Tim Schroeder

Thanks, These took 60 hrs because I didn't really have a clue what I was doing. I just watched Lisa Sorrell video's on YouTube and figured it out as I went. I think I could probably build them in about 40 hrs next time. I am starting myself a pair that will be fake Alligator with tooled uppers. Leather is just a hobby so I only work on them an hour or two everyday. Thanks Tim

Finally finished my daughters boots. I have made a few pair of lace up boots but these are my first pair of Cowboy style boots. Made a lot of mistakes but learned a lot. Can't wait to start myself a pair.

Hi, I not an expert but have built a few molded holsters. If you want to call we can talk about what you are looking for. 214-505=8400 Thanks Tim

The rubber tire on the motor is a bobbin winder tire off any home sewing machine. Any sewing machine shop or Ebay will have one. A standard home sewing machine motor. Mine is an AlphaSew. You will need a pulley for the tire to fit on. Any sewing machine shop or Ebay.

Hi Machine head, I really haven't had time to mess with it yet. I have talked to Harris at Pilgrim Shoe and he sounds like he will be very helpful. He has an adjustable edge guide that will make it possible to run two rows of stitching. I am making a pair of boots for my daughter that were suppose to be done for Christmas. I will take them to a local shoe repair man to sew them up when finished. Hoping to get my Landis going after these boots.

Still trying to find out what size thread and what kind of thread is used for sewing soles on cowboy boots. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Tim

Just bought a Landis 12 and need to find out what size thread is used for sewing soles to the welt of Cowboy boots. I need to order a new needle and awl. Also what kind of thread. Thanks Tim

Well I managed to get the machine home and unloaded without to much trouble. She definitely likes to lead whether you want her to or not. Looks like everything is working but it needs a good cleaning. The Auction guys opened the top cover and let it fall in the back and broke a big junk out of the back of the top cover and then shoved the giant broken piece in the middle of the machine. Any suggestions on how to go about cleaning 60 to 70 years of oil and dirt. I would like to know what size thread and what kind of thread is used for sewing the soles on Cowboy boots. I am going to buy a new awl and needle and need to know what size to order. Another question will be how to sew two rows of stitching since there is not any adjustment in the edge guide. Thanks for any help, Tim

Thanks Machine Head and Glenn, Appreciate the info. Thought I was going to have to take dance lessons there for awhile. Hope she likes Willie, Waylon, Merle and Johnny. Thanks Again Tim

Thanks for the warning/advice. I am a wannabe boot maker. I am hoping this machine works since I was not at the auction to check it out.

This machine just has Landis 12. No letter. I paid $610 and I will have to drive 3 1/2 hours to go pick it up. Figured I could drive there and back next Sat. In the picture it was threaded so I hope it is in working condition. It was from a boot shop auction. My mistake. Looking at the pictures closer I can see MODEL F on the base.

I use Hidepounders theory on casing. Look at his gallery. I slide the piece thru a sink full of water until the bubbles are coming out. Not until they quit coming out. Then place on flat water proof surface and cover with a piece of glass or plastic for at least a 1/2 a day. Then uncover and wait for it to start to turn back to normal color. I have all my patterns copied at Staples on thick paper and put the pattern on the leather and put my glass on it for 5 minutes or so. If the leather is to wet your paper will get wet. IThe paper should not get wet a tear when tracing with a pen. If the pen is trying to tear the paper then the leather was to wet. The lines on the leather should be dark when you remove the paper. That will help you tell how long to wait before starting. You can cut with it pretty moist (not mushy, the leather should feel a little firm) and bevel but it should be getting back to normal color when you do all the decorative stuff. Backgrounding looks best when you wait until it is back to normal color. If you need to add moisture to keep tooling I spray from the backside a let it sit for a few minutes. If you are leaving natural after tooling you should have a dark burnished look to the impressions especially the shading and beveling. Adding more moisture seems to make a little of the color away. If you can't tool all of it without adding moisture I cover halve the piece with plastic and tool all but the background then uncover the other halve finish tooling and start backgrounding in the area you tooled first. I get the most color in the impressions when I let it set under glass or a piece of plastic for at least 24 hours before uncovering. You can see where I sprayed around the edges on the backside after I cut this piece because the outside will try to dry first. In this tooling you can tell I beveled it with it a little moist. A lot of the beveling doesn't have the color it should. I dye and antique finish everything so the color isn't as noticeable as if you wanted to leave it natural. Tim

I just bought a Landis 12 from an auction. I think the price is probably right if it works. My question is: Are all Landis 12 machines curved needle. This is just a landis 12 no letter. Thanks for any help.

I also put this piece on her suitcase and a luggage tag. Makes it really easy to identify her suitcase quickly. She travels a bit for work. I made this stuff 2 yrs ago and my tooling has improved quiet a bit since.

I use all Fiebing's dyes and antique finish. I started using a damp t-shirt wrapped around a block of wood to wipe the excess antique finish off so it only wipes off where there is no tool impression. Thanks Tim

Nice looking work. I love the the look of all black with tooling.

Finished in time for my wife to take to a big meeting in New York tomorrow. Everything she has is this same color. Wallet, checkbook cover, make up bag and phone case. There is also a tote bag to match.The tooling is a little different color. I sprayed to much Wyo-sheen and the med brown antique finish didn't tint the tooling like the the rest of her stuff. Everything is dyed with 50/50 light brown and chocolate mix with med brown antique finish. The stitching on the computer case is 346 bonded nylon using Tandy's diamond hole punches. The black ones, not there new pro line. The holes are a little big but my machines only sew 207 and it looks kind of small on a case this big. IMO I bought Bob Parks (Hidepounder) book on drawing patterns and it has really helped a lot but still have a long way to go. Thanks for looking and the positive comments. Have a great New Year, Tim

They are they pieces to a molded computer case for my wife. So it will be black with brown or tan tooling. I will post some pictures Tuesday or Wednesday. Thanks Tim

I would recommend Barry King Tools. He has everything in stock and at a descent price. Usually he gets early orders out that day and always by the next day. He even made me a special size beveler. I thought there was a size missing. I have 62 of his stamps and 3 or 4 of his swivel knives. I have been using the LeatherWrangler swivel knives in three different blade thicknesses. Took a while to get use to but they are great. Here is a few pictures of my tooling with almost all Barry King stamping tools. The new flower center is a Chuck Smith that I just bought of Ebay from Michael Fay. He said these were Clinton Fay's tools and they are selling some of them. I like the Chuck Smith flower center the best. Just ordered the two smaller ones. Good Luck.

Just decided there needed to be a new post for this section. Thought I would share a couple of drawings and the tooling from them.

Love the look of your tooling. They look great!

Love tooled boots. Those look really nice. I hope I can make my boots look as good as those. Can't wait to make myself a new pair of boots after Christmas

Yes, it was wet formed. I used a giant zip-lock baggie with a reducer fitting glued in the side that would let me hook up my vacuum cleaner like a vacuum press. I still had to take it out and work on it a little bit. No pictures of the inside. It was wrapped and shipped a couple of hours after I finished. The flap is lined with 2/3 oz. Herman Oak and the inside was lined with some slick black fabric. I used magnets to help keep it closed. I put a thin piece of padding front and back for a little extra protection. Thanks for the comments.

Last of the tooled items for Christmas. Just one more Dopp Kit with just initials. I make my wife ask her friends and co workers what color and everything about what they are getting so they really like what they get. Everyone likes the stuff I made her so everything this year was this same color. Thanks for looking.