Hilly

I suppose this is one of those areas of leatherwork which takes lots and lots of practice to get right. Long, feather edges, 45 degree edges, album and binder spines, etc. Do any of you have any tips to help a newbie get started with minimal leather being tossed in the bin? Can I make a jig to do the 45 degree agles such as used in box corners? I already have plenty of scrap to practice on I've been trying to learn to skive, but not having the results I'm wanting. Sometimes I end up cutting through the leather, or sometimes (such as in the spine area of a notebook) I just can't do it evenly. I have the skiver that Tandy sells with the razor blade refills, I have an skiving knife that reminds me of a putty knife, and I have a small angled knife which reminds me of a paring knife. My blades are quite sharp (I think), so I don't belive this is an issue.

They used to, anyway. Never know what they sell now. Do you have any idea when their "restructuring" will be done? I'm curious as to when they will have a new and current catalog.

Very simple and clean. I like it a lot.

I think you should change your name from "rookie" to "very talented". Great looking purse!

Thanks for the replies. I find this very interesting!

You know more about saddles than I do, that's for sure. "Reining", "Dressage", "Hunt"... Might as well be Greek, unless that's another type of saddle Bits.... Hmmmmm.... I've seen straight ones, ones with a curve in the middle, and one that looked like it was 2 pieces. Then there's those things with the ball that hangs under the horses jaw.... I have no idea what they all do... Bet them horsey guys and gals are thinking what a dope I sound like....

Please forgive my ignorant questions - I was raised a suburban brat, and then moved to a city. We don't have a lot of horses here, and I've only been on one a couple times in my life. I've never seen a rodeo 'cept on the tube, and have never seen any ranch work, either. Finding leatherworker.net has given me the opportunity to see photos of a lot of different saddles made by some really talented people, and I've been enjoying just kinda window shopping. I've never given it any thought until now, that a saddle is more than something you sit on when you're on a horse! (Duh). Can someone please tell me in layman's terms, just how many kinds of saddles there are? I know English and Western, and that's it. I wouldn't know a roping saddle from my elbow. Are the saddle trees made specifically for different uses? I have noticed that the horns on some saddles look different than others, and some look like they're wrapped in white tape. Hilly

I would think the biggest problem would be stretch. Make sure and tape the back well, or RC it down. I think the second biggest thing would be not to cut too deeply with your swivel knife. Don't expect as much relief in your work as you would using thicker leather. I've carved and tooled 4-5oz. with no problem. You just can't get as much relief as when you carve heavier leather.

Sort of a mixed blessing, I suppose.

I like those, Jordan! I used to have a pair like that, and they were really comfortable. The only thing I did not like was that the strap stretched and stretched and stretched... Must've been made from belly. Where did you get your pattern?

Marlon, if I pull any tighter than I do, the leather gets all puckered looking along my stitching line. And, no callouses, either. Just really lucky, I guess. Maybe I don't have as much sensation in the pinky fingers, due to past surgery for medial tendonitis. The nerve that supplies feeling to the ring and pinky was giving my trouble, so I had surgery to fix the tendons, and move the nerve a bit. The tendons still hurt, but at least I no longer feel like someone's whacking my funny bone all the time

Bick's #4? I've never heard of it - what is it, exactly?

Put it over the slashed wrist band!

Does everyone use those little wool daubers to apply dye? What are the advantages/disadvantages to the daubers? I'm talking about a larger area, such as a notebook or photo album cover, and going a solid color... Can I use one of those cheapy foam paint brushes and expect decent results? I don't want to ruin my project cuz I did something dumb...

I'm about to start another project which I intend on dying using Fiebings Saddle Tan dye after I finish tooling. I want even dye coverage, with no spots that will not accept the dye. I will be using Fiebings deglazer to clean my leather. My question is do I use the deglazer before I tool, or after? I don't want any suprises in the carving lines or anywhere else on the project...

What?! I think the "fuzzy sides" make it that much more cool! Tina, that bag is WAY cool! I never carry a handbag, haven't since 1992, but if I did, I'd love to carry THAT one! That's just gorgeous!

I was doing some car upholstery and wanted something truly custom for my '65 Mustang fastback. I had an idea that involved what I later learned to be "figure carving". A member on Upholster.com told me about this site, and I've been hanging around ever since. I haven't done my car interior yet. I still need to learn figure carving a bit, but there's just so many other areas of interest for me in leatherwork. It's almost an obsession. So many ideas for projects, so little time..... (and money)

Hmmmm. I'll have to check out the luggage next time I go to Walmart. I've never really looked to see what was available. Thanks for the suggestion.

That's a very nice bag, Bruce! I do want a bag that will take a lot of abuse. It will be thrown in a van with luggage from about 8 other people, and probably just shoved in and yanked out again. Okay, let's forget the shoulder strap, but put a heavy weight handle on both ends. It should hold up for what I need, and if it has a plywood bottom in it, it shouldn't buckle, should it? I thought this style of bag would suit my needs quite well, though I don't belive I'd wanna do all that lacing! I'd be stitching in stead. I really like the way the top pieces lap over one another and the way they fasten is really neat. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2153 How do you think this would be to make from 10oz. veg? Do you think it would be too stiff to fold over nice like that? I don't have enough experience to attempt something like this yet. Leather is so expensive! But maybe a year from now I'll feel differently. I'm just planning for now, so I can work up a pattern in time, and have a plan of action ready. In the mean time, I can learn how to make some heavy duty handles for the ends, and collect the hardware, etc. There's a few handles in "Making Leather Cases" vol. II I've been eyeballing.... I already bookmarked the Ohio Travel Bag site

What kind of "case" are you referring to? I was thinking something along this line: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2153 so that there would be no cover to slip off, and dump the contents.

I'm thinking of making a heavy luggage type of bag with wheels and a retractible handle to haul my "kitchen" stuff when I travel for work each spring. I usually use just an old duffel bag, but it's heavy and hard to haul up and down motel stairs. I carry stuff like a hot plate, kettle, electric skillet, cutting board, cutlery, spatulas, slotted spoon, silverware, spices, plates, a mixing bowl, and a few other things. The finished bag (inspired by another member here) would probably measure about 36x18x18, and the contents would probably weigh around 30 pounds. The very bottom would be reinforced with 1/4" plywood or similar. I would also like a heavy type of strap so I could carry it on a shoulder. What weight leather would all you pros suggest I use? I want to use veg tan, and carve and tool the heck out of it!

If you want really small containers, go to your local pharmacy and buy some pill bottles with threaded caps. You could also use film canisters.

Very nice! Is that stingray in the middle?

That's a super looking bag. Where did you get the closures for it, and what weight leather is it made from? Any chance you could include a photo of the open bag from the top view?

Sometimes places like home building centers (Menards et al) have granite countertops that customers ordered, but changed their minds before taking delivery. I got an entire 7 foot granite counter top plus the sink cutout for $30. Also check their "scratch n dent" items. You might be suprised at what you find.