sheathmaker

Bruce, I would GUESS only that it will be about 6 months before the pipeline is full enough to deplete the waiting list on the splitter. I am at number 3 and it looks like R/D will take another month or so with in the field testing for blade integrity. The projected price stays a sub $2000 for now and will most probably remain so because of the anticipated volume of sales. Jerry has another cute little light in the pipe line. It's a six LED 'L" shaped light that mounts magnetically just above the needle and shines directly on the sewing area. It hsould sell for sub $10 when they arrive in the USA. I, of course, will HAVE to have a couple of those as well. Regarding the tools, I have so darned many now (300+) that it's hard now not to duplicate the intended use use of the tool and I imagine you are in the same boat. That fact coupled with the other fact that I really only regulary use a small percentage of them, therefore selecting one or two is about all I can justify any more. Paul

Well I made my annual trek to Wichita Falls Thursday and Checked into the Howard Johnson ex Remington, ex Holiday Inn, and paid a pretty good premium for the room. It was a pretty great hotel up to last year, but unless you are a fan of cold showers, I can't recommend it any more. So much for that minor disappointment. I was pre registered for the show, so didn't have to wait in line to get into the biggest disappointment of the trip. The show had somewhere between 1/2 and 2/3 the usual number of vendors as the previous shows, and as luck would have it some of the very guys I came to buy from didn't show up. Jerry Zonis had his Artisan crew there with a very large and complete working display of all his machines including the new proto type stuff. First new item is a 25" throat version of the toro 4000. Very impressive machine if you have a need for that much throat clearance. It would be great for making fancy saddle blankets and pads for one thing. Next item that caught my eye was the brand new motorized 24" splitter which is probably more like an effective 22". I put my order in for one when they are ready to ship. Then there was the vaccuum equipped shoe finish machine with four stations. Really nice, but I still have an older smaller version that works great. Lots of neat add on and up grade stuff for the older machines. I picked up a couple of very long neck high intensity lights for My 797AB and Toro 4000. It's hard to get too much light on the sewing area at my age so these little dudes will make my life much easier. I picked up a new little basket weave stamp from Wayne Jueschke of Elko, Nevada. He makes some really nice quality tools in the $40 to $90 range that he makes out of L2 tool steel. His geometrics are hard to beat, particularly if you do any saddle stamping. Barry king had another little stamp I thought I couldn't live without so it followed me home as well. His poly mauls are some of the nicest I've seen. Weaver Leather had their usual large and very complete working display area. Jeremiah Watt had his Horse Shoe brand tools for sale there as well. Douglas Saddle Co. had their usual huge display of pure vintage tools all cleaned up and ready to go for another 100 years. It's always fun to look around Douglas' table for a while. One very nice surprise was that I ran into 12 gallons (2 cases) of the old formula Barge cement so I loaded that up. Barge changed their formula sometime early in the year, very quietly, and in my opinion the new stuff is not even nearly as good as the old formula. This purchase should last me and my buddy quite a while. All in all ther were just 61 vendors there and usually there are over 100. In fact, a couple of years ago there was more than 120. I guess this next year I'll plan on making theSheridan Show and maybe pass on Wichita Falls. I managed to get everything I needed to do or could do and left the show about 2:00 PM and came on home. that's the first time I haven't spent at least a day and a half at the show. what there was, was great, but................... Paul

Rawhide, your information on Bob may be much more current and accurate than mine. I was planning on picking up a few tools (stamps) in wichita falls, but may not be able to. Paul

Spend a hundred bucks and you're home stitching in an hour. Save a hundred bucks and you're out shopping for wood fooling with a design, redoing a mistake here and there and finally about a hundred bucks or more later you have one "almost" as nice as the one in the picture. I'd say if you like it, buy it, because over all it's probably a bargain. Paul

Rawhide, I still don't have a picture for you but there will be a link at the bottom that takes you to Bob Beard's web site in the swivel knife section. They have gone up quite a bit. Bob will be at the boot and Sdale Maker's roundup in wichita falls this friday and saturday if you are going. http://www.robertbeardtools.com/Knives&amp...OtherTools.html Paul

I tried the Smith knife , but I own two of Bob Beards knives. Bob's knives are just super smooth and I've used nothing else since I got them about five years ago. Paul

Hi Tex. I've been up here in the hill country for about 35 years now so I guess I'll just stay. Try to look me up at Wichita Falls and we'll have a visit. Paul

I have made every Boot and Saddle Maker's Round Up since they were held in the little building out by the air port in Burnett, TX. Then they moved to the larger venue in Brownwood, TX, and finally to their present site in Wichita, Falls. It is one of the very best shows I know of, short of Sheridan to see what's new and pick up or order supplies of all kinds. If any of you are in the market for a sewing machine, be sure to visit Artisan Sewing supplies booth. Jerry and Steve always have a super size display area with working machines for you to see and try. I'm anxious to see their new powered splitter. I hope it's far enough along in devlopement to be for sale. There will also be a ton of tools from various suppliers and makers from the highest quality down to average and import. Douglas Tools always has a huge selection of real vintage tools that just aren't available any more. It's a must for a new maker to visit and I guess just as important for the established and experienced maker. McBride Land and Cattle company on Scott St. very near the show site is a really good steack house. The hotel I've gooten used to started out as Holiday Inn, then it bacame the Remington, and now this years it's Howard Johnson. It's VERY close to the show. I hope to get to meet some of you at the show and put a face with the name. My name tag should read Paul Long. Paul

I was lucky enough to find one of the old original Landis splitters brand new in the box at the Boot and Saddle Maker's Round Up about 8 years ago. It is the best bench splitter I've ever used. They are not cheap, but they are accurate and do a fine job. It is only a six inch capacity and sometimes I wish for more, but it handles most all my knife sheath size chores. The link below shows a source and picture. http://www.pilgrimshoemachine.com/leather_...machines_d.html Paul

I would recommend you try to find a custom knife maker in your area and see if you can talk him into helping you out. They have the correct equipment, the skill and they understand the various different angles our equipment needs. That is exactly what I did and I have the sharpest splitter blade you ever saw. Paul

Don; That dang sure isn't a Circle Y trophy saddle for sure. Beautiful work . I really like the horn treatment and, of course you used my choice for the best brand tree. Paul

You did a beautiful job on this sheath. The design is relatively complicated as to fit, and you did it well. I have seen Dave's original. Dave has only been doing leather since about January 2007 and the strides he has made are nothing short of amazing. He is a VERY talented knife maker, but had some medical/physical problems which caused him to quit the knives for a while and that's when he took up leather, and now shows promise of becoming a master leather craftsman as well. Paul

I have a file cabinet full of "hard" patterns. I do sheaths for about 28 custom knife makers and many of them create the same profile over and over. I buy 4' X 8' sheets of sign maker PVC from a sign company here in town. It cuts very easily with Exacto knife or scissors and the patterns last forever....and then some. This is basically the same stuff you see in the sign depatments of Wal Mart etc. The For Sale, For Rent, No Trespassing and so forth. The 4' X 8' sheet costs less than $30. I've used it for saddle parts, chaps, Chinks and of course knife sheaths, and any thing else I plan on making more than one of. Paul

An update on my last reply. I just received a flyer from Tandy/Leather factory and they have a 12 ga. shot shell concho stock nr. 7403-00 and what apears to be either 9MM or 45ACP screw bak concho, stock nr. 7404-00. It is the entire round, case and bullet. Paul

I use a light coat of pure neatsfoot oil, when that levels, and application of TanKote by Feibings and when that's all dry follow up with NeatLac by Tandy. Nice inverted carving, by the way. Paul

If you have not yet applied any kind of sealer such as TanKote, I believe a light application of pure neatsfoot oil would darken it to just about chestnut color. As others have stated a little dose of the old "Sun Machine" would also darken it pretty rapidly, but caution, areas under the flap that are shaded will remain light so watch for that. The sheaths in my avitar are chestnut. Paul

Depending on the calibre or guage you might consider depriming the cases and attach using a #206 double cap rivet from Ohio Travel Bag. If it works for size, the rivet would resemble a new primer. This also assumes you are going to cut the case head off very short so as to resemble a concho or spot. You will probably also have to enlarge the actual primer hole with a drill to accomodate the rivet post. Paul

Larry, those examples of your work are outstanding. Attention to detail coupled with carving expertise is a feast for the eyes. thank you for taking time to post them. Paul

Hey Art, I read your posts with great interest, particularly about the Artisan aquisition. You obviously know WAY more about sewing machines and various models than I do, but I do know how to run them and make a little money. That brings me up to the Artisan story. I had a well used Pfaff (I don't even remember the model) and I was limping along making chaps and chinks. I went to the Boot and Saddle Maker's Round Up in Brownwood, Texas one year (it's a very mini version of Sheridan). I met Jerry Zonis and came home with the Artisan 797AB and the following year at the same venue I bought the Artisan Toro 4000 with the fancy table. I've lost track of how many times those two machines have paid for themselves and they have been absolutely trouble free. Regardless of how you finally made your choice decision to get Artisan, I believe you made the very BEST choice. Jerry's new Toro 3000 costs about half what we paid for the 4000 and it is even a slightly improved machine. It has less throat depth which I don't use all of any way and has the newer servo motor. Other than that it's the same as the 4000. I use the 797AB with 69 and up to 138 for stuff up to 3/8" and all the fine tune stuff and the 4000 with 207, 277, and 346 for the tougher stuff up to nearly 7/8". I have been totally satisfied with both machines and I don't think I'll be around when they do wear out. Paul

Well I've got a little age on me now and I was/am concerned about not enough young blood coming up behind us older folks into the craft or trade as the case may be. I invited a young man (33) to come to my shop as often as he likes and learn at my elbow. I don't charge anything and so far I've furnished the materials. After about two months he is capable of making a really nice and marketable knife sheath, which is what I specialize in now. His interest has remained high and constant and I feel I have not wasted my time. Having said all of that, I'm not sure I'd do it again, because I really can't get anything done on the days he's in my little shop and my order load is enough to keep me busy seven days a week if I want to work that long. If you can get someone to take you on, be sure you are serious and keep your interest at a high level. Paul

I bought a roll from Weaver quite a while back when I needed just a little bit,(but I really needed it). It's 1 1/4 inch wide. I'll be glad to let any of you who need it have some in samll quantity until it's gone. Sell at Weaver current price Roll total Feet divided by total price to arrive at foot price plus postage. Email or call. Info below in sig line. pfl@cebridge.net

I have read the posts here with interest, and I applaude those of you who realize what is apparently happening. Even if you could buy a reasonable quantiy at a reasonable price you still have to contend with the old and proven rule that anything started with crap will most probably still be crap when it's finished. Paul

My experience with the round knife is the other side of the coin from your experience. I'm not impressed with the retained sharpness at all. Paul

I have owned the Artisan 797ABLthr for about five years and the Artisan Toro 4000 for four years and I can not imagine a better set of machines for what I do. The 3000 was not yet available when I got the 4000 and if it had been I would have bought it in preference to the 4000. The only difference is about $2000 in price and a few inches in the throat, plus the 3000 has the superior servo motor. The service, as was already stated , is the best and Jerry and Steve take immediate care of your problems which a very few. I'll be seeing both Jerry and Steve at the upcoming Boot and Saddle Maker's Roundup in Wichita Falls, TX in a few weeks. Jerry has mentioned a new 24 inch powered splitter that I am very interested in.

I'm an old sheath maker from Texas and I hope to be able to learn something and maybe help a few folks as well with my limited experience. I've been at this leather stuff since 1951, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Paul