Tex Shooter

OK, Lets say you have a large number pocket knives, but don't know if the market is cowboys, truck drivers, woodworkers, fishermen, plumbers, tinkerers, craftsman, carvers, fireman and etc., so you sell a few of these knives cheap and see who buys them! Another way to use a lost leader sales technique is if you a very large number of items such as a banana or leather product that is not very popular, you can sell a few of them very cheap to several sales areas to spike a interest in them. You might use this where there are areas that don't use the the item at all just because it had never been introduced there. When I used these techniques, it was usually in conjunction with another sales technique.

This trade is no longer available!

I have 300 plated steel tubular rivets to trade. I have 3/8 inch overall tall rivets and want 1/4 inch tall ones. So there is no confusion I am showing a picture of the two rivets. The one's like I want are shown on the left.

I am not a very great stitcher, but I don't do any machine sewing as i use hand stitching for therapeutic value. If I can hand stitch this thin super soft stretchy bison ( like Deer skin or Elk ) I think that with a little practice any body can. Here is a picture of a piece that I saddle stitched this morning on the pony! You have to use a little less stitch pressure and more back stitching. I also knot the last double stitch. This leather is super strong, which is surprising given how soft it is. It easily stretches in all directions. I think that soft splits pose about the same problem, but I believe are a little easier to hand stitch. Hope this helps.

I glue before awl punching and keep the sewing line close to the pony. I even sew thin very soft top grain bison leather with decent results.

I poked myself with my awl a couple of days ago in the top of my thumb. I still don't know or can not explain how I did that. -- Tex

I am 77 years old and have lots of arthritis and it actually helps mine. Hurts when I am doing it, but helps the pain every day. I have found that using any part of my body, but not too much at a time actually help me stay mobile and able to do things. -- Tex

I hand stitch only because for me it is therapeutic. -- Tex

I laid mine out on card stock and sent it via snail mail. -- Tex

I want to take this opportunity to say something about the dies that Texas Custom Dies make and sell. I have several of there dies and are very happy with them. They are accurate, sharp and strong! I have one of there dies that has made thousands of clicks (I sell this product 500 at a time) and is still very sharp and clicks a perfect item. If you have a need for a clicker die, they are a fine company and you will not go wrong with them. -- Tex

What can I say, well simple, beautiful, and very top craftsmanship. -- Tex

A lot of people want to sew leather for a project or two, but don't want to spend a lot of money. "Springfield Leather" a advertiser on this forum sells a waxed thread kit with needles for $3.99 and a stitching awl for $11.50. These and a couple of things around the house like a sharp knife, a little glue, a ball point pen, a ruler and a board will work fine. With these items you can make a good looking project by hand saddle stitching. Cut your pattern on the board with the sharp knife (you may have to resharpen it a couple of times). Fold and glue the edges of the pattern together. Using the ruler and the ball point pen mark out a stitching line. (you might have to use lid tops also if the pattern has curves). Make marks along the stitching line for stitch spacing. With the pattern on the board use the awl for pricking holes at about 30 degrees from the edge. I tap the awl to do this with a small piece of wood, but don't try to make the tip go through more than about 1/16 of a inch. When this is done lift the pattern up and push the awl through each pricked hole, being careful to maintain the angle and not sticking your finger. Now you are ready to saddle stitch. You can use something to hold the leather to make the stitching easier, but I have doe it several times without anything while showing how it is done. Here is a sample of saddle stitching this way. -- Tex

Ya-all enjoy now, yea hear. -- Tex

A nice older Schrade knife also. -- Tex

If it is a diamond awl I have a idea that it is not sharp enough. -- Tex