immiketoo

Those are cool. Are they really old or did you make them?

cALL THE STATE POLICE And ask them if they can help you. I'll bet they can show you a few pictures.

I have been a professional donut eater for the last 18 years, but I have also worked as a bicycle mechanic, at a large gun shop, a teacher and a martial arts instructor. I am currently a patrol sergeant and I am in charge of my department's firearms training program. I can't wait to retire and make leatherwork my full time business. Mike

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

Phil, you are hilarious! My mom would NOT appreciate the skull on her purse AT ALL! I should hide one in the floral pattern somewhere just for kicks and see how long it takes her to notice it!

What do they smell like?

Nicely done!

Thanks Northmount. I'll take a look. This is a daunting project for sure.

That's awesome! "Hey, it doesn't quite fit, but no worries. I'll just make another tomahawk!" Let us know what happens!

You are a brave woman. I would have HAD to have the hawk present for the build. I guess that's the mark of a beginner

So I want to make my mom a tooled purse for Christmas and I have no idea where to start. Does anyone have a series of patterns I could look at/choose from? Design ideas? I've thought about going to look at cloth purses, but I am really at a loss. She likes a bigger purse and I think I want to do a cloth liner. Please send me in the right direction! Mike

Did you have the hawks to fit them or did you make it without them?

Thats really cool. I do not have the patience for that at all...how long did that take you?

Since we have been chatting in the other thread, hello and welcome! I grew up in the Madison area out in the country, so I will take honorary cheesehead status, despite living in Illinois. Plus, my mom lives near Spooner, which isn't too far from you.

I have had an interest in woodworking for years and I have just never been brave enough to start, probably due to the expense, and space. My dad had a wood shop and it took up a lot of space in the basement. I think I need a set of grips like that! I have a new 1911 coming, and I think those would look great. Do you sell them? Horse trade? Let me know. Mike

BTW, did you make the grips for your 1911? They are amazing! What kind of wood is that?

It looks good! Although the un-dyed piece has a lot more visual depth than the finished product. Maybe an antique finish?

You're welcome! It's tough to get started all by yourself, especially if you aren't familiar with the basics. I used my airbrush to do the colors, then I antiqued the whole thing. Last, I buffed it with sheep's wool. I do have a variety of small brushes for detail work as well, like the flower centers, and for other techniques like dry brushing. If you can't get your hands on patterns, pick a design you like and carve that. The process is the same. Here are a few holsters I have done. Alas, I have only been doing this for two months, so I am by no means an expert, but I am recently familiar with your dilemma, so take my advice with a grain of salt Mike

Oh yeah, Check here too: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showforum=214

Ran, there is a process for tooling, and most of what I've found online doesn't really show much, so I'll describe my process for you. First, I choose a pattern based on the design that I want. Sometimes it's a custom drawn design, other times I copy something just for the practice. Once I have a design ready, I copy it to the leather with a modeling tool. Then I cut the pattern with a swivel knife. Then it's beveling, shading, backgrounding and decorative cuts. Tandy has some basic videos you can watch by clicking this link: http://www.leathercraftlibrary.com/t-instructional-videos.aspx Also, I found this video and it's pretty good. Here's something I did last night from a Chan Geer pattern book as a practice exercise.

I just had this conversation with my mentor yesterday. I told him that I believed that leather hasn't changed in hundreds of years, and that the techniques for working with it shouldn't either. It just seems to me that there is a RIGHT way of doing things and then there are cheats or shortcuts. Now, the reason things developed the way they did is because leather workers used what was available at the time, and perhaps had electric engravers been available we'd all be using them instead. An exception to this is dyes and the application of them. I have little interest in making vinegroon and I am very fond of my airbrush. I suppose the same argument against using it could be applied as with the engraver, except that there is a tangible benefit and I believe it improves the craft, whereas the engraver doesn't seem to. Odd, I just argued for AND against my own argument. I must need sleep...

Thanks Ran, my holster will be migrating to Wisconsin this afternoon! I like the color of yours and the smaller reinforcement piece. My next one will be similar to that I think. As for the tooling, just try one. I won't say it's easy, but it is definitely rewarding and people seem to like it.

Mike, Ya gotta take care of yourself! Never worry about delay in posts when your health is at stake. I will say you should get yerself an iPad or something if you really feel that keeping us up to date during heart issues is that important! Glad your back with us though!

I have found that I use the leading edge of the blade as a guide to follow the line. On a curve, I leave the leading edge slightly outside the line. I do this because the trailing part of the edge cuts a smaller radius than the leading edge. For straight cuts, I lower the leading edge and line it right up with the guideline. Hope this helps.

Or paid by the hour...