Jordan

It is tandy saddle tan dye according to the bottle, my minds eye pictured it a little tanner but it looks almost mahogany, then a coat of acrylic sheen. Two last pics b4 I move on to the next adventure in leatherwork.

Well I finished it, made a few modifications, added another line of stitches closer to the pistol, trimmed the muzzle area and cut away some leather around the trigger guard and grip. The finish is not what I expected, a little to dark and some mottled areas, I've got to remember to keep my hands cleaner when working with the unfinished leather. I think I'll hang it on the wall as a reminder. LOL Jordan

Most definetly used in retail usually to display undermade overpriced must have items LOL

would you use a spring or solid setup to mount it to his bike? Hehehe gufaaw harumphf. Guess it would depend on if it was a ridgid or a springer. LOL Jordan

A real beauty, and if it ever fails the base makes a great dinning room or card table with a nice top and maybe a goldleaf chessboard inlay.

Warren, be my guest I figure once I post a pic, it's out there for others to use. Someday if I come up with something real good that will make me rich and famous I may copywrite it LOL, until then go for it. John thank you for the photo it will come in handy when I need to modify my stuff. Randyc I did use a freehand groover thats probably why the thread looks to skinny to me and my hand sewing did miss a couple of lineup spots. I guess today would be a good day to finish setting up my machine, a storm came through and dropped 4-5 inches of the white stuff last night and another is on the way, a white christmas is in the cards again this year. Man o man do my joints hurt today! Still I like my 1st one alot better probably cause it is for my own Bersa. As far as that one goes I based it on a photo I saw on the HBE website and I need to thank Eric Larsen for the insperation, the man makes some awesome gun leather and accessories.

Thanks John, I left the muzzle end a little long as I wasn't sure how it was going to mold so I can open it up by trimming about a quarter inch off. I haven't got my model 5 completly set up yet so I hand stitched it, wrong size thread though it doesn't look quite right, I think there is a single foot in the drawer so I will definetly use it. Still figuring out how much leather I need for the front piece so I can get the stitching closer but still have enough to mold around the pistol. I like the sweat shield size also, it seems to feel more comfortable to me especially with a larger pistol like a 1911. This one has about a 20 degree foward cant according to my protractor, I think my next one will be at 90 with belt loops and snaps and I may need to add an extra piece of leather at the mouth of the holster to help hold it open, a strip of spring steel sandwiched and tension screws maybe? Getting the creative jucies flowing is half the fun of this anyway LOL. Mike I thought about that also and I am goint to incorporate exposing that area more thanks for the input....Jordan

Very impressive, I really like the quality of the stitching on all your stuff. Guess it's time for me to practice practice and more practice!

It is amazing the difference between an adequate tool and one that is designed and made to a higher standard. Of course the price is reflective of this and as they say, buy the best you can afford. You may spend more for that quality tool but your work will refect it. A person would go through a bunch of lesser tools for the price of a great one that will last a long long time. When I got started I shopped ebay for a month or two until I got tired of being out bid at the last second for a price that was more than retail in many cases, I have bought everything through tandy for convienience mainly, but I made a promise to myself that as I get better I will buy better. Just a bit of rambling and about 0.000002 of my $0.02 Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and receives his blessings. Jordan

Here are photos of my latest freehand designed pancake style holster. Just playing around with ideas. It is moulded to fit a Walther PPK which is one of the blueguns (actually black) that I bought. Haven't finished it yet or done any R&D as far as if it will work out but I thought I would post and get some feedback.

Go slow use your drill press and a vise to hold everything level and at right angles use cutting oil and there is a chart that tells what size drill bit for what size tap also the tap has to match the diameter and thread pitch of the part, then the actual threading is done by hand again, go slow and keep everything angled properly It seems harder in writing than it actually is. also you get to choose metric or standard plus all the stuff regis mentioned. Jordan

Ed, just don't station it anywhere that leather can come in contanct with the grindings or you will be dealing with alot of black stains. Easier said than done sometimes, as you had said your workspace is rather short on space. Like mine LOL Jordan

Well, I don't feel so all alone, two dead nerves in the neck and shoulder, damaged nerves in the elbow and wrist, they diagnosed it as repetative nerve damage, carpal tunnel and drivers elbow. I think they missed it though, due to sudden onset 3 years ago, I think it is diabetic neuropathy and the steroid treatment brought out type 2 and now it's type 1. And the battle for disability rages on and on and on. It seems true that all the bumps and lumps when your 10 feet tall and bullet proof comes back to bite you after 50 LOL. I know that in woodworking mauls have been a tool of choice for a long time, ergonomics probably play a big part, so pounding leather is probably not that different. I will be giving one a try one of these days. Jordan

I got the 2007 catolog and price list today, ordered on the internet approx. three weeks ago.

Thanks for the tips, I will give them a try before I buy a new tool. Jordan

I know this is a fairly old thread but I would like to hear from some of you about sharpening an edger. I am having a dickens of a time trying to sharpen mine. I get it close but it either digs in and bunches up or does'nt even cut in, just scrapes fuzz off the edge. The more I mess with it the more frustrated I get and I am about ready to chuck it and buy another one. Any suggestions will be appreciated, I think it's a #2 from tandy or what they call the old favorite. It is very hard for my old eyes to see the edge so I think thats part of my troubles. I have tried a dremel, emery cloth, files and strop.

Got tired of trying to find the cash to insulate and drywall so I went ahead and started to setup my shop area, I missed working the leather too much to wait, guess I can finish it in the spring. I still need better lighting but it will do for the winter, the garage was just to dang cold to do anything.

Very cool setup the solar panels are a fantastic idea

Really nice stuff, well done, I do have a question about the last photo, what are the little wings at the point? I was thinking maybe an anchor for tying a thong around the thigh to stabilize the sheath on the belt? I probably have over thought it and it is something real simple! LOL Jordan

I think I paid 19 or 20 dollars at tandy store How about any other newer books that you have found helpful? I don't have any connection with tandy the publisher or the author by the way I just think it's a good book Jordan

Not a re-enactor but copper would look very good and fit with the overall ambiance of the helms

1st publish date 1993 last reprint 2004 I got it at the local Tandy store I think the author is english as some of the terminology is a little strange to me, but is a useful book for me. Covers alot of things from edging to wet moulding.

I just finished reading The Leatherworking Handbook by Valerie Michael for the second time and I am impressed. After the purchase of quite a few other books that seemed stuck in the 50's (which they are cause thats when they were written) it was quite refreshing to read one that has excellent, fairly up to date information. I recommend it to beginner and old hand alike. Are there any other books out there that have impressed you, are well written, or have excellent information and the like. I would like to hear about them. Some times I buy a book sight unseen online and it would be nice to make a purchase and not be disappointed by rehashed and old info.

I agree, as I said earlier a street fair was not that profitable for me but it was enjoyable each saturday in the summer. I will be doing it again next summer and I will have a better idea of what sells, but then again fairs are impulse also, and I was the only booth with leather. It takes along time to build a presence and in my reaserch of my area the other leather artisans have their niche already. ie saddelry, mountain man rendevous, holsters, motorcycle bling etc. I just need to find mine, fairs and festivals and rodeos around here can get to be a drag, lots of work setting up tearing down, regulations, rules and even vendor bickering over sites etc.

Randy, is all deer skin chrome tanned? I thought it was veg or brain or some other fairly natural process due to the softness and such.