chrstn53

After you pattern the leather you can cut perfectly straight lines with the use of a metal yard stick, the thicker and wider the metal yard stick the better. Most people use a pattern/clicker knife or exacto knife, but I just use a utility knife which allows for cheap sharp replacement blades to cut straight lines.

Came across this collection while looking though the leather tool section on ebay. They look well made, but the seller states that they are unmarked. Cool designs that you don't see often, I thought someone on this forum would probably be interested in this collection. Any thoughts on who the maker could be? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Collection-Of-Saddle-Stamps-Leather-Working-Tools-Vintage-Lot-Rare-/311531505134?hash=item4888b985ee:g:bsoAAOSwUV9WoOq6

if you can get someone to pay up for them probably $400-$500, the problem is that most leather workers who are willing to pay up probably already have most of those designs. The Woodruff probably has some collectors value. You should shoot an email to Bruce Johnson, he could probably give you a better picture on price in the second hand market.

I second TinkerTailor, a flint knapping tool first thing that came to mind when I looked at the tool especially with the copper end

is it this issue

If I were in your same situation I would offer two different sets, one plain and one tooled. To cut down time on the non tooled set, I would use a distressed finished leather which would cut out the dying time. On the tooled set, I would use some of the celtic craftaids to cut down on setup/design time and practice practice practice. Maybe you could start selling the cases at the $80 range even though it is taking you along time to tool the item and just write that time off as bench/practice time. I also started out slow in the tooling area but after I put the bench time in, something that would have taken me 4 hours to do in the beginning I could complete in 45 minutes after putting in a couple hundred hours of bench time in. With all that said, the first thing I would do is try and figure out how to get my material costs down. I'm assuming that like most people who start off in leather work that you are getting your materials from Tandy. You should be able to cut your material costs in half by getting it somewhere else, or at least that was my experience when I started sourcing other places.

I'm putting this listing up for a friend who was a boot maker. He has Jones and Vining boot lasts sizes 7-14 E with half sizes up to 12.5 and sizes 7-14EEE with half sizes. He has them listed up on ebay for $35 a pair which is a pretty good deal since it would cost you $125 a pair from Jones and Vining if you order under 40 pairs. He is a motivated seller and I'm sure he would make you a great deal if you wanted multiple pairs. His email address is ericmitchell1959@gmail.com and he is right outside of Kansas City, MO. http://www.ebay.com/itm/jones-vinning-Mens-Boot-Molds-7e-14-3e-Lasts-1pair-any-size-/141831923943?hash=item2105d768e7:g:OMYAAOSwkZhWS7eR

This press is made by Tandy. They actually made attachments for the press to set snaps, buck stitch prongs...etc. I don't think they have made the attachments for a long time now, but they do pop up on eBay sometimes.

are the rigging plates marked with a maker?

I wonder if the guy was referring to the oils in the leather transferring to items in the bag. I have used some oil tanned leather in the past for card wallets that didn't feel oily at all, but after sitting in the heat of the day at a show I pulled out some of the business cards and noticed they they adsorbed some of the oils in the leather. So in tote bag form if someone put a cotton shirt or lite colored item in the bag it cold be possible for the oil to stain it.

PM Sent

If you got the money or find a great deal, the bell splitter is best. I personally have a cobra class 14 and it has worked on everything I have put through it (veg,chrome,oil) if it has firmness. The price on the class 14 has already gone up $150 since I got mine in March

Billy Hell, I started out with the same tandy thread before I found the Maine Thread company. Their quality is a lot better and the price is actually quite a bit cheaper plus its made in the good old USA. Just though I would mention it in case you haven't tried them. https://mainethread.com/index.php/waxed-polycord

I know tandy makes some stuff that can be applied to areas you don't want the dye to penetrate, I think its called super sheen. But for something like the picture you posted, you just need a deep impression and a light hand when applying the dye. A rag with some dye and a little practice on how much pressure to apply, you could get the same results.

I purchased the quick change edgers in 0 and 1 after watching Jeremiah demonstrate them at the auction. My intention was to keep them in a drawer in my shop for those times when misplace one of my weaver or king edgers. Now I seem to grab the watt quick changer more often because it cuts just as well at my others. Dirtcloud, the shipping system definitely does not work in favor of lightweight or small items. The shipping prices work out okay when purchasing hardware or leather in quantity compared to other companies. I've been in the same boat only needing something small and was put off by the shipping, so I went ahead and purchased some other hardware that I would be using later on to justify the shipping price. They offer free shipping on orders over $50 on the retail version of the site, which might work out better for you depending on the price difference. I guess you have to treat the shipping prices as if the nearest grocery store was 30 miles from your house. You wouldn't drive 30 miles to the store only to pick up a bag of chips, you would pick up other items you need to justify the time and fuel you used to get there.

Looks like an old Hackbarth

I have two little wonders and I love them. They are well built and made in the USA. You get a little more clearance than the ones you get at Tandy. I don't know about the other bench top presses out there, but the little wonder has an edge guide so you would be able to place the spots in a straight line. You won't be disappointed if you purchase one.

I love mine.. It has some limitations compared to a normal industrial clicker press, like a smaller cutting surface. When I use larger dies for bag parts, parts of the die hang off but I just maneuver them over and make another cut. Its easily adjustable to accommodate taller or shorter dies, plus you don't need power to run it. One or two pulls of the handle and you have a precision cut piece. I previously had a hand crank hydraulic shop press converted to a clicker, which worked perfectly until I started getting orders in quantities of 50 and 100. After cutting out all of the pieces for a large order, my shoulder would be sore for days. The mighty wonder has saved me countless hours and ware on my shoulder. Make sure you have a dealer account with Weaver if you decide to purchase one, they are about $900 cheaper than what you would pay on their new online consumer store.

Someone on ebay is selling something similar and they have it listed as a hidden stitch tool for saddle making, but I have no idea if that is correct. The tool is so big it seems like it would be used for some other trade. There is a tool guy on this forum named Bruce Johnson who might know what it is.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/HIDDEN-STITCH-SADDLE-HARNESS-COBBLERS-TOOL-HAND-MADE-LEATHER-WORKING-/311417020529?hash=item4881e6a071

That was an amazing find. I don't know if there is any scrap value, but it would have been a sin if they ended up being melted down. I can't imagine how many hours have gone into making those tools. If I were you, I would keep them all but if you figure out what tools you need you can post what you want in the wanted section and put up some of the tools you have for trade. Trade or sell, I would be interested in the gore and horse shoe brand tools. Congrats on the find

The press has been sold.

For the pm's on location, I am located in Evansville, IN 47725... About 1hr 30min from Louisville, Ky - 2hr and 45 Minutes from Indianapolis, IN and 2hr 30min from St. Louis, MO

A giant Channeler?

Cheryl, I appreciate your interest in my press, but I'm not looking to ship it. I looked at the original stated shipping weight of this press and it is 151 pounds. The steel plates probably add another 30 plus pounds.