Johanna

I used a circle of leather shaped like a Cheerio, punched holes all the way around and lashed it on with kanga lacing. I suppose it would easy enough to add padding underneath. I would probably try the hobby foam you can get in fabric stores because it wouldn't bunch up like batting would. Johanna

Bill- I would be happy to help you get the site like you want it after the holidays. Of course we'd be delighted to cross link with you, too. It's great that so many of our members are willing to share a link with the board. Johanna

Welcome to leatherworker.net, John! Glad to have you here! I'm originally from Washington County Pa. Isn't Blairsville to the east, down the road from Monroeville on the Wm. Penn Hwy.? Hope you enjoy yourself here- there are lots of great people and experienced leatherworkers contributing to the forum, and we're always glad to say "Hi!" to another one! Johanna

Hmmm...if you leave a rawhide mallet laying around, your dog thinks it's a lollipop. Hardware is sold by weight, not count. This explains why you will often be one short to finish the project. Dull knives will lead to stitches in the ER and irregular scars. A cowhide rug makes an excellent bedspread. You can't convince some people that their shoelaces are not made of rawhide. If you hold the stamping tool for someone, they will miss and whack your hand. Most people are better off buying the leather they need and forgetting splitters. If someone gasps and reaches for their wallet, you set the correct price. If the radio is on while you are carving, you will tap the tool in time with the music. People really do believe that commercial that says you can iron on a patch to repair upholstery leather. The first time you assume a gun is unloaded, you will shoot a hole in the floor. Neat Lac will dissolve fingernail polish. If you ask 10 leatherworkers the right way to do something, you'll get twelve reasonable answers. Johanna

from www.cowboyway.com

Yep, what Alex, Mike, Wolvie & Ken said. Do you have a copy of the bible of braiding, Bruce Grant's Encyclopedia of Braiding? It's available at Tandy/TLF and Amazon. Hope you have a nice holiday! Johanna

Oscar- the pics came through. WOW. If we had an award for "most creative entry", I'd be nominating you! Johanna

Not being a horse person, this thread alarmed me. I was picturing Mrs. Rawhider drooling with leather binding her chin- not a pretty mental image...but thank goodness for Google. Slobber straps keep the horse's reins out of the trough. Whew. Very nice, and thank you for sharing. Johanna

To reduce the size of pictures, I like Irfanview. It's a free program that does all sorts of graphics editing, but it has a small footprint and is easy to use. To upload pics, see here. Holler if you have questions or problems. Johanna

A lady has a Civil War era pump organ that needs a new bellows. The old ones could be used as a pattern. They can't be repaired because they leak from dry-rot. The organ is located in Ohio, but I live close enough that I could take the old bellows off and attach a new bellows-if someone can make them. Let me know if you are interested, or need more information. Johanna

Welcome, Rob! The server hiccupped today and ate your other post. Ain't that a great beginning? I'm glad you are here (and that you have a little patience!) There are lots of terrific people here. Johanna

Another example of the myth and mystique of leather. A coat isn't going to dry out from being wrapped in a box for a week or two, if the leather was properly tanned to begin with. There is so much general leather misinformation out there, you can't blame the store for believing that silliness either. Wait until the coat is in the closet being robbed of its moisture by the wife's sweaters! Johanna

That collection of stamping tool images was put together by Bob Stelmack of PSLAC (click the Rawhide Gazette banner at the bottom of the page) a few years ago. PSLAC, Puget Area Leather Artisans Cooperative, is a dynamic leather guild that holds workshops, meetings, classes and also has an archive- a treasure trove- of leatherworking information available to members. And membership is not expensive, either, especially when you figure in the guild discounts many retailers extend to PSLAC members. The images are of Craftools, McMillen, King, Smith, Gemini, Beard, Hackbarth etc tools and taps, and it's available from the members only area of the PSLAC website. http://pslac.org Bob is a member here, and you can PM him with any other questions, too. Johanna

I have been lucky with a mild dish soap bath, rinse clean and let dry. Guess that all depends on the leather and the finish on it, I suppose. Let us know what you decide to do, and what works! Johanna

MikeG- The cd just came in today's mail. I will check it out and see what I can do with it. Thank you so much for the kind words, too. Johanna

A good size for pics on the forum is between 100-500K each. The forum software will create a thumbnail image, and if members don't mind the size, they will click. The absolute easiest way to reduce a picture is with MS Powertoys Image Resizer. You can right click on any picture and automatically resize and rename it. If you want more options for photo editing, use Irfanview, a free graphics editor. You can select one pic or a zillion and resize in proportion or not, plus crop pics, edit out red eye, tint, put text on the pic, make slideshows, convert, optimize, etc. etc. either one at a time or in batches. Welcome to leatherworker.net, oldgringo, and do NOT eat the doughnuts. (There have been rumors that some people let their dogs lick them!) Have some cookies instead. Your saddle is beautiful, thanks for sharing! Johanna

Hello, Eric! I know where Mendon is- I'm in New Knoxville. Welcome to leatherworker.net! Glad to have you here. Johanna

I think this instance means the French and Indian wars. ~J

Okay, I'll bite. What exactly is a "yak snack"? If they eat rotten kids, I will UPS mine tomorrow, since they don't have school tomorrow because of the wind and snow. And does anyone have any pictures of this class or the projects? Does Kathy's buffalo look like a yak? Johanna

Just curious- how many of you saddle makers keep a log with a description of the saddles you make, where it's going and pictures of how it looked when it left the shop? If someone orders and buys a custom saddle, and it is stolen, would the maker be able to provide evidence of what the customer had? If someone bought a saddle twenty years ago, and called you up and asked for one just like it, do you have a record of what you made? Do you keep pics in the shop to discuss possibilities with your clients? I'm just wondering how record keeping is done in the saddle trade. Johanna

Do not wear your "I'm a naughty yak" t-shirt to class. ~J

If the leather is in pretty good shape, try using Fiebings black Leather Balm w/ Atom wax. Buff to a gloss. Johanna

Yes, and sunlight has a burnishing effect on leather. Where the leather has darkened may not take water or dye the same way the pale places do. At Tandy we cut those hides up and sold them as pieces. Johanna

Someone posted that they prefer a maul to a mallet. I do, too, for setting rivets and punching holes, but I'm told that mauls are not the best choice for carving because of the risk of rep motion injury. I wondered if anyone here has ever experienced any troubles with elbows, wrists or hands from leatherwork? How can these injuries be prevented? Are there things you can do to minimize the discomfort once the damage is done? I shattered my right wrist in January 2004. I slipped on ice, fell on my bottom, and stuck my hand out for balance on the bounce. It took four nails to hold together after the surgery, and months of physical therapy. I have regained about 60% of the function in my hand, but I've lost quite a bit of the strength, and the ability to turn my wrist palm up. The folks who helped me were quite surprised at how strong my right hand used to be, but years of guitar playing and leatherwork (think hand sewing!) will do that. I'm pretty much a lefty now, and I have to make sure I don't overdo with this hand, or it swells and hurts and I can't stand it. The doc has decided that surgery can help, and it looks like after the holidays I'll be under the knife again. (Millimeters count in wrists, he said.) I'm hoping that some of the range of motion can be restored. Anyone have any good advice for me? No, I don't expect to be able to be doing leatherwork again, but I would like to be able to lace a checkbook if I feel like it. I would like to type with all my fingers too, but since I never did before the accident, I doubt I'll start now. Johanna

Hi, Marlon! Thanks for letting us know about the workshop! I added the event to the calendar. (All members can add to the calendar directly, by the way!) Cheers from snow-covered Ohio! Johanna