tossik

Now now here. Don't say traditional media is useless. I do marketing and advertising for a living and online media is no where near as good or popular as traditional media. I see myself a a very tech savvy individual, and even though I do this for a living, I would not spend a dime personally right now on online advertisement. It is a complete waste of money, and a lot of where you would spend money on, one can do for free. Networking is most important in my opinion, so yes, join all kinds of social media outlets and network, put out YOUR OWN content, interact. Then you will see that search engine algorithms will pick you up as a leader in your topic/area. Then you will eventually gain more exposure which in theory should get you more sales. I can go on and on, but lets not bore people here

Awesome information and advice! Thanks!

So for now I figured to look for two machines. for larger and heavier items I will look for a cylinder walking foot machine, and for smaller items that require thin thread and light cloth I will get a flat walking sewing machine. Now time to narrow both down. Probably a better quality cylinder machine, and an older flat base machine. Gonna try to find both under $2000. Suggestions people?

thanks for the comment, but is that the best machine for my needs? Should there be only one machine? thanks.

Hi everyone, I have been researching machines for a little while now and having difficulties on narrowing down a machine for my needs. To date, all my work has been hand stitched (which is really nice, except when I spend few days stitching on larger projects) I want to use a machine to sew larger items as well as large production small items. So I would be sewing some wallets (needs thin thread) max 4/5oz leather. Lined belts 8/9oz leather medium to heavy thread. Small toiletry bags with leather canvas materials, saddle bags and briefcases/totes. So it seems I would sew anything from small to large items. Now should I get one machine or get two for different tasks? my top budget for machine is around $1,600+-. I will sew leather and canvas and maybe some felt. Any suggestions?

When I do straight edges on belts, I burnish with a straight cocobolo burnisher on my dremel tool.I go lowest speed, and I use bees wax to burnish. Very light passes and never press too hard. Then at the end I use a little resolene, burnish again, and finish with wax again hand rubbed. I have some of those belts I wear to work with slacks on almost daily basis with zero fraying been close to a year now. Few coworkers have my belts as well with no issues with months of use. I always use the best possible leather so its soft yet dense (oil the leather as well). I also always buy 10/12oz leather or thicker and then use a splitter to split to 6/8oz. this gets rid of loose particles on the back and gives me the cleanest leather to work with. Hope that helps!

SkullCanyon, who's the guy in Oregon? Im from here and would love to talk to the guy and perhaps stop by

Vergez Blanchard 9/10 & 9/2 pricking iron set still available?

Thanks for advice guys! Appreciate it!

#7 will be for a little larger stuff like bags and belts and such. But for now I will even use it on a wallet until I can get a #9 or #10. Do you have any sample of your stitches?

I just got a #7 Vergez Blanchard iron and need a thread to would look best with the size and look. Any recommendations?

I am trying to find this skin in the US with no luck. I want to make some leather gloves and want to use this leather. Any ideas?

I use John James Saddlers Harness Needles #4 and they works great.Thread is also a personal preference, you wan make it thick or thin, what ever you like.

Do you always use Blanchard N.10? Great work by the way!

electrathon, thanks for the critique. I really like square and that is why I didn't cut the corners. I have been carrying a square tip wallet in my pocket for last 7 months now, and the thing barely rolled at all, and I abuse it all the time. So for something like this, it will take years for it to roll

Hi Everyone, I just finished a custom checkbook cover. Used chrome tanned leather for cover and lined it with pig skin. For the inside I used 2oz veg tan, oiled and waxed for pocket and writing pad. Added a requested window on the other side. Finished it with a simple loop for a pen on the outside and added a Ukraine Freedom pin to the front per request. Edges were dyed, sanded, burnished and waxed. What do you think? This is my first checkbook cover

I am looking to buy Vergez Blanchard Pricking Irons No. 7 (10 and 2 prongs) or a No. 9 (10 and 2 prongs). Let me know if anyone is selling. I live in Wilsonville OR, 97070

How did you do the texture of the exterior of the belt? Looks really unique and nice.

Herman Oak veg tan works great for me. Nice and smooth finish.

Nice belt Bob. I like horizontal stitching. I will use that on my next belt. Mine are vertical stitches right now. I did not use screws or rivets. I Left the tan edge raw (with a little waxing) and the dark belt is burnished, so it is polished edge. I did not want to use any dye on the belt. And purchasing a prefinished belt with finished back kind of defeats the purpose of doing everything yourself and having the product hand made, no?

Just finished two simple dress pant belts. both are 1-1/8" wide. Brass hardware. No dyes are used on both belts, just oils. Saddle stitched the keepers. Kept the holes 1" apart with 9 holes total (middle hole is customers size). Let me know what you think

Olive oil. Then dye, then beeswax with neatsfoot. Buff buff buff.

How much is one pair of soles like that in Ukraine?

просто супер!

Thanks!