garypl

Thanks for the explanation about the quilter's half circle ruler - I might have to get one and give it a try!

Good point - I also stitched the buckle end as extra insurance!

I think it makes sense to pay a little more up front and not have to replace tools after a short time. I have a lot of woodworking tools and I try to buy the best quality - imhave many power tools that I have been using for 40+ years, so the extra cost doesn't amount to much when you amortize it over the life of the product!

I hope you took it back for a refund or replacement. I have a wooden handle that I bought from Tandy years ago and it seems to be holding up well with no problems.

Looks good Ryan - what kind of leather/finish did you use? Did you use a jig to align the letters in your name stamp? They are nicely spaced and even!

I bought my first machine a few months ago (CB4500) and it was setup by Bob at Toledo Sewing Machine. It has pretty much run flawlessly to date. I had a few questions when I started to learn to sew with it (I have never used a machine before this one) and Bob has patiently answered my questions over the phone. I think as long as you oil it regularly and pay attention to any unusual noises (and stop if something does not sound right), you will prevent any major problems and should enjoy many hours of enjoyment. These big machines can sew projects in minutes that used to take me an hour to hand sew. As a result, I am making more projects and having more fun! (I just do this as a hobby) Another thing to consider when using a local service center for repairs - these are very heavy machines! Moving one off of the table, into your vehicle, unloading it and then bringing it back to your home/shop is easier said than done. I would want to work with Bob over the phone and exhaust any possible fixes before I start thinking about packing the machine up and moving / shipping it anywhere! Gary

Looks very nice - do you freehand the decorative stitching or use a template?

I really like the paint job! Nice and clean detail.

Great job! She will love it. 30 hours of labor - you would have to charge someone a premium price to recoup your labor time if you were selling it!

I really like how you used the ostrich leather - nice job!

Here is a link: http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/69286-making-coad-or-sticky-wax-the-easy-way/?tab=comments#comment-453362

I made thread wax by melting beeswax with pine gum resin - bought the resin on Amazon - 1 lb bag was $15.95 and is enough to last 3 lifetimes! I think I found the recipe in this forum. Poured into a small round glass bowl - about 2" diameter with larger opening than the base so it popped out easily after it hardened. Just hold the thread against the wax puck and pull it across once on each side (for flat Tiger thread) makes a nice tacky wax coating on the thread.

You did a nice job, especially on your first holster! Stampings look like they are not really sharp - maybe the leather was a bit too damp when you stamped? I like what looks to be a vintage 1911!

Brian, your ingenuity amazes me!

I agree - the only type I use are welded!

Did you just jam the burnisher onto the spindle?

Sounds like you are not too far away from Toledo Sewing - I suggest you drive up there and talk with Bob Kovar - he can show you all types of machines and I know he sells Consew models. His information can be found in the ad at the top of the page.

Nicely made - I think I need to add a keeper to keep the tip of the collar flat.

Looks similar to mine - if it's the same type steel it will take and hold a good edge Yes, I keep stropping it and it seems pretty sharp, but steel appears to be stainless and is very thin. I will keep working with it and maybe invest in a better quality knife.

Thanks Roland - I thought about edging it, but I was concerned that the thin leather liner would not look smooth if I tried to bevel it. I'll look at the collar after a few months and see how it is wearing - I need to invest in some nice quality leather - a lot of what I have seems soft and stretchy.

Thanks! Do you line your collars with anything? Thanks Mark - I did tap the bottom stitches down some - I will have to hit them again!

Did you try to post a picture? I don't see what type knife you bought. You are right Mark - the thin blade I am using works best for small areas like wallet card holder edges. Would definitely be more work trying to get an even skive on larger areas. I have a round knife I bought from Tandy, but I need to sharpen it a lot more to get it to skive cleanly. Been thinking about investing in a better quality knife. What brand head knife do you use?

Thanks Alpha - I should have proofread before I submitted my original,post - meant to say I might resew the buckle end and maybe use latigo next time - darn spell checker! What type and weight leather do you use for the collars you make? Gary

I bought a CB4500 a few months ago and I am really happy with it. I also went back and forth trying to decide whether to go with the 4500 or one of the smaller models. i would rather buy a machine that does more than what I need and grow into it rather than buy lower and then wishing I had the higher capacity. You buy a machine that can sew 1/2" max and you always sew 1/2", you are running it at its maximum capacity all the time. Buy the larger machine and you are running at 60% of its max capacity. I have sewn leather from 5-6 oz up to 5/8" thick and it handles everything with no problems - I don't even adjust the tension when I change needles and thread and it sews great. I may eventually buy another smaller machine for very thin leather, but I'm still learning the ins and outs of this one for now! Gary

I made my first dog collar using a crocodile (or alligator? I don't know how to tell them apart) embossed 1-1/4" belt blank I bought from local Tandy store. I lined it with 3-4 oz veg tan and sewed it with 207 thread. Buckle and D ring secured with Chicago screws. Fiebings oil dye and finished with Resolene followed by wax. Edges are finished with two coats of Giardini black edge paint. I hope it's not too thick - I made it for my son's dog (50 lb pit bull named Petey) and I wanted it to be secure. I think it will soften up a bit with use. I hand stitched the buckle end with .8 mm Tiger thread, but it looks a lot whiter than I expected compared to the other thread I used - guess if it doesn't blend in more with use I can always reset this part. i think for my next collar I will try some bridle or Latino leather - any suggestions which would be better? i appreciate all comments and criticisms! Gary '