SmilinJim

Luv your collars and luv the dogs too. We took our dogo/? mix to Do Dah Day in Birmingham, do it every year. He's Repo, a rescued dog too. It's an event where you can bring your dog or pet ( seen ocelots, pigs and snakes, but 99% dogs). Spent some time looking at collars/leashes and checked into getting a permit to sell. Said permit is $300 for 1 day. Seems a bit steep. Keep up the great work and keep saving our dogs. Keep on Smilin Jim

Hidecrafters had a tape/dvd in older catalogs for a cobblers bag. I wanted to order but got delayed and don't see it anymore. Can anyone explain a cobblers bag to me, post a picture or point me to a source. Thanks Keep on Smilin Jim

Ken, you put your foot in it. I'm a hat person. I look dorky in a ball cap. Probably in a hat too, but heck, who cares. Got a hat project you don't mind sharing? I've had some ideas but that's as far as I got, oldtimers ya see. Keep on Smilin Jim

Okay Ken, about the practice part. I've got, ah well had, quite a few scrap pieces of leather of all kinds, retan, veg tan, chrome tan, upholstery, etc. Now I've got quite a bit of lace. Got any projects in mind? But seriously, it does work and practice is needed, at least by me. How about beveling the edges? I've read about it but don't seem to pull straight enough to get it even. Any tips there? Keep on Smilin Jim

Hi Nick Yeah, I'll sign up for any of your classes. Just let me know when, I know where. You should also post some of the other stuff you've done. Bet it would get you some more signed up for classes. Jim

Hi Nick Great looking stuff. You got more that wasn't fried? Post as many as you have. Were you teaching classes this past Saturday? Keep on Smilin Jim

Dang, it's amazing how well a good explanation and a few pictures work. I bought one of the plastic thingies last year and couldn't get the engine cranked. Been sittin in a drawer ever since. Got to try it again. Thanks Beaverslayer for a great (tutorial ?) or whatever. Keep on Smilin Jim

You are a true craftsman. During the period you would be in great demand and probably are now too. Keep on Smilin Jim

That is great. And your site is too. Show us some more of your lacing. You should teach. Keep on Smilin Jim

Not really that hard. It's a 7 part 6 bight turks head that is tripled. I tied a 7X6 knot then followed the lace twice more with different color lace. I used deerskin. But I have to add that I had some trouble learning some of the knots. Tandy has some good books on braiding. Jim

Happy Belated Birthday. Sorry I missed the party, but work got in the way. Wish you well with many more to come. Keep on Smilin

A couple of projects this week. I did a couple of the belt key rings in the Tandy mailout. Decided to change it and do a glove clip since I have to wear gloves at times on the job. The plastic ones always break. And no one can snatch mine to use. Had to use cloth gloves for the pic. My work gloves got sorta wet, muddy, yucky and all that. Been a wet couple of days. Also did a slicker using a piece of deer antler. Glued it into a round knob and covered with a three colors of deerskin lace.

That's really nice Don. I especially like the interior. You don't usually see much custom work on the inside. Another great project. Keep up the good work. Keep on Smilin Jim

Thanks folks Yeah, I wish I could braid that small to Mathew. I just used a 2mm round leather , put a loop in the end and covered with a 5X4 turkshead knot. It'll slide so you can tighten to the eyeglass/sunglass. Jim

I did a top for my table and stained with Fiebings paste antique. When I finished I had what looked like water stains in places. I know some could be from the texture of the leather but should you always clean the leather even if it looks okay? I've read that you could use alcohol but I'm not sure how much, which or when. Any insights would be helpful. I did a no-no and tried to cover by using a darker stain. Not a good idea either. Keep on Smilin Jim http://www.leatherworker.net/forum/index.p...pe=post&id=1788

I started work on a small bed table. I traced the pattern and cut and pounded the leather. Now it was time to stain. Should have asked this question first. Looked okay so I dyed parts black. Had my hand on the leather to steady the brush. Still looked okay. Stained with the Feibing paste. Looked okay, BUT and EXCEPT. Had some places that looked like water stains that was darked than the rest. Is this from oils from me ? How do you 'deglaze/clean' the surface first? I've read that you can use alcohol but just what is the method. I did a no-no and applied a coat of darker stain. Not what I wanted so I guess I'll start that one over. Any help will be appreciated. Keep on Smilin Jim

Wife was in the hospital last week with knee replacement surgery. While sitting in the waiting room I did an eyeglass strap to practice braiding (passing the time) I've done several for use at work. Wound up having to do about 3 sets for some of the nurses, but that was okay, I got free coffee. Photo1. The next is a couple of the belt keyholders in the Tandy Skiver mailout. Did one as a coin holder. My phone case. and the last is a 'work in progress' a table using wood I bartered for. I did some leatherwork for him and he traded me some lumber. Gonna post the questions in 'How do I do that'. Come on folks, there's a lot of members here. Post some of your work. I'd like to see what other folks are doing too. Keep on Smilin Jim

Thanks for the kind words folks. I can see more than three easily. But he liked it and now I have to do a billfold with that pattern on it. Guess I've got a chance to improve anyway. And just as an aside, we are doing this the old fashon way. He's trading me some red oak, cedar and cherry lumber for a few leather pieces. I feel he's not getting same value and he says the same. But I guess if everyone is happy with what they got out of the deal then it was a worthwhile endeavor. Keep on Smilin Jim

Not sure where to post. Guess you post the bad with the good. Just wanted to get across to some of those folks just starting. PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. A friend wanted a belt buckle done on a document folder. About 3 inches across. So I scanned the buckle, enlarged it, traced to a piece of leather and commenced to cutting and pounding. Didn't stop to engage my brain and think about the project just a little. He seems to think its good, I think its crap. Look at your pattern, clean up those odd lines and decide beforehand where you need to cut, don't do like me and say, "I'm experienced enough, I can just see it as I go." NO. I can't, Listen to the good folks here on the forum and they will help if you ask. Anyway, enough said. Keep on Smilin Jim

Thanks for the advice folks. Been doing about the same, just wasn't sure if it was 'correct'. Which brings up another question. yaklady recommends oil dye. I like the stuff myself. Seems to give a deeper color. BUT, I seem to always have a problem wanting to put on a heavier single coat of dye. As you apply some areas appear lighter as it is absorbed and other darker. I try to go back and have a more uniform first coat. Is that good, bad or just plain stupid. What methods do you folks use? Keep on Smilin Jim

On our construction site we fill out JSA or job site activity sheets. A steelworker wanted a folder to keep in his conex box. I liked it anyway. Keep on Smilin Jim

How do you finish the inside of your holsters. NOT lined holsters. Gum Tragancath to lay down the flesh side or just stain and rub? Any and all comments will be welcomed. Keep on Smilin Jim

Hi David I just snap over my belt on the back. That's the reason I angled the holster for easier access. I have a calculator case on the right side of belt a machete on the left and a phone on my belt. Too much to have to carry. I probably don't really need the gun. It's more for the guys with me that don't like our legless friends. In my 35 years of surveying I have only killed 2 snakes. One was a 4 foot copperhead that suprised me and the other was a 6 ft 2 inch rattlesnake that had my crew totally stopped. But it was a good little project anyway. Got to practice sewing and did first bullet loops, that was tedious, at least for me. Keep on Smilin Jim

Nice work Myriam, I'm just getting started in braiding. I've done a couple of fobs, leashes and quirts but not quite up to speed yet. Any tutorials you want to post count me in as an attendee. I've bought most of the 'right books' but would like a little real world info. Like your site but keep posting here. SmilinJim

I just made a new holster for my 38 derringer. I work in the woods and sometime's carry it with rat/snake shot loads. The belt loops snap in the front so it's easy to take on and off. Not a new idea, it was in an old Doodlepage from Tandy by Bill McKay. I just modified it a little. And I wanted it black, really. A tip for some of the newer members that don't have as much experience as me. If you accidently screw up a really simple saddle tan dye job you can cover with black. Just a tip I thought I would pass along. Not that I would ever possibly make such a mistake. I really wanted it black. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. Keep on Smilin Jim