whipstitchwallets

Hey Mr. treat, What you describe above is how I settled on doing mine; it simply seems to work best for me. Check out this Hermes wallet: http://www.luxuryexchange.com/shop/hermes/authentic-hermes-epsom-wallet-new/prod_3061.html Look at the direction of the slant on the inside bottom left. Now compare to the closed front bottom row (the same row other side). To me it seems they are in opposite directions (the xxxxx as you mentioned). If I'm wrong and the opposite is true, I think this still answers your question lol Best Joe

sorry for double post...mods can you delete?

The title says it all: Post a picture of some leather work that inspires you! I think we could all benefit from this Here's mine I go this from fineleatherworking wow. HOW?! I think we should have a picture in each post so we can make a condensed list of awesome pictures, but that's just my opinion

The title says it all: Post a picture of some leather work that inspires you! I think we could all benefit from this Here's mine I go tthis from fineleatherworking wow. HOW?!

real cool. not to be pester you, but one more question: before you used the block to form the case, was it flat or did you add extra material to allow for the formed part? thanks

I use this all the time. I have probably ordered nealy 20 hides in the last 6 months; I did receive one order that was unusable, but they quickly refunded and didn't even make me send back the junk.

Hey thanks a lot, Bruce. I really appreciate you taking the time to post that. I just checked out your website; I may need to spend an hour or two combing through all those gems! Best Joe

Bruce, that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for, but I can't even find one on google

I use aussie too. I just try to keep my work station as neat and clean as possible, and I use a horse hair brush throughout the making process to keep off leather dust etc

Thanks Red Cent! Before your second post, I tried glycerin bar soap. I think the result was indeed a little better than the saddle soap. I know some guys use both. Next time I'll try with plain water. I'll have to look into getting a dremel tool; what would be the benefit of a dremel over using a hand held drill with wood burnisher attachment? Thanks again

I only burnish 2 or more layers. I use a drill with wood burnisher with the saddle soap first, then I use canvas and wax by hand. When doing the canvas I lay the leather down flat and push at about a 45 def angle against the edge so there is support behind it, then I flip it over and do the other side. I finish middle of the edge with a hand wood slicker.

Thanks again! do you use a ball peen hammer? I'd really like to get some pincers like the ones above, but they have to be much more blunt.

Hey, thanks My only concern with those is squeezing more surface area than just the stitch line. Do you use them yourself? I was thinking something like these http://www.amazon.com/HOME-GARDEN-8-Cobbler-Pincer/dp/B0077EJ9XQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1406560316&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=wide+cobbler+pincer Now, when it says 8" does that mean I would be squeezing 8" of stitch at a time, or they are 8" long? A second view would have been helpful haha

Just wanted to say thanks again to StrigaMort. I mealted down 1 part beeswax, 1 part paraffin, and 1 part coconut oil. The result was exactly what I was looking for! I think I will still add a coat of pure bees wax after for for added firmness and shine.

Hey Mr. Treat, Just following up because you said you were curious... "Throwing the stitch" worked ok, but what worked far better for me, and keep in mind I am using only 2-3oz veg tan, was to punch the holes through the grain side on both pieces so that when stitching them together flesh to flesh the diamonds are slanted in opposite directions. With this configurations I was able to get very tight and defined slants on both sides. With the slants going in opposite directions, if you could see through the leather it would almost look like xxxxxxxxx.....if that makes sense. Anyway, I'll be doing it this way for whenever I do flesh to flesh (both grain sides out).

Can anyone suggest a specific pair of blunt pincers that work well for squeezing/pressing the stitching into the leather? I've seen some that are extra wide so they can squeeze a longer line at once, but I can't find any to buy. I currently just tap the stitches with the ball end of my wood slicker, but a good pair of pincers would be more efficient in a lot of ways. Thanks all!

I haven't worked with rivets before. I am entertaining purchasing a tool that would let me make my own rivets out of copper wire. Does anyone use something like this? What additional tools would I need to set them? Just a hammer? Thanks in advance

i look forward to trying this today; I have always had a slant on the front only. Thanks

I use Fiebing spirit dyes also. When I want a lighter color I just apply water with a sponge to the leather before dying. The lighter I want the color, the more water I apply to the leather. I get a more even color too

I wipe mine with three in one oil about once a month...works like a charm

Hey man, this sounds like it might be exactly what i'm looking for! I'll give that a shot Thanks Joe

Mostly because I like to offer refurbs for my customers; they can send it back and I'll take it apart and give it the works. I do this on my own wallet every 1-2 years. Also, I find it takes too much time to do it neatly without offering much added benefit Cheryl - thanks for taking the time to do that!

Cheryl - I'd appreciate that, let me know how it works! Joe- I use saddle soap first also edit: I also want to add part of the reason I like to use the wax is because I don't use glue and it holds the edge together nicely

I usually finish my edges by heating up bees wax and applying, but I am getting tired of having to heat it up. Because I use 2-3 oz leather for everything I do, I needed something softer so I mixed with paraffin. This 50/50 mix works well, but is still not soft enough. I am thinking of adding neatsfoot oil or something to soften it up further. Would this work? Anyone have a tried and true ratio? Would EV olive oil work? I may try with olive oil since I already have it at home... Thanks

Rolled up in the box it shipped in *shrug* -Joe