces us and he shakes my hand. Right away I asked "Can I call you Uncle Peter?" He laughs and hugs me. ME, PETER MAIN HUGS ME, an nobody from nowhere. Anyway we help him unload his class materials into the store, and we spend another hour talking and laughing. What a great gentleman he is. He told me that the best thing that happened to him that night was that I told him to turn around, and he did the rest. After the class, he signed my copy of his coloring technique book, gave my wife the carving he did in the class and signed it as well. I called him Uncle Peter through the whole class. I said that most people have an uncle that they would like to be more like and he fits the bill, so from now on he's Uncle to me. I'm sure he won't forget that. I also noticed, that just about every piece of work he created, had a story behind it. He is a master artisan and I feel ever so blessed to have even been in his presence. He is truly one of a kind. Marlon

I actually bought mine from WoodCraft. It is nearly black in color and made by Norton abrasives. Marlon

Jim, I'd be interested in trying to make one. Are you selling the plans? If so, how much? Let me know. You can email me as well here.

Thanks Romney, That's almost the same thing I am doing. Just not nearly as sophisticated. I'm sure with you having to make knives, you've developed this to suit your sharpening. Nice work. I just use the different grits of wet/dry sandpaper. 800, 1200, 2000, then a thin piece of leather loaded with rouge. I just don't use the leather to strop my swivel knife, only the 2000 grit. I use the leather as a final hone for my head knives, paring knife, etc... I'll be looking for that guide. Thanks, Marlon

mikey, You can make little sleeves for your fingers from scraps of leather & some elastic, but I'm lazy, so I went to Joann Fabric and found some leather quilter's thimbles (I think they call them thimbles). Works like a charm. They are in the quilter's section, made of white leather on one side, and multicolored elastic on the other. Slip them over your pinkies and off you go. Marlon

you know Scouter, I had no idea who he REALLY was until I got to this forum. I had one of his books already, but it was patterns designed by Al Stohlman. Once on LW.net, someone posted his website and I took a gander and WOW. I do feel fortunate to have taken a class under him. Shoot, I'm almost envious of myself, if that's even possible. Marlon

I disagree just a tiny bit. When I lace, I punch each hole with nippers (you could also use a single prong chisel). I use a 7 stitch per inch wheel to space them out. The reason I do this is to eliminate gaps between the lace, and it completely covers the edge. I usually don't use triple loop unless the stackup of leather is really thick, but there isn't a rule to say you couldn't use it. The method that I use is described in Al Stohlman's book Leathercraft Tools on the page that describes the lacing nippers. Enjoy your lacing!! Oh, and I also punch the corners with the nippers and enlarge it when I get to it. I usually go through that hole twice as well as the holes on either side of the corner hole twice. Marlon

I know it goes against everything we've learned over the years, but what happens is the leather will give, because it's soft, and you will eventually round the corners of your blade. In talking with Peter Main, he stresses to never strop on a piece of leather. He places his rouge on a piece of Crescent illustration board. I was using a piece of manilla folder rubber cemented to my strop board (made from mdf) and he said that was fine. In some books they'll tell you to strop on a business card. That's the right idea, it's just better to strop with a few long strokes than a lot of short strokes. You have a tendecy to rock the stroke if it's really short. I hope that explains my reasons. Please don't bash me!! Marlon

That may be it Bruce, but I don't see any tools under the tool sale link. I do remember a bunch of pages of used tools for sale, I just don't see anything like that on their site. Marlon

I know about them, but that's not the one I'm looking for. Thanks though. Marlon

Make yourself a 4 sided strop using 800, 1200, 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, the 4th side use a strip of veg tanned leather. I like to use a thin leather, 2/3 or 4/5 oz. Which side up is dependent on who you talk to or what book you read. I like the grain side up personally. Load it up with White or Red jeweler's rouge and you have a strop. P.S. Never strop your swivel knife on the leather. Marlon

I remember in one of the Shop Talk! magazine a company that specialized in refurbing used tools. They had several pages with pictures of the actual tools, and also a website that was kept updated with what they had in stock. Anyone know the web page for that company? Thanks, Marlon

Clay, I'm going to post a couple of pictures soon of what we created in Peter's class. Kathy, Peter asked if we would like him to come back ( :wtf: like that's a real question) and do the applique embossing class. He said that it is a really popular class. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long for that to happen. Marlon

Kevin, It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Even though you gave me a heart attack!! Also, that's not the first time I've heard that I look mean. I don't intend to, but I guess that's my facial structure. I am anything but mean. Hopefully we'll have a chance to meet again. (Maybe at the Peter Main embossing class!!!). Marlon

I will post pictures of my piece. I didn't quite finish it, but I will post it. Also, I have pictures that have him in them and I would like to get his permission before I post them to the net, at least as a courtesy. the class was fabulous. Tina, he'll (Peter) go anywhere. all you have to do is email him and find out what his requirements are for a class. Price will be subject to a number of things I'm sure. You can reach him through his website email. Marlon

Thanks whine. I may just sign up for those Friday Specials. Marlon

I just wanted to give everyone an update on how the class with Peter Main went. In a word...super, awesome, fabulous, outstanding, remarkable, etc... (so I can't count) Peter was the nicest guy and gave us valuable information. If anyone has the chance to take a class under Peter, don't hesitate. This guy is well worth the time. We had a fantastic time learning some of his little tricks to great carvings and coloring. I sure hope to take more classes from him. Marlon