Grumpy Coyote

Elementary question, but how do you construct card slots so they stagger? That is, how does the upper card not just go to the bottom, level with the card on the front?

Why not just use leather? Mounting them in leather is easy as cutting a circle.

I've been playing with brouging ideas like this (brogue is what that technique is called in shoe-making, I'm told). Marking the pattern is the tricky bit. I intend to print a pattern, then trace pretty much like you would do for tooling. Alternately, I may try this gizmo: https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/department/tools/punches/8054-00.aspx as you can set the basic pattern any way you like, and then fill gaps with a larger diameter punch.

Nuttin fancy, but my first arm guard. For a friend who makes bows. I have a few things I'd do differently next time, but it came out ok. I was on the fence about adding the strike plate, but it's grown on me a bit.

Dye it, bake it low temp, and make certain the dye/stain is very, very dry before waxing. I've had luck with a heat gun on small pieces - even a hair dryer works. No baking. Also, like Dwight said, you can just dip it. The heat is for the wax, not the leather. As long as the wax is liquid, and the piece is warm it should have the same effect. I keep a tiny crock pot (payed 10 bucks I think), just for my bee's wax. Often I'll bake a flask for a few minutes after dipping, but just to get the wax to settle into the places I can't reach.

At a guess, I's say the project was not fully dry - though it could be the type of stain. What brand are you using, and on what kind of leather?

Did you sand the edge flush before burnishing? I usually get this when my layers are uneven. A quick sand to level them out before burnishing usually avoids it.

Guys like this give proper know-it-alls like me a bad name. Tell him I'm coming over to take his "arrogant jerk" membership card back. It's too exclusive of a club for the likes of him.

So good. Beautiful version - and much improved. Do you have any shots of it open?

Rolled toggles. I use leather toggles all the time on bags, not a bit of metal needed. Also, you could use a loop and tie, or any thing else like that. Creative solutions to hard problems will sometimes make the best designs.

Is that 5 layers? Nice. Assuming you drill? Or do you pre-punch the layers?

I like the lacing solution. I don't usually care for grommets or lace hooks, the integrated loop works great.

Waxed leather will never come out light. Beeswax will always darken a piece several shades. If I need a light piece of waxed leather, I leave it natural and it comes up a medium-light brown at the lightest. It looks like you are going for Cuir Bouilli - which will always be darker than the original material. I'd say go for it. The hassle of bleaching isn't worth it, and a darker brown on black finished piece could be cool too.

All the time. I'm usually far more interested in the luggage, bags, armor, etc. than I am in the content of the show. That says as much about the lack of good content as it does about my passion for leather goods... I think...

Boxes, bags, cases... anything with a structure would be great. There are no rules, just experiment and make things. You'll find what works.