skipj

Has anyone purchased a sewing machine from Leightons in Canada? Their Mach 1 looks like an Artisan 3000 but seems to have a much smaller capacity as to thickness of leather it will sew? The price seems good and the say it will work for holster and belt work. Also, I wonder how you would get it through customs? Skip

Please leave info on your business. I visited Sheridan a year ago and although I knew it is a center of leather craft, I couldn't find any businesses. I did see your store by accident but when I stopped, you were closed. SkipJ

I'm curious about the "older harder" leather, I assume that it hardens as it ages. Is there any way to judge the "carveability" of a piece of leather before buying it, or do you just trust the source? As to casing, always a problem for me, would a wood moisture gage work? Perhaps sometime I blame my casing for problems when it's the quality of the leather that causes stamping and carving problems. SkipJ

Is that hand stitched? It is so uniform for hand work, judging by mine.java script:emoticon('', 'smid_1') Who made the basket weave stamp you use? Great work, SkipJ

Belated happy b-day Skip

Our guild, O-MI-O, has lost, well can't afford, our present meeting place. It was affordable, free, and at one time, centrally located. We are a very small guild with a very small treasury so we are looking for somewhere we can meet free. None of our members has a house we can use for meetings so I thought I'd ask the group. We inquired at our local Tandy's store and they don't seem interested in hosting us. Perhaps they feel are meeting there would be to their disadvantage, or just impractical. Everywhere in my hometown I've looked at so far, community center, library, just rents. I wondered where other groups meet. Thanks Skip

Did you sell it yet? Skip

Does the "quality" of the stamp make a difference? All my stamps are Tandy. How do the stamps differ between mass produced stamps and the stamps from Bob Beard, Barry King, etc. Do the better stamps have more depth, how do they differ from Tandy for example. The price difference is enormous to me as a hobbyist. Skip

Thanks Art, Who made the No. 9? I saw the Luberto at Wickenburg. The new ones are expensive compared to the imports. Also have no reverse. Have you or anyone had dealings with the sewing machine company in Toledo OH? Their cowboy looks like the Artisan. Since I live in MI, they would be close to home if I had a problem. SkipJ

I found this on the Boss. It's informative and good for a laugh: http://forums.westernhorseman.com/cgi-bin/...ic;f=3;t=001004 SkipJ

When I took the holster making class at Wickenburg, we had an Artisan 3000 and 4000R on loan for the class. There was a question of whether the only difference between the two machines was only the arm length. One of our instructors felt there other differences. The difference in price, $1000, Would suggest that was true. Also, What is the number 9 I see referred to? SkipJ

I was there too. I took the holster making class. We had 11 in the class if I remember correctly. I was somewhat apprehensive about taking the class because I haven't been that active in leather work for some time and didn't want to hold up the class. I worked out great. We had every level of experience from pros to one rank beginner and no one was ignored. I learned at the class that it's been a five day class in the past; so we were pressed to finish our projects in three days. The instruction was outstanding. I took one other class which I enjoyed but being a half day in length not as much was covered. I have never been to Sheridan. I'm surprised there are not significantly more vendors there. Skip

We used "Goof Off" in a spray can in class. Looks like the stuff for getting latex paint off. SkipJ

I was asked to post a picture of the holster I made it in a class I took at the SW leathercrafters show in Wickenburg AZ. I had asked for help in buying some tools required for the class and Johanna asked that I post a picture of the holster when it was finished. I did most of it. Some of the sewing was done buy the instructors: John Bianchi and Matt, his associate. We made them in 3 days. A great learning experience. Most of the other 11 students did some stamping to theirs. One sewed hers by hand. SkipJ

A few years ago microfiber cloths were recommended for camera lenses. I use the ones for optics. Camera shops carry them. SkipJ

Thanks Regis, that looks close enough. Skip

Thanks whinewine but that's not what I need. It looks like a little paintbrush with the bristles cut off. It's used in John Bianchi's Holster video. Looks to be a solid polished metal bar on a handle. Skip

another question, has anyone heard of a "stitch chaser" ? It's used to press the threads into the leather surface after sewing. Skip

Thanks everyone for the info, wow that was fast. I found Siegels and Springfield both have them. I may have read oblong as oval. I have some of the Rampart punches They don't come in 7/8.

I'm taking the Holster making course in Wickenberg next month and I'm looking for a 7/8 " bag punch. Hidecrafters and Tandy don't seem to carry that size. Also does a oval punch differ from a bag punch? Skip