garypl

Bob - that is a very nice piece of work - I'm certain your wife was very pleased with it! Gary

Easy to outline the letters and the scrolls underneath using the squeeze bottles

Bob, I use Angelus and Giardini as well as some cheap acrylic paints I bought at Walmart - I dilute all of them with about 20% distilled water so they flow out the small tips. Gary

Jeff, thanks for the feedback. Agree with you on the rivet use for the side loops. I stitch my shell box holders by hand because of the small length of the stitch runs and seems easier than bending the box over on my machine to sew it! I made one of these for myself about 6 years ago and use it 1-2 times a week and other than looking a little beat up, it is holding up great, so I don’t think you would need rivets at the top edges. (I don’t glue the sides before stitching - just prepunch the holes and stitch them up.) Gary

Looks great Jeff! Did you sew it by hand or with your machine? I like the idea of using a rivet under the side shell holders - never have to worry about them loosening up. I might incorporate this in another pouch I am making for a friend! Gary

Tim, once again, beautiful work! How many hours would you estimate it took you to carve that handbag in the first picture? Gary

Single?

I have a hand held stapler from Tandy - don’t use it much, bought it because it was on sale! Does staple pretty easily. Gary

Buy some small 1 oz squeeze bottles with needle tips. Put the paint in and apply through the needle tip - pretty easy to do precise painting this way. I bought some at Amazon: 6pcs 1 Oz. Multi Purpose Precision Applicator Squeeze Bottles+ 16 pcs Needle Tips+ 6pcs Needle Tip Caps but they no longer sell this type. But you should be able to find similar bottles. Gary

I see W&C have some overstock "calf carving" sides on sale for $45 or $75, depending on the grade. Weight of 5-8 or 6-7 oz. Anybody worked with these? Sounds like it is a pretty fair price. Gary

Really nice design and finishing! That’s a handful of knife too! I especially like the decorative pieces at the tip and the mouth of the sheath. Gary

Get the inexpensive ($10) airbrush from Harbor Freight. The one with the plastic cups - works great and won’t break the bank while you learn to use it! Gary

Hi GiGi - that;s a nice, clean looking belt - good job! Gary

Thanks Hillbilly! I stamped the background and initials first, then dyed the whole piece saddle tan. I painted the initials with Giardini matte paint, then airbrushed the area outside the oval with Fiebings Chocolate dye. This is an easy project to make - cut 1 piece in a cross shape and stitch up the sides. Gary

Thanks Fred!

Good idea Fred!

Cut the line with a groover and apply antique finish. Other option is to use a creasing tool that is hot enough to burn the leather a bit to darken it. Third option is cut the groove with a groover or swivel knife and use leather paint to paint the groove. All methods should work to varying degrees. Gary

Nice design - I need to make something like this. My wallet is so stuffed full of cards and such I can't carry it in my pocket! Gary

I use a steel ruler and run my swivel knife down the edge - works great. For longer pieces I have a 4 foot ruler clamped to the edge of my bench that holds the leather securely and provides a straight edge to follow, but have to be careful not to mark the leather. Best to clamp the dry leather first, then wet the edge you will be cutting. Gary

I have done small projects with a food sealer. Works well - I put a smooth piece of thin plywood or another piece of leather between the project and the textured side of the bag to prevent the bag pattern from marking the leather. Experiment a bit - you will have fun with it! Gary

That’s some beautiful carving! Gary

Welcome and nice job on the holster! I’m curious about the cupped piece at the bottom of the holster - don’t recall seeing this style before. What’s the purpose? Gary

Thanks Falcon! Thanks alpha - it’s a simple design - just a cross that is stitched up the sides with the longest section flipped over for the belt loop. If you need dimensions I can measure my template later today. Gary

Hah! Those were my favorites too back in the 60’s along with their competitor Dog & Suds!

Made a belt pouch to hold 12 ga shells for my friend’s retirement party. Used 4-5 oz leather stitched with .8mm tiger thread.