charlescrawford

It sounds like this would be the perfect fit then because if I ever have arm issues at can be doctored which is a good thing if that time ever comes. Now Its just coming up with the money.....lol Never an easy task on disability. I met with the Voc rehab people but they want advertising plans and all that and no thank you. I live in Cowboy country in western CO and the area I live in there is no one/very few people doing sheridan style within 30 -45 min drive . Heck the local saddle shops don't even carry local saddles! All made over seas or fake leather stuff. I will be just fine doing stuff word of mouth. I know too many guys in WY and MY that did ads and these poor guys are working 70 hrs a week. I like my wife and kids and I love what I am doing now I just need something to make life easier and look more professional then my hand stitching.

That's good to know Mike. Now when you are using the machine to stitch how hard are you pushing or pulling the arm? Granted I know leather oz will be a major factor in the equation. But it is something I have been wondering since MS is a factor with me and things could change from where they are now.

Thanks for all the info it's been great hearing everyone's impressions. Now will this machine also do tack sewing or repairs? I know that it will go through almost 3/4" thick leather ( I think if I remember right)

I have been a member for a while but this is the first time posting. I mainly work with thicker leather mainly 5oz and above. I do a lot of dog collars, leashes, spur straps, holsters etc. I want to do more with tack and stuff like that down the road. Finances are fairly tight I am trying to take this from a hobby to possible business. I am disabled from MS and started the hobby as PT for my hands. So cost is a major factor since I am on disability. I have heard a lot about the Tippman Boss. I know it's a manual machine which is fine but I am curious as to what other users think of it. Do they love it or hate it is it even worth the money? One thing I like is that the Boss will go through thick leather easily and being manual I can control the speed better. Sometimes the legs don't cooperate as well as I would like them to with pedal machines. Is there other machines in the same price range or cheaper I should consider? I have just wasted so much money and time thinking metal sewing machines from the 50-70's or earlier would work only to find they don't event make it through a wallet let alone what I need. I have only been doing leather work for about a year. Thanks

Is this machine still available? I came across your your post when doing some research on options for sewing machines.

I just got a stylus yesterday that has made things so much easier. I also got some Saral paper at JoAnn Fabrics and that stuff rocks. It is a type of transfer paper that can be reused and comes in different colors which is nice. I use white for black leather for instance. Now I just have to do some carving and get things with that figured out. I have yet to do a pattern and bevel it in a way I like. The beveler and pear shader hate me lol

Ok cool thanks guys I will check them out. I have been into Leather Craft Library's site a few times now. I know for some stuff they charge a feww. Has anyone done that side of it? Just curious if it is work the $$ or not.

Does anyone know of any sites or resources that offer free downloads of carving patterns to try? I have a couple from Tandy and didn't know if there was any resources beyond that, that anyone knew of. Thanks Charles

Sylvia Thanks for the tip. When I dropped the blades off to be sharpened he measured the angles and said he had butter knives sharper then my blades. So I see on YouTube guys using a swivel knife that looks to cut a wider swath then others how are they doing that? Is it a special kind of blade?

So I went over to our local knife shop at our mall today and the owner is going to sharpen my blades. I even learned how to properly strop using my tandy jig. I was using the whole strop going forward one end to the other then backwards end to end. He told me just to go backwards that you never go forwards when stropping. I even found the Saral paper at our small Podunk JoAnn Fabrics. They only had the sample packs but it has enough paper to last a while and you can reuse it several times which my wallet likes. The sample pack ran $7.99 and has 5 sheets of 4 different types. I also got a 1/4 inch Filigree blade in today's mail from tandy that was pre sharpened now I know what swivel knives are suppose to feel and cut like. I am going to buy some more blades from the king website later in the week that someone linked to above. I see from the site that for each size there is a "thick" and a "thin" listed does this refer to how thick the cut is? Like a thin cuts a thin path where a thick cuts a much wider path? That is the first site I have seen the thick and thin blades. The only thing I don't get is how one blade runs $8.00 in shipping.

Thanks for all the info I will do some searching tomorrow now that I know what to look for

Yes the leather has been cased and I wait for it to come back to its pre casing color. The Home Depot stone is a wet stone you use oil on it when are sharpening on it. I may try to find someone to sharpen them tomorrow that way I know it has been done right. The jig I use to strop and sharpen is one I got from tandy

Sweet! I will look at Hobby Lobby and Michaels for this stuff tomorrow. Thank you so much for this info. Can't wait to see what you work on with it for later this week !

The stone I have been using is a double sided stone we got at Home Depot. One side is rough grit and the other side is smoother both are blue if that helps. Our local Home Depot that's the only sharpening stone they carry. It is for knives, chisels and other tools in the profile face of each side of the blades there are a couple marks but most of it is shiny and reflective.

I am fairly new to all this. I have 2 swivel knifes among with 2 blades and a stripping/ sharpening jig. Both of the blades I have sharpened on a rough grit and finishing stone. I have also strophe the blades a lot. Neither of the blades are cutting leather at best they are scratching the first layer or two. I see videos on You tube where Bruce Cheaney is using a swivel knife and the cuts seem effortless and the cuts seem to be a lot wider. What am I doing wrong? Are new blades not sharpened? Am I doing something wrong? Last night I spent over 2 hours sharpening, and stropping the blades and no change in my cutting ability. I am totally flustered and confused. This should not be this difficult.

I am learning as I go here. I needed something to do with my time and something that would for e me to use my hands and help with strength and dexterity. So I gave this a try and loved it. I am self taught with the help of you tube. I have yet to meet anyone here in town that does leather working. I would love in time to learn how to make saddles and chaps etc

Might have to look into lights. Right now my work space is the kitchen island then all my outline swivel knife cutting and stamping is done with a piece of granite I put in my lap to watch tv...lol Let us know how that "washable" paper works out. If it works will it be available here in the states?

Thanks guys for all the comments. I looked into projector film today at office depot wow is it expensive! I am going to look at target and walmart here if not Amazon. I tried to cast the leather then trace the pattern paper I was trying to press hard and I just couldn't see the marks underneath as all. I am a MS patient and I guess seeing faint lines aren't something my eyes are good at anymore. I am hoping the projector film will leave lines I can see.

I am fairly new to leatherwork. What is a good brand of carbon paper to use? I got the Office Max brand today and it sucks big time I can barely make out the lines. I find drawings I was to try to carve and then I resize it in Photoshop to the size of the piece I am working on. Then I put carbon paper under the sketch and trace over it. What are good brands to use? Anyone know of any good free/cheap sources for patterns to tool and carve? Thanks Charles