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How about a Roll Top Desk, I will be getting one or helping my sister to make me one as most here are on the small side this after finding my husband using my wooden mallet to hammer in pins on the vinyl shed he was putting together. There are plans around for roll top desks on the net and I've seen audio recording studios desks that are quite long that have a similiar set up though they are usually made of metal. Instead of building the whole thing you could just build the top part and modify it to your desk length.

I have a pamphlet book with those in it, it's by Ron Edwards I don't have it in front of me now but I think they are called Trinity Knots. Birdsall Leather in Sydney stock the Ron Edwards hardcover books and I think it may of been in one of those as well, possibly More Bush Leathercraft.

Apart from Peter these two are my other favourites http://www.turtlemoon.com/acord/acord.htm http://www.xianleather.com/

Or Contact (adhesive book covering material) not sure if you guys call it something else overseas.

The only thing I've changed to is the freehand stitching groover, I was using the normal one but was getting a sore wrist trying to use it backwards.

Thanks for the great tutorial Timbo, I hadn't seen any good pictures of leatherwork that used the freehand groover, I'm a lefty so need one of those. Cheers, Clair

Please don't lump all women in this category it works both ways you know, my response to Noah was from someone who has had to comprimise and not on a hobby but a career. Noah I hope you find an alternative if what I suggested before definately isn't an option and that is up to you and your girlfriend to decide and putting designs on your knife sheaths is what you are interested in then you could possibly also look at carving in wax or clay (bas relief) then casting it into a flexible polyurethane and inlaying it into the kydex. If thats a possible alternative check out www.smoothon.com that should help you to get started. Kind regards, Clair

Noah I admit you are in a difficult situation with your girlfriend as those are her beliefs and from what you have written not yours, could you reach a comprimise in that you do you leatherwork in a different part of the house somewhere that can be shut off like a spare bedroom or garage where she doesn't have to actually see it with out making a consious effect. Or possibly even do it at your grandparents place. You obviously have respect for your girlfriend in starting this thread and finding out about alternatives but she needs to do the same for you as you don't have the same beliefs. You could start by letting her know that you wont do the leatherwork around her, won't show her anything that contains leather that she doesn't agree with and you will dispose of any leather scraps away from the house or in opaque bags so she doesn't have to see it. I hope you find a comprimise as leatherwork is a great hobby to participate in. Kind regards, Clair

I'm interested in trying a maul as well but not sure what to go for, I've only used wooden mallets so far (given to me so not even sure what weight they are). I came across these on woodworking site and was wondering if you guys thought if they may be alright for leatherwork http://www.carbatec.com.au/carving-tools/c...carving-mallets I'm going to have to order anything I want from interstate or overseas and if the Carbatec ones are alright it's going to save me some $ on postage as they are fairly local to me. Just not sure about the weights though, what sort of weight should I be looking at for a maul to do figure carving. I mostly work with 3mm leather and very rarely do borders or anything that requires a very heavy wack.. Cheers, Clair

Australia

I'm quite happy that I live in a place where you don't feel the need to have one

I put up an ad for a Lucris in the market place a few weeks ago, never got a reply though I didn't think I would. So I ended up going with what Bruce suggested as well though I haven't been able to find some metal plate as of yet (the quotes have been in the ridiculous amount and I haven't been able to find anyone who sells offcuts) so I've been using heavy plastic sheet out of an old work cryrovac machine. I'm only clicking 3mm leather though and would probably try harder to find some metal sheet if I was clicking anything thicker. Though I did buy my clicker knives from Lucris and are most happy with them so with the savings of buying the press over a Lucris Mach III, I'm going to be able to buy a heap more leather and get some more clicker knives from them. My press looks exactly the same as Bruce's and has no brand on it either

Depends on what side of the country your on if your in WA there are none that I know of if your on the east coast I believe Birdsall Leather in NSW run some classes their web address is www.birdsall-leather.com.au/ Cheers, Clair

Wow thats nice, much better with the new seat really sets it off. I would love to see these types of bikes where I live but unfortunately all the bikers here are only into the stock standard boring black Harleys.

Now thats a cool makers mark.

I came across this software called Knotsbag while searching for Celtic Knot ideas and thought it may be of some interest to a few members here. I've only used the demo version so can't comment on what the full version is like, it is quite fun to play with though. http://pagesperso-orange.fr/hypatiasoft/ You also need java to run it works on Windows, Linux and Mac, I've only used the Windows version though. Cheers, Clair

You also might want to pick up this book The Art of Hand Sewing by Al Stohlman, it should help you to learn what you want to know. I know it's helped me a great deal, you can get it from Tandy. Cheers, Clair

If you had been in Australia I probably could of helped as I've made molds that big and larger, but the postage would be fairly steep and you should be able to find someone closer to home. If you do want to try it yourself give this place a look www.smoothon.com they sell silicone and resin and have a few tutorials on how to do them I believe there is also a list of moldmakers on the site somewhere. I've used a few of their products and found them to be very good. Before you go ahead with this though check that it isn't stamped like HorsehairBraider mentioned, people in the resin/silicone industry don't like recasters and aren't likely to want to help you if they spot a stamp even if the piece is out of production. If it isn't or you can modify it enough, try and look for the old mold lines as this will help you in making a new mold. As this is a fairly complex piece it will need to be multi part. I wouldn't tackle this on you first go at moldmaking start with something simple, watch Smooth Ons videos and work your way up to it. Silicone and resin are fairly expensive and you want to get used to mixing the stuff first, building mold boxes, making pour holes and figuring out parting lines. Hope this is of some help Cheers, Clair

Every Australian on this forum is going to get a giggle from that.

I get to see a little bit of American football on our Channel 10 HD channel and are starting to understand it. It's the Cardinals that have the Australian Ben Graham in it isn't it I think he's the punter. Yeah I wouldn't of minded if the Eagles had gotten in quike like Sav Rocca apart from the fact he played for Collingwood.

That's the problem though Victoria has that Muggy humid heat and it's horrible, I'm glad I'm in Perth at the moment it's been quite nice here though it's supposed to warm up next week just in time for when the kids start back at school (happens every year).

yep definately want a report on it Caroline, I'm hoping that I can make it one year.

Weaver also have a new manual clicker out similiar to the Mach III it's on their website in the tools catalogue, not sure how much it is though.

Yes the Kings Park one was definately arson although the park is quite big it's surrounded by upmarket apartment blocks and quite a few residents saw someone acting suspicious just before it started so the police have leads there, thankfully it has cooled down the last couple of days so the firefighters have got a bit of relief.

Got to 42 degrees today our hottest day so far this year at 7am it was already 35 degrees and we had some low life scumbag arsonist light a fire in the national park in the city (Kings Park). Hit this afternoon and some other creep lights a fire in Two Rocks about 100kms from the city so now we have the whole metro area covered in a blanket of smoke. I think it's about time these low lifes were charged with attempted murder, my thoughts go out to the firefighters who have battled in the heat and smoke all day. Thankfully no one has been injured and lets hope it stays that way that is until we catch the damn arsonists.