Hilly

Since the upgrade, I have a problem with the search function... When I do a search, I enter the keyword, and up comes a page with different topics using that keyword in them. I click on a topic to see if it is what I am looking for. If it is, great. If it isn't, I am not able to return to the page with my search results. I have to start over from the beginning. Can you fix this issue so that the "back" button on the browser or the backspace key on my keyboard takes me back to the results page without having to start a whole new search? Maybe it's just me?

Hi Ray. I've been using this Iwata gravity feed for years. I used to do a lot of airbrushing on bikes, and before that, I dabbled in some portraiture. It's a great little airbrush for extrememely fine detail. It would work really well for stuff like game boards and small items. For larger pieces, and for general dying on medium to larger projects, I use an HVLP gun. I find it makes short work of dying larger pieces, such as cases and bags, albums, etc. It sprays evenly, without as much overspray as a normal big spray gun, and you can spray smallish amounts of dye. You can get HVLP guns in siphon or gravity feed. As with any airbrush, I ALWAYS have at least one, and usually two moisture traps on the air line. It can sure ruin your day when a big spit of water comes shooting out of the end of your brush, and goobers up your paint/dye job! I also use a good quality regulator on the air line. Now that I think of it, I have about 100 bottles of Medea artist paints that might work well on leather... Gonna have to try them out since they aren't doing any good sitting in a container....

Wow, that's some kinda wild looking chop, for sure! Looks like you have a serious addiction there, with all of those bikes in the garage. My husband's bike had one with one of those long girder front ends, and suprisingly, it rode pretty smooth, even though it was a hard tail. I never did learn to pilot it - the controls were bass ackwards compared to a "modern" bike, and the thought of having a blonde moment "at the wheel" was enough to keep me from riding it.

That sounds interesting! Got pix?

Really nice cuffs. Love the tooling and the color. Exactly what is the purpose of the cuffs (excuse my ignorance)?

Wish I could afford a decent splitter! That's a luxury toy that isn't in the budget just yet. Some day....

Hi Mike. I'll chime in here and say that your saddle looks good to me, but I'm not a saddle person. Heck, I'm lucky I can tell one end of a horse from the other end! One thing I have noticed is that since the "major upgrade" to Leatherworker.net, there have been fewer replies to a lot of posts, and more posts that get no replies at all. I don't know why, it's just something that I've noticed, so don't feel bad, you are not alone.

I made a fancy carved and tooled one for my husbands DPMS "target" rifle. I started out by making a paper pattern that fit the stock. Make sure the leather won't interfere with any of the working parts of the gun, and when you cut it out, make it a tad bigger so that it allows for the thickness of the leather, or it won't be a perfect fit (Don't ask me how I found this out as a newbie to leather.)

OMG That's funny! Thanks for sharing!

Nope, they don't remember it for the next time! Nor do they remember the time(s) they tangle with skunks!

Took all 3 of my dogs out grouse hunting today. Had only covered about a mile, when the 2 males decided to take a break from birds, and decided to check out some little animal. All I could see of them was their backs above the grass, and when I finally got to them to see what they were doing, I saw that both of the dogs had hundreds and hundreds of porcupine quills in their faces, mouths, necks and chests! I immediately snapped on their leashes, and tied all 3 of them to a tree so I could further assess the situation. Both dogs had at least a hundred quills in the mouths, so muzzling them to remove the quills was out of the question. Not wanting to get bitten, my only other option was to call the vet in on a Saturday afternoon - an expensive venture to be sure. Now normally, I never shoot anything I don't intend on eating, but I was so mad that I went over by that stupid porcupine, who had by then climbed a small tree, chambered a shell, and sent him to the big pin cushion in the sky. Got the the vet's office, and both dogs were sedated, and the vet and I worked together, side by side, until all possible quills were removed. There were some that got into the roofs of mouths, and had to be removed surgically, and some that broke off at skin level, and had to be fished out. Some were just easier to pull all the way through, such as the ones that had pierced the tongue. Spent the better part of 2 hours at that vet clinic, but finally we're all home again. The little female stayed close to me, and never went near that porcupine - smart dog... So much for hunting next weekend. I'll be working to pay off that vet bill. Thanks for listening to my rant, I feel much better now.

Thanks Jman, for satisfying my curiosity. There seems to be quite a difference in the stitching!

Happy Birthday to all y'all Octoberlings! Hilly

Please excuse my ignorance, but can someone please explain the difference between a regular old machine, such as an Artisan Toro 3000 and a needle and awl machine? What are they used for? Can you post some examples of the stitching difference between a "regular" machine and a needle and awl machine? I know it's probably asking a lot, but enquiring minds want to know. Thanks much, Hilly

Although I'm not an expert with exotics, I would think that a belt of rattlesnake hide would not be all that durable. The constant sliding through belt loops and getting buckled, etc., would wear it quickly. I would be more inclined to make a belt with snake inlays to avoid the wear and tear on the snake skin. This is just my opinion though - someone else probably knows more n' me.

I'd probably buy some.

Ed, I love the glasses cases you've been making. How did you get the brown color around the motif? That new maul is over the top! I love the redwood burl!!! That is some of the most unique looking wood I have ever seen.

Good on you, Crystal! There should be more people like you in this world!

What she said!

You absolutely can not go wrong with the cases books! Once you start reading them, your head is gonna start spinning with tons and tons of ideas! The other book that I mentioned, is available through Amazon.com et al. Enjoy the addiction craft!

Josh, your work is looking very professional! The case with the snake inlay is absolutely over the top! Keep up the great work!

Stohlman's "The Art of Making Leather Cases" Vol. I has some info on wetforming, and "The Leatherworking Handbook: A Practical Illustrated Sourcebook of Techniques and Projects" by Valerie Michael has info on wet forming if my memory serves me correctly.

Very nicely done! Any bible would be proud to wear that cover!

Very nice, Leatheroo! I adore unique stuff like this! Hilary

Nice case. I really like the border.