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Wow they are really nice Tina, I especially like the scroll holder outstanding work. Cheers, Clair

They look great Bob very nice design you've got going there. Cheers, Clair

I came across this link on another site I don't think it has been posted here before and I thought some members might interested it's located about half way down the page here http://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/resources/pubs_archive.htm (Leather and Leatherworking in Anglo-Scandinavian and Medieval York. Cheers, Clair

I gave it a try and it worked quite well on a piece of squishy belly leather also was able to use it on some dry kangaroo lace which wasn't wide enough to put through my splitter. This lace I bought years ago and is quite a dry finish compared to what you usually get with kangaroo it was also on the unusual thick side but by casing it and putting it through the rollers I can actually use it for what I bought it for so thankyou for the idea KyGuy. Cheers, Clair

Your welcome John, Pounder and Kate. Cheers, Clair

I came across the blog link on another forum I read and thought it may possibly be of use to some here http://www.petershallard.com/sales-psychology-why-people-wont-pay-your-rates/ if you read through the comments there someone asks about how it connects to selling artist goods. Might help those who are struggling with their sales pitch or to get you thinking about it and another link to send your customers to if they just don't get what goes into making custom handcrafted products http://thisishandmade.tumblr.com/ hee hee. Cheers, Clair

I've used Springfield for tools and such and have been very happy with their service but it's good hear a recommendation that they are good for leather as well, I haven't priced the sides yet to Oz I use heavier oz so I expect it will be about what you payed or a bit more. That's what I have work out though whether it's more cost effective to order from overseas or just order from the Sydney supplier once the shipping cost is factored in. Also I'm not sure if I'm just getting carried away with the Herman Oak, Wickett & Craig thing at the moment because that is what alot of members use here. The leather I'm using at the moment might be perfectly fine but until I try the others I don't know if I'm missing out on some quality aspects or not. It's very frustrating to say the least I spend too much time searching for supplies rather than doing actual leatherwork but then I should be used to it as everything else I've been interested in over the years I've had the same problem Perth just isn't a big market.

I know your frustration when it comes to ordering leather reddevil finally heard back from supplier which is good except they don't do smaller cuts on the Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig (would of liked to try it first before getting full sides), I wish they had put that on their website it would of saved me some time and I could of had some on it's way from overseas by now. I think I will be doing what BIGGUNDOCTOR suggested I'm gearing up for at least a part time business by the end of the year and need to find a good supplier.

Same here in West Oz there are two shops and one wholesaler, the two shops lets just say I won't touch them for leather I'm not about to remortgage my house for access to their expensive offerings. The wholesaler is pretty good when they have what I want in stock otherwise it's a wait for them to get stock from Sydney and they may or may not send what I want. The other Sydney supplier that carries Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig which I currently want to try seems to have an adversion of wanting to sell me stuff. I've been waiting over a week for them to get back to me. I think it might be easier just to use Springfield for Hermann Oak and deal with Wickett Craig directly even if I just have to get a full side.

Looking good there Nighthawk me like too.

Thanks dirtclod thats good to hear, I've done some more searching and still can't find out what the difference is. Though I did across some pics of dye bottles where some said suede/rough out so perhaps the dye I came across is used more for suede. Cheers, Clair

Just wondering can anyone tell me what the difference is between rough out and normal spirit dye is, reason is I bought some double shoulders the other day and three quarters of them are really nice but the other quarter is quite marked and as I wanted to make some rough out things anyway I thought I may as well use that quarter for it. But as I haven't made rough out things before I'm not sure as to why there seems to be dyes for that purpose is the rough out dye thicker, thinner or does normal spirit dye dry that side out more. I've looked at the Fiebings and Angelus websites and haven't been able to find out what the difference seems to be so if anyone can help with an explanation it would be most appreciated. Thankyou Cheers, Clair

Very nice Ray they are some fine looking guitar straps and Iike Luke said whats the secret to this mysterious actual white thread on dyed straps. Cheers, Clair

Thanks for that KyGuy, I've got one of those pasta rollers I think I'll have to give it a try. I have trouble at times with my splitter on dry leather and this might be a solution for those pieces so they don't just end up in the scrap bin. Cheers, Clair

Looks like my post went missing from yesterday anyhow just in case it doesn't reappear thankyou for the link reddevil it was good to see it in action and I agree about the Super Skiver. I know what you mean I don't do alot of woodwork but my sister used to and she let me use her japanese saws a couple of times they were wonderful to use. I'm kind of tempted as well but I don't do alot of skiving and it might end up sitting in a draw like the plough gauge I bought. So if anyone decides to get one I'm with WyomingSlick let us know how it compares to the other craptastic offerings around. Cheers, Clair

If you want to buy in Oz, NSW leather has some pretty light veg tan leather http://www.nswleather.com.au/ I bought some 5oz from their Perth agent so they should have some as well. It's not bone white more like an ivory but was alot lighter than most veg tan leathers. They do a few cuts double shoulders, sides and backs and their prices are pretty good I buy the Torino range and have been quite happy with it for use on lighter coloured work. Cheers, Clair

It is for leather it's a Japanese skiver I've seen pics of it being used in Japanese leatherwork books although it looks like a wood plane it's used by pulling towards you not away. I haven't seen one used in person though so who knows how it actually goes.

You have some really nice things there Chris

Frank your friend definately has some skill with the needle thankyou for posting it I like looking at different ways of decorating leather and this definately qualifies. Also nothing against your friend but it definately is possible to use ink in the process if he's interested he might want to check out these http://obritztattoos.tumblr.com/ http://obritztattoos.tumblr.com/page/4 http://electricsolos.com/home.html http://twohandstattoo.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-09-11T03%3A11%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=10 http://www.polkaproducts.com/furniture/tattoofurniture http://www.phebeparisia.com/p/tattoo.html http://charlie-goldthorpe.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-06-21T15%3A33%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=7 Tattooing rawhide http://www.facebook.com/pages/STATE-STREET-TATTOO-GALLERY/257732464699?v=info#!/pages/STATE-STREET-TATTOO-GALLERY/257732464699?v=app_2392950137 and from a member here http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=19531&hl=tattooing&st=0 This is all that I have found in the year or so I have been looking the trouble is no one goes into detail of how they are doing it. Again great work Cheers, Clair

Spinner I'm interested to know how liquid mask stuff goes as well, I've used normal liquid latex but the stuff I get here in West Oz turns the leather a funny colour and is only suitable for use with dark dyes so a review would be most appreciated if like Ken said you decide to pick some up. Cheers, Clair

Thanks Steven, the LA thing probably explains it then, I thought there was only three veg tan places left in America (Horween, Hermann Oak and Wickett n Craig) are there still some smaller ones floating around. Cheers, Clair

I had a look at the site and was wondering how is it different than normal veg tan leather does it use less water as Steven mentioned or is it just a marketing ploy. Clair

Nice design leatherrookie the blue sets it off really well. Cheers, Clair

Some people just like to try different things and I agree with Bad Hidess take on it. I'm not a tattoo artist myself but I've seen a few tattoo artist at work and have seen the effects they are able to achieve also colour dyes fade and I don't particularly like the look of colour paint on leather and although the laser stuff looks good it's just not what I'm looking for. Bad Hide I think it's going to be trial and error with whats going to work the artists doing it seem even more secretive of the process than normal tattooing. I was assuming it might just be vaseline as they would have ready access to it and might not be aware of the finishes available for leather but I don't know for sure, if I find anyhting else out I will let you know. Cheers, Clair

No worries Darren the more threads about this the better I say cause the few tattoo artists I've asked around where I live look at me like I'm an idiot, mostly cause they can't understand why I would want to tattoo leather instead of people. I'll keep an eye out on the other thread though to see how you go I'm thinking it probably is Vaseline but it would definately be nice to know for sure. Cheers, Clair