Leela Valley Leather

So long as it works out cheaper in the end I cant see a problem, unless the Norwegian Customs people are a nightmare to deal with.

Here you go mate. http://www.widgetsupply.com/category/dremel-brush-steel.html It's my go-to for ANYTHING for my Dremel and a butt load cheaper than most places.

When you mention "paraffin" I assume you are referring to liquid paraffin and not wax?

If you really need the sizes just look the manufacturer web site, or a review website?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/02/07/fox_news_expert_on_solar_energy_germany_gets_a_lot_more_sun_than_we_do_video.html Something to be noted about the lady making the claim. "Shibani Joshi holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is married to Rahul Advani, a principal for energy investments at Energy Capital Partners in Short Hills, New Jersey Energy Capital Partners is a private equity firm dedicated to investing in North America's energy infrastructure. ... owns three natural gas fields" My poor mind is still trying to come to grips with her statement...

I'll second that enquiry!

Yes I'm joking but hey... Try everything. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270762679662?hlp=false

dont waste leather on snake gaiters grab some plastic down pipe for guttering and slit it up one side, cut out for ankle, arch and heal of boot, bit of tape or an old belt to hold them on for temporary work

ok... lots of views and no suggestions, guess I've pissed off the establishment some how. Nothing new there, I'll just find my own methods thanks folks.

OK, making a bag for a mate (dont you just love these jobs!?). He wants the logo below on the front flap (satchel style bag) and the bag should be black... So, the carving I can do, no problem there. Where I KNOW I will run into trouble is with the dyeing of the leather to replicate the logo... Any and all suggestions welcome (I've already considered telling him he'll owe more than a carton of beer for the labour...)

This (for me) applies to a few companies, one electronics company makes the majority of their income from ICs (integrated circuits) that are designed for landmines, I avoid any products with components made by them. In a similar vein, companies they try to impose the belief's of their owner/CEO/MD etc. on their employees. This has occurred once here (in Australia) where the company expected all employees to work national public holidays because the owner did not share the majority religion. And I see it recently happened in the United States, with a well known hobby supply chain. So the question is, are your purchasing habits influenced by the ethics and behaviour of a company?

more than just the point needs to be sharp (from what I understand), the sides also need to be good and sharp

The hardest part of making a "working" muzzle will be fitting the hard bar at the front so that it doesnt jab the dog when it's putting the smackdown on someone who didnt listen.

saddle stitch (two needle) for me gives a nicer result, used to drill out the holes but that removed too much material and left the stitching looking sloppy and half arsed.

for any Australians looking for the braided thread mentioned (polyester in this case not nylon) http://mrecht.com.au/products-categories/thread/

I wont be, and she was one of the people on my short list for a set of custom stamps. Back to topic: They seem like a good idea for a certain market I some times sell to.

I do custom work, so what they want they get, that's it. The PITA Factor arrives when they start trying to re-negotiate the price DOWN from the original quote AFTER you've made all their requested/desired changes to the original request...

Or more specifically would the image rendered on the leather be of sufficient detail to be read by a QR code reading app? My concerns are that the image be sharp enough to be readable and that the contrast be high enough to be recognised. The code below is the link to my profile here. Edit: if this were doable then the QR Code could be both your mark and your contact details in one.

very nice work, great solution on the stitching!

While I cant give you a specific grade for them, old leaf springs end up making pretty good knives. BUT I would suggest you get any knives you make from a leaf spring professionally heat treated once you have finished working the blank.

Does anyone else here have a PITA Factor adjustment to the price?

For the truly obsessive in having a sharp blade (those who have/do restore or own straight razors, myself included) a diamond lapping paste (best used on a backed strop) is the ultimate, just pick the micron grade. http://www.diamondtool.com/dialapng.html Note: 5000 grit has particles approximately 5 micron in size