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Thanx, Storm and bentley. I still think simple is the best, that's why just a very little carving on the panels, and no border. The Builder did do something I didn't expect, though, he reversed the left and right panels. It brought all three carvings closer. When I made them, in my head, I had them on the outside corners. I kind of like it the way he did it.

Thanx Luke! This was mostly him, but I enjoyed the break from constructing things, and just doing a little carving. 3M spray was what he said he used.

A Furniture Maker asked me to make some panels for a desk he was making. I had no idea what it would look like in the end, but followed his requests. His pictures are too small for detail, but the overall look came out good, I thought. He did a great job on the carpentry. You can find his post here: http://lumberjocks.c...#comment-626242

Well, I'm on the books now! Thanks for the help Kate. Very inexpensive for advertising. I started off with the minimum, and as the months go by, I'll try all the other options. With the Great Google bots looking down on this site, it's a certainty the hits to my site will increase.

My problem is that i don't have any good pictures of current work, but sign me up, anywho. Maybe someone could write something up for me?. Pm me with what you want me to do. If I'm supposed to do all myself, I'll figger it out over the next few days, just gotto finish some work first.

Don't use this for wearables. It will rub off and leave black marks on clothing.

Spidey would be pleased! Good job, Tom. Looks like you can add another product to the line.

Congratulations!! All the best for this coming year. A good heart should be rewarded.

From my experience, it does stiffen the edges a bit for awhile, eventually even the thread stretches. You do have to have the right weight leather, thread and tension, so the interlock is buried in the leather. I do this when the customer wants one of the traditional one layer belts with the "diamond/oval stitch running the length of the belt. For the customer that wants better, I do the d/o on the top layer, then stitch a back liner to it.

Use sexy models, hire someone who knows how to photograph....ROFL Seriously, don't ask me, I can take 60 pictures of the same thing, and still come up with bupkiss. My daughter can take one shot, and it looks like it's ready for an art museum. I'm looking forward to the responses here, as long as it doesn't involve buying one of them $1000 cameras, or a brain transplant.

Not to throw you off track...I have never used Sno-Seal, or your Skidmores, but I do use the Feibing's product Snow-Proof. I couldn't tell you what's in any of them, but judging from the way everyone discusses them here on the board, they all do pretty much the same thing. In Snow-Proof, I don't smell any chemicals. They probably all contain waxes, palm oil, etc, I'm not sure. I have had people specifically come back to me wondering what it is I put on the leather, because to them, believe it or not, they appreciate the "feel" of it. There's a waxy soft feel, that does dissipate after a while, but then you just give another coat. Snow-Proof would probably be available to you over there, because it is Feibings. All in all, they are probably the same ingredients, with small variations in different mfgs recipes. Of course, your Skidmore's must be the best....lol

I have buckets of oil dye and neatsfoot oil, that I "dunk" projects in. They give me consistent coloring, without dauber streaking, along with a few special surprises sometimes, which I will explain in some other thread, someday. Many holster makers use the same method, I believe. SnowProof is a Feibings product. It gives a nice soft finish, and a very nice feel to the leather. I buy mine at Zack White's.

Out of state welding inspection company asked me to make some cases for welding glass. He remembered an old pocket case that used to be available, but no longer ( I seem to get a lot of these dupe old stuff). So he sent me a picture of the old case. I duped as best I could. For some reason, I enjoyed making these. Different=fun. 4oz vegtan, dark brown oil dye and neatsfoot, dunked, snowproof finish. PS: I had Grey Ghost Graphics make up a 2" stamp with the company logo.

Thanks guys and dolls. Yep, Dan, I made that one up Good one bentley...that's a for sure Somebody keep an eye on those hatley boys.... Hey, I could do this all day, but I'll save some for a Part 2. All Y'all should be filling in the rest of this one.

TIPS FROM UNCLE DAVE: Part 1 Make 2 gallons of Vinegaroon at a time. The leather will soak up more than you think. Mix up a bucket of Baking soda, while you're at it. Be careful, even dry vinegaroon splatters will get on everything. Don't let your Oil Dye and Neatsfoot mixtures freeze overnight. Mix them very well at all times before dunking. Edge cut and Burnish your edges before you try and mark sewing lines or groove. Makes for smoother lines. When you buy blades for any tool...buy 2 or more packages. Don't estimate a job unless you've already made the pattern to cut out the leather. Those small things eat up much more leather than you think. Check how much thread is on the boobin spool before you start sewing. Piecework is your friend. Making six belts...edge all of them in one step, slot them, all in one step, dye all in one step, etc. Just remember, if you have to make six of something...test the first one completely before cutting all the rest. Promise more than you can deliver, then deliver more than you promised. Let it dry first!!! Top finish first, then lightly burnish edges before dying. It makes for a cleaner dye job. Then do the full burnish after dye dries. If you burnish with canvas, or denim, have a black cloth a brown cloth, and a neutral one. Keep the empty small jars of dye, etc. Pour the quart sizes into the small ones as needed. When you spill, it ain't so bad...lol Never jump right into a project from yesterday. Do something simple first to get your head straight. The smallest scrap can be useful...testing dyes, etc...but at some point throw it away! Keep your fingers out of the way! Or at least, keep the bandaids close by. No, you can't disguise it with dye. Duct tape the edges of your benches. They'll scratch the leather easier than you think. You can't have enough small clamps. Go ahead, add your own..this might be fun...

classy bag!

CAVEAT: This has nothing to do with ME, my work, or my business. Just an observation. I noticed today, a topic where one leather maker commented to another, in a competitive manner. It was obviously meant to show one's output more capable, and possibly swing any customers that might be reading the topic, torwards him or her. Now, that's the American way, I guess, and since LW is reaching out to more and more people, both makers, and those looking to have something made, I thought this would be a good beginning to a conversation among us makers, as to just how we should interact with each other on this Forum. Ego, money, misinterpreted topics and comments will always happen here on the intertubes. It's just the nature of the beast. We form our friendships, and communities directly from our perception of the written words, or affinities for each others works. Sometimes they're right...sometimes wrong. With the growth of our little board, I am just wondering what you all think. I do not think this is pervasive, at all, here, just that I've seen it enough times to ask you directly what you think. How, if at all we should deal with it, and in general, how we approach the future of this board. LW has grown from a few makers, and hobbyists, to possibly a fundamental part of the Business. The operators of this board are likely to have even grander plans for it. I for one, am truly greatful for their work. Sometimes these types of conversations garner little response, or deteriorate rapidly, other times there are gems hidden within. Let's see what you got.....

The customer just okayed it, and already agreed to some of the changes I was thinking. This could be a cool business relationship. Thanx Ray, but you know me, I get into mischief even when I work. Thanx jLSleather, just shut your brain down, and listen to the leather...lol

Thanx terrahyd, and Storm, glad you like it, I just keep on truckin, someday, maybe even I'll be pleased...lol

Well, this is the second stage of the bag I'm trying to design for a customer. It's much finer than bag 1, but as usual, I have a hundred new ideas in construction and design. There's quite a few hours up to this point, so I'm going to put it aside for awhile, unless there is some sort of minimal production. The colors and method of construction kind of forced the way the bag looks. I didn't seem to have anything to do with it. I just built according to what it told me to do. The base, flap, belt and top piece are vinegarooned 2/3oz veg tan leather. The body is gray, and black garment cow. The handles are oiled black cow. All of this comes from Zack's. Thank goodness there's a place close, to go pick out supplies when I need it. Hardware came from Ohio Travel. Thanx fer lookin

Then I got mine at Ohio Travel bag.

Zack White's has these, I think. If you don't see it in their online catalog, just call them and ask.

Zack's is my local supplier. I live about 1/2 hr. east of them, and go there quite regularly. Anytime you need a guide to the wild world of NC, and Zacks, just email/pm me. I'ld be glad to help.

Jeff, this is the "pinned" thread about posting pix here. Hope it will help. BTW!, Welcome to the board, you've come to the right place. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=15122

small pocket pouch