Gray

Mike--first one's in process. Got quite an education on straps from a couple musician friends of mine. Course they're both very particular and they like completely different styles, so I'll do a few different ones and let 'em try 'em out. Quite an experience! --Phil

excellent work, mike. Thanks for the details. --Phil

Thanks Johanna and everyone else for taking the time to post all those pictures and sharing a little bit of the experience...I know how overwhelming a show like that can be. I understand the show next year is a little closer to home, and I may have to make it a point to go, if only for the inspiration. --Phil

Thanks for posting that information, guys. Much appreciated. Sara's guitar strap is the next project, thanks to you guys. --Phil

I'm really liking your work, Kevin...I agree...distinctive. Thanks for putting together that how-to...very helpful. Do you have a preferred source for your leather? I don't know anything about sewing machines, but is a Singer or something similar adequate for sewing the insides? --Phil

excellent, Mike...thanks for the info, and I will be in touch by PM. I'm liking that rolled edge too...don't believe I've seen anything like that before. Nicely done. Basketweave is very crisp, too. Care to share some pointers, or a <cough>photo essay<cough>? --Phil

Any experienced strap makers care to share some of the basics? I'm not a musician, have no clue...but I'd love to do a guitar stap for my daughter down in Florida, and I'm thinking it may not be a bad thing to add to my repertoire. She plays an acoustic six-string. She says she can have her guitar modified to take a strap easily enough. How do straps attach? Is there a typical range and method of adjustment? Lined or not? Padded? Any links or patterns out there? TIA. --Phil

um....wha's a "thumbprint?" tia --Phil

I'll bet if we all showed up at David's place we could get that bench properly messy in no time...nice job, guy. Fact is, I like 'em all, gives me something to think about...kitchen table's getting a little crowded... --Phil

Thanks for posting this link, Ken...I actually have a friend who was looking for a leather purse and didn't want one from a kit (what can I say...high maintenance...). This will give me a place to start at. Thanks! --Phil

Thanks, Steve...yeah, I'll make up some templates when I get the specs worked out. MSC lists polyethylene (LDPE) sheets in a 1/16" thickness...I'll order a sample, but should work fine. Problem is, I usually end up ordering too much other stuff...<sigh>

Haha...good old Sharpies...I've used Prismacolors and felt bad cause I was cheating...lol. Yep, works great on the stems...that's what I was wondering about...!

Lucky little girl, Kayla is. She'll treasure it. Cova colors? Nice design on the wallet too. Tooling is well-done...nice matting. --Phil

You've found your niche, leatheroo...nice masks. It does look like you're having fun with your airbrush...I guess I'll put that on my list...lol --Phil

Thanks for the kind words, everyone...much appreciated. Steve, that's exactly the kind of feedback I'm looking for. I'm usually my harshest critic, but I have to start somewhere or I'll never do anything. I see the flaws in the lacing and centering, the tooling, and symmetry. It'll be a while before I can invest in a clicker, and you're right, it may not be worth it. It may be posted elsewhere, but I haven't found it yet...can you tell me more about pre-shrinking the leather? Just like it sounds? Where do you get the polyethylene sheets for stiffening? Is there a finishing process or product that you've found works best over time and exposure? Thanks for the tip on using poundo board...hadn't thought of that.

]just finished these two...critiques welcome...

Welcome to the site, Elwood...looks like you been doing that a while. Very crisp stamping, wish mine was anywhere near as nice. Can't focus enough to tell...do you use another stamp to border the weave, just inside the bead? --Gray

Not a holster maker, but the leatherwork looks nice and clean to me. Well done! --Gray

Thanks for taking the time to show us how you do your seats, Roger...a pic is worth a thousand words. Your tutorial answered several questions for me, and I believe I'll be trying my first seat in the next coupla weeks using your technique. Great job! --Phil

Nicely done, Tim. I appreciate the information on the leather and finish you used...gives us an idea of what might hold up over time. Excellent airbrush work!

I agree with beeza...clean basketweave like that is no small feat...well done. I didn't realize latigo leather would take tooling that well. Do you have a preferred source? --Phil

Thanks for the welcome, everyone. Here are some pictures of some things I've made over the last month or so. I've got 6 or 7 seats and at least 1 pair of saddlebags to do over the winter, so that's what I'll be focusing on. Doing some smaller things now cause I'm hoping to get my carving up to speed first. Comments and criticism always welcomed, cause that and practice are the only way I'm gonna get better... --Phil

Hey, everyone...I'm Phil and I am an...oops, wrong room...I took up leatherworking after my last divorce (needed something I could do on a kitchen table, heh...she got the house and the workshop...) and decided to get serious about it this summer. Finally stumbled upon this forum a couple weeks back, and all I can say is wow...there are some really talented folks here! I'm busy trying to get caught up with the posts before I start asking a bunch of stupid questions, and I'll post some pics of my work soon as I can figger it out. --Gray(wolf)

dammit, just when I'm starting to get a simple cordovan kinda down somebody has to go and mention lefty braiding...can ya throw me a clue? --Gray (wolf) and yeah, I know I haven't introduced myself yet...I'll do that next over on the other thread...for now, hey, everyone! and cuz, nicely done tank panel...very clean.