jessebeckham

i am curently working on a large duffle bag for myself. All hand stitched. It was/is a challenge laying out the design. It is the first Ive doen. (Actually the whole reason I started leather work... wanted to make a bag.... now a year later of making everything else, Ive finally started on it HAHA.) Anyways, I am using 9/10oz leatehr for a good heavy bag, and decided the best way to sew such thick leather was by jointing the edges. Took the french edger and made the 45 degree on end caps and inside the body piece of leather and sewed it up. I still have the other end to do before i worry about getting the top zipper on.... only advice I can really give is make sure you measure 100 times! good luck! keep us posted!

very nice!

looks good! If i hung all my first attempts (failed, lesson learned attempts) on the wall... I'd have run out of room. HA. Like David said, your second attempt on almost everything will blow your mind at how much can be learned from the first. Unfortunately, for me, I always get mad at myself on a second attempt thinking about what I didn't do on the first. Hang in there, be sure so share more work with us as you finish.

http://www.stevesfinethings.com/

good work! good photography too!

Thanks Dwight.

Thank ya!

Well... To be perfectly honest... I did do a small 4"x4" peice to check how the new Sheridan tools functioned. I contemplated practicing some more before I started the peice above, but figured if I'm gonna learn it I better just start head first. And also.... Thanks for the complements!! It really helps my mindset. I don't really know any leather workers others than the forum here, so you guys and gals are really a lot if help with your comments, suggestions, and critiques.

Thank you.

Well, thank you! I need to refine it a lot, but thanks!

Thank ya sir!

Here is a strap I made a while back. It is one of my favorites that I have made. Hand stitched too... that one cause some finger cramps for a few days.

Whelp, this is my first attempt at Sheridan carving. Please note I did not design it... I am a loooonnnggg way for getting that figured out. But I feel like it turned out pretty good considering. Note that I screwed up... The left side i cut the border in, and dint not plan to do that, guess i was really in the zone while cutting.

Thanks johnv ! I have since started the bag, and once I got the support straps sewn on i applied the oil and it helped tremendously! I decided against dying the whole bag, instead I've tooled the end caps and put a light antique on the ends... well end, Ive still got to tool the other end and get it sewn on. After I get it all sewn up im going to apply a little more oil and then a finish on it.

ha, I just have an old headstone that the engraver messed up. Its nice because it is slightly angled so my neck isn't entirely shot after a lot of tooling. Also use a chunk about 24x12 and 4-5" think. Luckily I don't have to mover it very often. Free from the headstone guy and big one was given to me by an older leather worker not using it.

I am making a duffle bag and would like to have the ends done completely in SHeridan style. the bag is going to be 12" tall X 14" wide X 23" long...... HOwever, I have not quite figured out the technique to laying out my own patters. And, yes, I do have the Sheridan Style Carving book, which is a lot of help with some really great information. SO, if you'd like to help me out, let me know. Thanks ahead of time!

Great advice everyone. I'm going to look into the MPB. Do you simply use it in place of super sheen? Also, when you apply neatsfoot, then a dye, does that not affect the application of the dye... I'm thinking Eco-pro water stains... Oil and water you know. Thanks! Gel antiques too...

Yesterday I saw on a Coach sale a small leather case/pouch for golf balls.. I think they held 3-4 balls. Cylinder shape with small zipper on one end. Could easily be done with a flap/slip closure.

Anyone?

Thanks for the tips all!

I have been doing some dog collars lately and would like your opinions for the best finish/protectant. I'm using tandy pro water stains and or tandy antique gel for dying... Have done super sheen and fiebings leathe sheen aerosol. The collars I've made are for inside dogs but am about to make a couple for hunting dogs an my dads aussi Thanks ahead of time!

I am wanting to make a nice heavy duffle/weekender bag for myself as well as to advertise and am curious what a good weight would be to use. I typically use 8-10oz on most projects but am not sure if a heavier weight would be too stiff. I will be using squared ends with rounded corners and plan to do solid Sheridan tooling on the ends... Just for anyone interested. -any suggestions on dying the large pieces and getting even color would be nice too. (No airbrush). Thanks ahead of time!

this is all good info... i too ran into these problems when i started out not too long ago... I have been trying to get away from Tandy super sheen experimenting with some other finished, but dont really have enough experience in any yet to make a big suggestion. I can't contribute too much, but just for your sake, I would defiantly recommend taking a piece of scrap ( if you have any left from the same piece you cut from) and use the same steps to try the different methods suggested above. That way if for any reason something goes terribly wrong, it wont be on the item you have already invested so much time in... carpenters always say measure twice, cut once..... I always tell my self, practice on scrap before the main project. just my 2 cents.

pm me, I have a pdf.