Hilly

Please excuse my ignorance, but just what is a bosal, and what is it used for? :scratchhead: I've come across more things on these forums that I have no idea what they are. Most I can find out by Googling, but all I get is that this has got something to do with a horse (besides the hair)?

I think we owe them that much. Doesn't necessarily work that way once they arrive at the slaughter house, though. I know a man that used to work for a slaughter house that did about 1,000 head per day, and he was the man behind the "trigger" - the guy that actually did the deed. I eventually asked him to please stop telling me stories. Really bugs me when I think about it... I'm really glad I'm not a cow or a veal calf.

I sent it via PM. Check your messages. Thanks, Hilly

Let me know if you get my email?

That'd be awesome! Let me know how much I owe you if/when you decide to ship. I know that the post orifice has mailing tubes...

I have a holster with a bright red suede lining that's actually sort of pretty with the brown leather. I'd try a piece of it for lining a holster. In fact, I'd like a hunk of that myself.

That is really beautiful! I love it. What tool did you use for the background texture, and where did you get it?

As long as you don't have to cut it with a chainsaw and chew it for an hour, it's not bad coffee!

That is exactly what I intend to do from now on. Clay has already gone out of his way to try and help me out, and I very much appreciate it. It is people like him that make doing business a pleasure.

Art, thanks for pointing me toward more sources. I do talk to them at Tandy. I just hate the runaround I keep getting, and have decided to try calling in my future orders to another location, and see what happens. Clay from Tandy in South Dakota offered to make good on someone else's mess, just to help fix things, and although I can't take advantage of it, I very much appreciate his very kind offer. Goes to show that there's still good people in this world.

After several difficult online orders with Tandy, I ordered a catalog from Hide Crafters. I'm wondering are there other places where I can buy leathercraft supplies? I've orderd from Tandy online several times, and have had to call and enquire about the status of my order on all but 1 occasion. This last order was made 2 weeks ago when I ordered some single shoulders on one of their promos. I'm sort of tired of their excuses and runaround. "Our computers were down". "You have back ordered items". "We shipped it today, you'll have it tomorrow", yet it never seems to arrive so I call again, and they know nothing about my order, yet my card has been charged. I've made a holster for my husband's .44, and had it finished (except for stitching it up) a week before deer season opened. Now the season is half over, and I still have not recieved my stitching awl that was ordered 15 days ago. We're both a bit disappointed. Is Hide Crafter any more reliable than Tandy? Are there other large suppliers besided these two companies? I would like to see if someone else would like my money besides Tandy. Sorry for the rant, but I'm getting a bit frustrated.

Okay, I'll bite here. I own guns simply because I CAN. I am a woman living in the U.S. that defends our right to keep and bare arms. I personally own 2 shotguns, a hunting rifle, and 2 pistols of my own - a .357 magnum for self protection, and a .44 magnum for "plinking" and hunting. I do hunt upland game birds, wild turkey and white tailed deer, and I do enjoy "plinking" with the pistols. I am very familiar with all of my firearms, and could operate them with my eyes closed. I sleep with a loaded pistol within easy reach in case someone tries to break in to my home. I also feel that guns do not kill people - people kill people. It is not guns that you need to fear, it is the person behind the trigger. Have a nice day, Hilly

Sometimes I leave a long tag end on the thread, and after machine sewing, I thread a small needle with the tag end, and pull the tag end to the inside, so it does not show, and if possible clip it then. Most of the time, I just nip it off close. Don't know if this is right or wrong, just what I do.

Aside from linings or moccasins, mountain man type clothing, and wiping off your newly washed car, what else are deer hides good for? I have several that have been sitting around for ages, and am looking for uses for it. I once made a shotgun "sock" type case for my husband's shotgun, but he says the gun is difficult to get in and out of it. How is it to sew with an industrial walking foot machine? I do have leather needles for the machine... Thanks, Hilly

Hi Don. Do you have a pattern for a S&W 357 with about a 6 inch barrell? Thanks, Hilly

Your bracelets are really beautiful! I like the color of the top bracelet, and the design, too. I'm allergic to most types of metals, so I'm always looking for alternatives. Can I ask how much you want for one?

I'm sure your Mom will love the case! You did a great job! What I do when I upholster a car seat is to begin my seam a few stitch lengths away from the beginning of the seam, and begin the seam by backstitching a few stitches (to the beginning), and then stitch the normal seam, and end with backstitching a few stitches. It keeps the seams looking neat, and adds the strength you need.

You're exactly right. Funny thing is, I called there before, and aked if they had any small pieces or scraps, they told me they don't save the scraps from jobs. I stopped in there today, and they had only just finished cutting the sink openings for a job, and were about to put the cutouts on a truck headed for wherever it is that they dispose of the waste rock. It must have been my lucky day. Now I have an extra piece to share if someone wants it.

I went to a local company that makes marble and granite counter tops, and asked if they had any scrap pieces that would fit my needs. They gave me 2 polished granite cutouts from sinks for free. Each piece is about 14"x 17" oval by 2" thick. How cool is that?

Hey Bruce, thanks for the tip!

Thank you Kate! It's really hard to know what you're buying when you can't see the item in person. I live about 3 hours away from the nearest Tandy Store, so I won't be getting there very often.

Randy, thanks for answering my newb question. Perhaps you could provide a link to where I could find an awl like the one you mentioned? I did Google Bob Douglas, and did not get anything pointing me to a source for tools. In answer to your question about the thread, I was not aware that you could get polyester thread that looks as nice as the linen as far as weight/diameter of the thread goes? What type are you using? I don't think I'd like the look of a scrawny, skinny piece of thread for my hand stitching. I really like the look of the linen. True, I'd hate to have my pistol rip it's way out of my holster many years from now, and I'm not saying this in a smartass kind of way. I want my projects to last so that my grand kids/nephews/nieces can use and enjoy them when I'm gone.

Where can you find a diamond point awl? Tandy offers stitching awls with the thread spools (not what I want), and an awl with 4 different blades, none of which are the diamond point I'm after. I'm also looking for a source of unwaxed linen thread for general purpose leather work. Can someone please clue me in as to what kind of linen thread would be a good all around thread to use? I'm wanting to hand sew some holsters if it makes a difference. Thanks for your replies!

That is an awesome holster! That is the kind of holster my husband wants me to make him for his scoped .44MAG. Could you please post a pic of how the strap attaches at the back?

Thanks. I will order that book.