dpixel8

Woah.......

Appreciate the ideas and trust me I planned to buy for instance, the rubber cement from a store like Wally World. However most of the specialized items, I would prefer to give my business to a company like Springfield. I am a strong supporter of small businesses, being one myself as well as feeling that it is needed to get this economy back on its feet. Supporting big-box stores only encourages low-wages and an inability for parts of the public to get ahead. But I will step off my soapbox, as that is neither here nor there in regards to this hobby nor thread. Another question for Glen, I looked more into the vaja cases. Found a few video reviews online and for those phone cases that seem EXTREMELY rigid, I just cannot foresee how they are made that way. Is there an example out there (possibly visual in nature), that sort of shows the technique? I realize how you said it needed to be fully wet molded, but the form of some of those class just seem like there is some sort of plastic or interior piece that keeps the form. Unless I just really don't have a clue as to how hard certain leathers are on their own.

That's really cool. Looks like a lot of old and interesting stuff.

That's so cool! Wow. I'm going to have fun messing around with techniques.

Nice. That's another thing I've been looking for advice on, is certain techniques. I realize a lot of the work here seems to be of the more traditional style whereas I think the stuff I'm looking at doing, might be considered contemporary (?). For instance, I will be attempting an iPad cover/case. Restoration Hardware has one that I would like to base it off of, but I can't seem to figure out how the larger flat areas (front and back basically) are so rigid. Is it that a piece of thin plastic is stitched between the leather to give it more rigidity? Don't really feel like tearing the thing apart just to see... Another example of something id love to try but not sure how the hell they do it, is the cases for phones and other various electronics made by VAJA Cases (vajacases.com) I can't seem to visualize how they possibly make them as rigid as they do. I am assuming again that they cover some other material with leather? I can't see how wet molding would allow you to get a finished piece that would stay in place without being a "pouch" style. Sorry if there are Any bad misspellings and grammar issues. On and iPad and not the easiest for discussions..... Oh and the wife gave me the go-ahead on the drive, Cyber. Lol

nice! Much better than Tandy's membership cost. Also what are awl blades for? Thought I only needed an awl for hand stitching? Sorry if that's a dumb question. PM inbound.

Glendon, thank you very much. Always helps to spend less at the start. I am hoping I'll enjoy doing this. Need something to get away and relax after spending so much time with a one-year-old. That's great on the end-punch too. I actually thought about that, just cutting by hand or by template, because I couldn't really figure out what size I needed. Some of my straps aren't QUITE 1", so I was just guessing. Better to try it out, figure out what I need and maybe just stick with doing it by hand. There's some more craftsmanship there as well, which is part of the reason I'm doing this. I'm a designer by trade, and part of this is getting away from the computer and creating something that you can hold in your hand. And good idea on the scrap bag. I didn't really know if that would suffice, but I can actually get 2 of those for less than the cost of one cut. So that will help. Probably going to pull the trigger and buy this stuff sometime today. So if I have more questions, I'll keep this thread alive. Hopefully it can help someone else who's in my shoes. Think I'll be subscribing to this forum if you guys have financial subscriptions. Want to support what I see as a great source of information and fantastic group of people. And again, Cyberthrasher, If you are really willing to do that and make some swatches for me, let me know what your time and materials are worth and I'll PayPal Gift you.

I'm actually speechless as to how helpful you guys are. I'm a co-founder of a firearms forum with ~500 members, and we LIKE to consider ourselves helpful to people who have questions. However you guys are beyond helpful. Doing a search and reading this forum, I've learned more from this specific thread than in most other threads. I'd like to sincerely thank you for the help. Plus you're making it so I actually understand stuff and my WIFE listens to me as to why I "need" to get into this hobby Cyberthrasher, if you would be willing to do that, let me know what I could pay you to have you do that. I'd be willing to throw some bucks your way for it. And here is the updated list as to what I have at Springfield, if I end up ordering this stuff. Let me know if this list looks good as to what I need to get started. Thanks again!

Wow, Springfield is a LOT less expensive than Tandy. Holy crap. I do wish they had a sampler of dye's though. I might have to pick something up for that. I'd like to take and have smaller samplers and then have a piece of leather for each one so I know what I've got. Anyone know the best place to get something like that? And I do want "tooling leather", correct? For the stuff I want to make I mean...

You guys are awesome. Very cool. I appreciate it yet again. That's extremely helpful and I'll start pricing things out and figure out the best route to go.

Thanks Northmount. Saw that thread too. So is Tandy going to be the least expensive place to get this stuff? And what's their shipping like? I think there's one about an hour from here. Also, any idea (you can just guess) what thickness of leather's the straps and items I showed are?

You guys are extremely helpful (and nice about it). I've encountered too many forums where the noobs get shunned off or just told "do a search" (when there usually isn't the specific answers they need/want to hear). I will absolutely use my Dremel a bit as well. Great idea. Regarding the contact cement versus rubber cement, is the rubber cement going to come apart AFTER I get the stitching completed? Only reason I ask is because I wouldn't want any sort of de-lamination (say on a watch strap) Hopefully my questions help someone else out on here who is new. Trying to cover all my bases, and when I start working on this stuff, I'll post my projects in here first so I'm not creating new threads all the time. Thanks again guys. Anything you want to add, feel free. Oh I know another question. I do some kydex work for a holster maker on the side. I have an arbor press. Assuming I could get some dies for that for doing the eyelet/rivet work?

you rock man. Thank you so much. And this is something sort of what I would like to make too. Seems not TOO difficult. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbvplFLjDmM&feature=plcp

Ken, Thank you!! (my wife will thank you too when she sees I've saved some money...) I was looking at a more traditional beveler like the safety, and wasn't sure how difficult they are to use. But MUCH less expensive, so I'll give it a shot. Also forgot to put needles and stitch awl, as I wasn't sure sizes or which awl to use. And I DO want to use the manual awl. I plan to use a wheel for marking, and then will punch holes by hand. I think it looks much more handmade, rather than using the diagonal-style punches. I didn't see anywhere a granite/marble slab. Can I just use any? And what is it for exactly? Just to support the poundo board rather than my workbench? Sorry if that's a dumb question... You guys are really helping me out a lot! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

Appreciate that, northmount. I did do a search, however I'm not really sure what kind of leatherwork that I'm looking at here (watch straps and simple money clips/wallets). Is it "non-tooling"? Also I watched this gentleman's video and it SEEMS as though I had most of these tools in my cart. However I want to make sure that 1) I am not missing something and 2) maybe I have stuff in there that I DON'T need. For instance, I'm not really sure what size bevelers I am going to need. Or which finishing "materials". Here's my list: Waxed Thread 25 yds. (22.9 m) Natural Tandy Pure Neatsfoot Oil Quart Fiebing's Acrylic Resolene 4 oz Tanners Bond Craftsman Contact Cement 8 oz. Eco-Flo Gum Tragacanth 4 oz. Eco-Flo Leather Dye Assortment Pack Replacement Blades 10/pk Mini Leather Punch Set Super Skiver Craftool Oblong Punch 3/4" (1.9 cm) Protecto Board 12" x 12" Craftool E-Z Adjust Stitching Groover Craftool Edge Beveler Sz 2 Craftool Edge Beveler Sz 4 Craftool Overstitch Wheel System Multi-Size Wood Slicker Tooling Leather Remnants Economy Single Shoulder 4-5 oz

Fantastic forum you have here. Was pointed this way by a few fellow leatherworkers who have given me a little info. I would like to know the basic tools I need to get started. I put together a list of what I THINK I needed on Tandy, and it came out to about $300 with a few pieces of leather. But I'm just not sure, so I wanted to ask the pros. The work I'd like to do SEEMS fairly simple and easy to get started in. I don't want to really do any stamping/branding. I'm more into modernish styles in my life, so I'd like to just start out at least, with some stuff like these examples. I'm a big watch collector too, and I really like this guy's work (I actually know him, which is why I'm posting his work. He's too busy to really give me TOO much advice and I don't want to bother him) Any guidance you could give me would be GREATLY appreciated. Here we go: