BDAZ

I have stated buying drum dyed veg tan so I can produce consistent product and have been buying double shoulders and double bends but it's still problematic because i need continuous pieces up to 30" cut length ways so I need to come up with a smart way to cut as well as costing to allow for waste so I can keep my prices as low as possible to get volumes up while still making a profit. I am looking at a clicker press and dies to make some form of small item that would turn scrap into profits, but it will be a different market. Thanks for the suggestions. Cya! Bob

Sure looks a bit like the Cowboy 4500. The flat bed is available from Bob for $85. Cya! Bob

I did go back and look at your products extensively and as I mentioned earlier they are beautifully made and I am absolutely not trying to offend you. I figured $80 for labor whether it's 4 hours at $20 or 6 1/2 at $15. Just a guess as I have no clue how you value your time. No need to get upset. And let's not confuse thinking with over thinking. All I am interested in finding is how to cost the leather accurately so I can establish wholesale prices. Buying wholesale is a bit different from selling wholesale, and I have been doing the later for more than 35years. So what seems like over thinking to a retailer is just SOP for a manufacturer who has to worry about every additional cost being magnified up the distribution chain. One of my businesses uses three tier distribution. I sell to my master wholesalers, they sell to their dealers and the dealers to the customer. Add $.10 to the cost and it's $.50 or more at the register. Thanks RC for your help but so far I really haven't got anything I can use other than you turn your scrap into dog collars. I thought there might be some more commercial leather manufacturers that have distribution experience, that could point me in the right direction. Cya! Bob

Have a look at the Cowboy 3200 A lot of bang for the buck and you are not paying for a machine you don't need. This is similar to the 4500 but slightly less capacity. Cya! Bob

LW, really good food for thought! Actually about all products. A strap that breaks and drops a $10,000 guitar on the concrete? Lots of lawyer chum. I'll be talking to my agent and accountant tomorrow. Cya! Bob

You stated you get two sets of blanks for $160 which is $80 a case for leather. I am guessing at an additional $20 for dyes, oils, hardware, etc. I was assuming 2 hours labor at $40 an hour to make $80 and an additional $20 (just a guess) for lights, rent, etc., even if you are working from home. Your cost would be +- $200. Then a typical manufacture margin would 100% resulting in a wholesale price of $400. From a few calls I have made, the retailer is looking to double his cost so the final cost to the end user is $800. Scenario 2, also plausible: Your costs remain about the same at $200 and you mark it up 1/3 resulting in a wholesale price of $266. The retailer (maybe online with lower margins) only marks it up 1/3 as well resulting in a retail of 353, which would be in line with some of the prices I have seen. These are NOT the percentages I have encountered but maybe in the pool que industry they would work? If I have made some wrong assumptions, please let me know where I have erred. Thanks, Bob

There seems to be a dearth of folks that actually run some form of leather business where they sell multiple copies of an item to a distributor that resells to the end user. It seems that most of the folks here are on Etsy or have a retail operation where they are dealing directly with the public, either in person or online. Lots of wiggle room when dealing direct with the consumer. Issues like making sure the picture in the catalog matches the item you deliver 6 months later don't apply. Also one has to be more efficient in time and materials to allow for the re-seller's margin. So I guess I'll using some templates, try to estimate how many items I can produce for a side and then figure the cost per square inch. (Each case requires around 2 ft2) or simply use a thumbsuck 25% waste to determine the approximate cost per square inch and run from there. I was hoping there was some rule of thumb, but I guess the great variation in leather production, from shoes and wallets to auto upholstery makes that impossible and other than spending $350,000 on a full hide scanner and laser cutter, I'll just use my pencil. Thanks, Bob Thanks! Bob

Do you sell wholesale? Assuming $80 a case fr leather and another $20 for other consumables plus $80 labor and $20 overheads your wholesale would be $400 resulting is a retail of +-$800. From your website (beautiful cases, lovely work) I see your retail price is around what the wholesale price would be thus either your retail pricing is way low based on the market, or you would be priced out of three tier distribution. After checking pool cue distributors, the highest price I can find is $499, clearly well below the $800 your products would have to sell for to achieve your formula. Thanks! Cya! Bob

The cost of shipping 3 knives to Oz would be +- $US15.00. I'd be happy to help out and reship to Oz or Spain. The cost to Spain was more..$US21.00. Tandy charged $10 for domestic shipping on 3 knives. So by the time you paid domestic + International shipping you are looking at +-$25 and $31. Cya! Bob

This system may result in 15% waste: http://www.expertsystemtechnik.de/reduce-material-waste-significantly-using-the-expert-scanning-method Great video! I'm way higher than that, in terms of the pieces I need for my products. I read a UN report on the shoe industry that stated the minimum wastage was 18% and often exceeds 25% and as high as 60% for premium products. Cya! Bob

I have been manufacturing scuba products for many years and also produce wide format graphics in another business, and soy based solvents in another, so I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. The problem is that when I buy a 55 gallon drum of chemicals, I know that I'll have 3% wastage and the net amount will yield x products and x cost per bottle. The problem with leather is that each hide is different and with the range of products required, I am not really sure how many of each product I can get from a hide. If I had an order for 500 widgets, then I could probably use a greater percentage of the hide, but having an order for 5 or ten at a time, I'm guessing I have a 20% to 25% waste. For example I needed a 9" x 20" piece but was only able to get 9x19 so that almost piece is waste. I may eventually be able to use a part of it but chances are 50% of that piece would end up in the scrap heap. For example, I can buy a side from Tandy at $6 a square foot. Assume 20% waste, it's now up to $8 IF I can get 100% use of the remaining leather. So that wasted piece was 1.25 square feet and cost me $10. Surely there are some basic guidelines for costing leather commercial without getting into the world of computer controlled laser cutters? And I am not concerned about retail as there is a lot more wiggle room for margins and I am not sure I am even interested in retail, but when my wholesale customers mark up the product 60% -100% then I have to have solid numbers to establish the lowest possible price while still remaining viable. Cya! Bob

I bought exactly the same setup a few months ago and am as happy as a clam! Enjoy! Bob

Thanks! Purchased all three! Cya! Bob

I am in the process of launching the wholesale side of the business and consequently need to sharpen my pencil and make sure my costing is as accurate as possible. I have included every aspect of producing each item in it's costing model including finish, oils, masking tape, paper, thread, hardware and all other consumables. The only problem I have is leather, which I obtain from a few different sources at differing prices. I know how many square inches each product takes but I have no idea how to cost the actual yield from a hide, nor which are the most economical cuts in terms of best yield. Are there any rules of thumb or other tricks that can be used to obtain the maximum yield from a hide and then determine the resulting cost per square inch of the usable pieces. I need to make sure my wholesale pricing is keen but profitable and I cant do that without accurate leather costs.. Thanks! Bob

Excellent! Thanks! Bob

You will need to use latigo leather, 9-10 oz. Forget carving as this heavily oiled leather will not stamp or carve. You would need a heat embosser for a makers logo. The good nes is that you can buy latigo straps in various widths at Tandy. Cya! Bob

Welcome from the desert where it's 35C and sunny! I have been through Ballyclare on the A57 a couple of years ago. I play Irish trad and had a few gigs in The North. You'll find this form a great resources with lots of knowledge available. Cheers! Bob

Maybe there was a mass leather stropping somewhere and TSA and USDA has purchased all the available hides to keep them out of the hands of the American public? Cya! Bob

I can totally recommend RJF. Great service and best quality drum dyed veg tanned leather I have purchased recently. Cya! Bob

I am about to push the button on a Bunkhouse embosser. I was very impressed with Ray! Both knowledgeable and personable. I was going to go with the Tandy but it seems that the Bunkhose unit isn't limited to straps and one could do borders and edges on larger pieces. Andy tips or comments would be appreciated. Thanks! Bob

The HFDB mallet is very useful for punches and snaps setting as well. I use it when I don't want to ding my good maul. The heavy HFDB hammer is great for heavy tasks like whacking the arbor press or using large punches. on heavy leather. Cya! Bob

Bought that one...not usable... Went with the Colewood Super Pro II, lots of tips and not too hot for leather. Cya! Bob

Posts crossed...

BTW I was complementing you on no hardware! Cya! Bob

You can always have a machine shop drill a hole in the foot to take the handles. There are presses available that are pre drileld to take attachments: http://www.zoro.com/g/00139275/k-G4937396?utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google_Shopping_Feed&kpid=G4937396&gclid=CI6Pi-bGhL4CFRRbfgodwiUAZA Cya! Bob