BDAZ

http://hancockfabrics.com/cutting-mat-56-in.-x-33-in.-3546926.html Cya! Bob

My main "earners" come in 3 different widths and 3 different colors. I buy drum dyed hides which cuts a number of steps off the process. I offer lined, for an extra charge, or unlined f I offer customization in the form of a name or other stamp choices and choice of a few other items, at no charge. If I don't have a custom order I emboss which looks great but faster and time is money. I pre cut my leather when I receive my hides and will shortly have dies to reduce the production times. I can offer a 24 hour turn around, at an extra charge, easy because most of the time consuming work is already done, and I offer wholesale at 35% off retail. My typical wholesale order will run $1,000 or more. I will invest in anything I can use to maintain the hand made, high quality look and feel of the product and make them faster and cheaper. Cheaper = more profit. Some days I feel like I'm doing piecework in Mexico but never when I deposit the checks. I have been investigating dog collars for some time and I feel there is a market niche I could address. It does mean making off the shelf product for sale at shows, investing in the right equipment and coming up with a slightly better design than what's currently out there. In addition it will require investing in exhibit space at craft and dog events and having sufficient inventory. I hope this is helpful. Cya! Bob

I don't have the patience or whatever it takes to listen to the window shoppers.I'm going to just go for the premium and above customers. What you don't get is that a few of those window shopper are the premium customers.Every potential customer is gold and until you understand that you will fail. Good luck! Bob

First off I I think one has to decide whether one is in a hobby business or a real business. If you are just interested in making some money on the side or just breaking even, then blow off the business you don't like. Turn away customers who are looking for a deal (who isn't) and take it personally. If you are interested in having a business that also gives you the opportunity to be creative and artistic, then you need to develop products that are competitively priced, and quick and easy to produce. This involves investing in the production equipment required to produce high quality at lower than custom prices. I attend a lot of dog shows and that is an excellent venue for selling BOTH production collars and custom ones that will cost significantly more. Money is typically no object for those folks but an off the shelf collar or harness is a foot in the door. As for determining what a yet to be made product is worth to each individual customer..a fools errand IMHO. Best of luck! Bob

Spence, please elaborate a bit on your issues. What do you make, what market have you lost, what are your margins and how do you cost your overheads, time and materials. Sometimes charging more and selling less is a very good marketing strategy.. Cya! Bob

Rooster: Common Courtesy: if you ask for help and some folks ask questions, answer them... Cya! Bob

Does anyone know if the Weaver clicker plate adapters will work in a Harbor Freight press? Thanks, Bob

Few Questions: 1. Did the reverse ever work properly? 2. Have you changed needles and thread since it arrived? What size needle and thread. 3. What happens if you manually reverse the machine without flipping the lever. 4. Do you have a washer under the stitch lever plate? Cya! Bob

I replaced the bobbin spring with one obtained from Bob at Toledo and the machine is PERFECT! Loking from the top, you can not see the transition from two layers to a single layer. In addition, my products requires 60" of stitching around the circumference and every time, when I get back to my starting point, the machine drops the last two stitches in the same holes as the first two! Cya! Bob

One of the really big markers can be used for "block" coloring of 3D stamps. You can also use metallic sharpies and brush them along the raised part of the stamp..I also use the big markers for edge coloring. Cya! Bob

Try metallic silver acrylic paint from the craft store. Works great, inexpensive and lasts. Cya! Bob

Both are metallic and have had no noticeable wear. They were from the Art section. Cya! Bob

I recently tested acrylic paints from Hobby Lobby against "leather" paints and found no difference. I made a test banjo strap which I have used 2-3 gigs a week for the past two months and there has been absolutely do degradation of the painted areas with either paint. I only used one coat and sealed with two coats of resolene. Cya! Bob

The center foot seems to be adjustable with the two set screws or should it be all the way up? i haven't messed with it but does seem to be a possible parameter to play with. I have never had visible knots on the back..guess your top is a little too loose. Thanks! Bob

Thanks! I just completed 25 items and the leather used ranged from 3-4 oz to 6 oz. I replaced the upper spring with a spring from a bicycle hub quick release, much lighter, and I lightened up on the foot tension. The single layer 6 oz (drum dyed veg tan) was perfect. No knots visible from either top or bottom and the transition to 2 layers of 6 oz is perfect. The items that have a single layer of 3/4 oz look a bit like your pics. The knot is visible if you look for it but below the surface, though not in the middle. All my work is drying from wet forming but I'll post some pics tomorrow. How do you have the center foot height set? Cya! Bob

I had a 74 HD 28 which was one of the nicest sounding guitars I have ever heard but traded it for a banjo....too many instruments, not enough fingers! Resogat sound like fun! Cya! Bob

LOL!!! Cya! Bob

Great stuff! Enough straps for a bluegrass jam! You '28 has a really nice piece of rosewood for Indian! I still have my original strap made by Roger Sprung on my original guitar, a '63 28 bought new. All three of us are a little worse for wear. I used to tour with Sprung and we used to play at the Fiddlers Convention in Hiawassee every year. Back to the bench!! I am filling an order for 30 musical leather items. Cya! Bob

I decided to make all my Christmas presents this year. Probably will be your most expensive Christmas presents EVER! Cya! Bob

I would NOT use a water based stain on an item expose to water.Find an alcohol based stain and soak the straps so the dye permeates the leather, then buff off excess and Reolene away! Resolene is a waterbased acrylic and sets once dry but won't dissolve the alcohol based dye when applied. Cya! Bob

Chuck, you were responding to the wrong response: The damaged I was referring to was: Anhurset: The only time I've had vinegaroon turn brown was on a bad hide, the surface disintegrated and the leather took on a dark brown color. I only dip for 20-30 seconds then rinse in warm water. There are many folks that don't bother with no apparent issues. Cya! Bob

Just a follow up to my earlier post. After tweaking the bobbin spring (removing and bending) and loosing up the foot tension as suggested by Wiz, cutting two coils off the tension springs as suggested by Bob Kovar, I now am able to transition from 1 to 2 layers of 5oz. with a perfect stitch and no adjustments during the transition. I just completed stitching 10 identical items and there was slight variations in the knot amongst the 10 due to differences in tanning and thickness. I don't mean to hijack the thread (no pun intended) Cya! Bob

I also make straps for open back banjos and those players prefer light, unlined leather so the ability to sew 5-6 oz is important to me. I did come up with one trick..I use black or brown in the bobbin and white in the needle. That way the knots are not noticeable just below the surface.You may find that useful. Cya! Bob

Listerine = Dettol. Another way of casing is to thoroughly wet the surface, then roll up the belt and place in a plastic bag overnight in the fridge to prevent mold. BTW what part of London are you in? Cya! Bob

If it were me I would explain that one wouldn't know if it was poor unless you tried carving it. Send them both back for a refund and threaten bad feedback. It's not the £15, it's the principle. Cya! Bob