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I went down this path with the Z tools at first but since I got a Wrangler knife I haven't touched them definately not saying I'm as good as the pic or anyone else that does this sort of carving for that matter but it's definately easier to use a swivel knife than the Z tools as it's difficult to line them up properly at times especially for tight curves. If your still interested in them I know a place that may still have them, there in Australia though they don't have alot of turnover when it comes to stamping tools ie the Z tools I bought a couple of years ago had the same writing on them as the stamping tools my sister bought in the early 80's. One thing you do have to look for though are some are better finished than others my first Z99L leaves quite a poor cut compared to the second one I was able to get. Let me know if you want the info of the store I can't find their website at the moment but I know I have a business card at home for them. Cheers, Clair

I wanted to try some water based dye so I got some Japanese stuff mainly because they do a few more different colours compared to the Eco Flo and have been making them alot longer so I was wondering has anyone else used them the brand name is Roapas Batik. I only got a couple to begin with to see what they were like but they have quite a different smell ie a bit like vinegar. I must say I was expecting more of a water smell and the vinegar smell is a little off putting but I don't know if this normal or not so if anyone here has tried them can they tell me what they smell like. I was looking at changing to water based dye as I was having trouble with the smell of the Angelus dyes as I had been getting headaches from them I use a spray booth, mask, open window etc but the smell just seems to affect me I had the same trouble with Copic Markers when I did illustration work and them and Angelus dye are very similiar in smell. Thankyou for any help Cheers, Clair

I've purchased from them as well, good service and they have a few different things that the US and UK stores don't carry.

My husband forgot the camera again so I had to use my scanner, also had a bit of trouble with my laser printer as I'm nearly out of toner for a couple of colours I'd being try to push it for as long as I can but I think it's now time to replace them. So the samples aren't as dark as what I got yesterday, anyway here they are I expect someone with a bit more time and a fully functioning laser printer would get better results. Cheers, Clair

Thankyou for the tip Roo, I finally was able to give this a go after being able to do not much else due to a recent operation. I've also found that you can use a colour laser printer I did line work in yellow, blue and some darker toned browns to match the leather and they all worked fine. I use Illustrator and did a stroke of 1pt this is big enough to see properly and also to lose it in the swivel knife cut. My husband left our camera at work so I wasn't able to get any pics today but if your interested in seeing the colour transfer I can take some pics once he brings the camera home. Cheers, Clair

That's really cool thankyou for showing.

I swapped to an angle blade after having the same trouble you have and are much happier with it my main thing was I'd done alot of cutting out stencils with a scalpel blade in a previous job and the flat swivel knife blades just didn't feel right in how it obscured the line for me. The postage from Leather Wranglers was pretty good and from what I can remember was alot cheaper than what Tandy charges me to ship to Oz if you do decide to go with one.

Now thats some fine colouring there Nomad Love it.

Yep cool stuff I mentioned this place to Kevin a few months ago don't think it's the place he uses though, I was going to go this way myself except I found some special fabric that can go through the high end printer at work haven't had a chance to use it yet though hopefully soon. I'm still going to try Spoonflower though at some time as I would like to do a couple of meters of a design and the fabric I got I don't think is really designed for that. Let me know what the quality is like if you decide to get some made yourself. Cheers, Clair

What sort of thread do you prefer for Nylon I use C-Lon Tex 400 available here http://www.store.jew...ylonclc400.html it needs to be waxed but comes in lots of pretty colours it also comes in a lighter weight which I've used for watch straps etc. White nylon can also be dyed with leather dye and waxed afterwards if you only need a small bit of a certain colour. I also use a thread called Zircon (polyester not sure if it's available outside of Australia though) that comes in black, brown, yellow & white but the white can be dyed and waxed afterwards. The Thread Exchange sells thread in different colours and they usually have a good selection of polyesters and nylons. For linen http://www.royalwood.../cat14-17ar.htm or like Mad Max wrote get the Cambell Bosworth Barbour linen and dye & wax it yourself (I also do this at times when someone wants traditional thread). Cheers, Clair

Umm Lee theres more than one Bob here that makes holsters and posts in the gallery the Bobs probably don't know which one you are referring to.

Welcome Darren from a West Aussie. Cheers, Clair

Alot of people use natural gum rubber in their modified shop presses, I believe you can get it from McMaster-Carr. There have been a few threads which have mentioned it try a seach on holster press or gum rubber and they should come up. Cheers, Clair

Thats good to hear mine is on it's way hopefully won't be too much more of a wait.

Mended Bowl and I were quite into the tattoo thing a few months ago but like him I found it difficult to get the info I did post a few links here though http://leatherworker...wtopic=29327 which might be of some help I believe a couple of them have a few more samples since then. From my research the furniture by Polka is tattooed but some of the other furniture is actually lasered and has the coloured ink rubbed in afterwards. Cheers, Clair

They don't travel as close when they get to the main roads most of these stations are in the middle of nowhere ie a few hundred km's of dirt before they get to any bitumen roads. Yep they do move pretty fast though and you do get knocked around a bit when they pass if your going the other way. I think Australia is only one of the few countries that has triples you only get them in the north of the country though, I think there is about 2500 cattle on these trucks. That last trailer really makes it interesting for other drivers though as they can swing a metre from side to side. When we came across one driving up north a few years ago it scared the crap out of us of how much it swung needless to say we won't try to overtake it if we were to come across another one.

A supplier at work sent us some pics of the beef making it's way down from the Northern Territory and I thought some of you might get a kick out of it.

Thanks Nick, I'll take a look at it Thanks Elton thats good to hear, It's a bit hard for me to call the US because of the time difference so would Sheridan have an email address I've looked but nothing popped up. I see they have a facebook page but I'm not a member there. I see this place http://kingwood-leat...glas_tools.html carries the douglas tools as well, would you know if they are okay to deal with if I can't get hold of Sheridan. Thanks Art, I can do some things with my right hand, like using a computer mouse but anything that requires fine control I need to use my left. I do like the possibility of being able to do different sized grooves, I mostly work with 346 and 415 thread but occasionally do finer stuff so having a tool that can do finer stuff as well would be ideal. Thanks Ray, the Australian dollar is doing really well at the moment so I have alot more options available but I've dealt with Springfield quite a bit before and really like their service so I'll take a look at this one as well as I might be able to get it a bit quicker. Thanks again everyone it has been most helpful Cheers, Clair

I really need a stitch groover that can be used left handed, I've got the free hand one and the usual tandy one but I'm just not happy with them and I've ruined more leather than I care to think of at moment. I would prefer one with a guide,so far I've looked at the Versa Groover which gets good reviews everywhere but I'm not sure if it can be used left handed so would there be any lefty's here that use one. I have been able to adapt with everything else but this one tool is driving me absolutely nuts. Any help would be greatly appreciated Cheers, Clair

I have this happen quite a bit with the Birdsall (Australian Dye) brown, it goes away when you apply conditioner either neatsfoot, Bick 4 or Lexol all work fine the only way I've found to elimate it before you get to this step is to airbrush.

Now that's a fine looking bag Pat, well done. Cheers, Clair

I'm thinking of trying one of the Japanese skivers first mentioned here http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=29997 as I have trouble with the safety skiver as well. By the youtube link reddevil76 posted it looks like it can be used in either hand.