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Awesome! Now you've done it. You will not get a day off from customers for a year...lol

Welcome Raga! You've come to the right place. There's some awesome sheath and knife makers here. Beautiful work! Especially for one who taught themself. I couldn't figure which one I liked best....

I browse the Great Google's Books section every once in awhile. There's quite a few items that come up in the leather type searches. This one was pretty good. Includes making the thread, trace repairs, etc. If you get one helpful idea out of the ancient ones, consider it a good day. http://books.google....0repair&f=false Let's see if I can upload the pdf....Harness_Repairing.pdf Harness_Repairing.pdf

Welcome Fuzzy! everything you said is true... I liked your site. I hope you do well.

I'm 60 in December, and look how I'm handling it...lol

What you're probably talking about is a "netbook" or "notebook". They run smaller than average laptops with 11-12" screens, generally under $400, some as low as $280. Tiger Direct has some refurbished ones that run cheaper than the regular retail price. They're convenient and not a bad idea for a workbench as long as it's not too dusty around them. Cleaning a laptop device of dust and dirt can be a pain in the butt. Craigslist and such have lots of deals too. If you go down to the local habitat/goodwill type stores, you could pick up a small computer there cheap. And if it doesn't last too long in the work environment, then not too much lost. Desktops and workstation type pcs are easy to keep clean, pop the cover and air dust them.

Looks like a hand sprayer to me.

Several ways... If you have a hole punch,and a wood chisel, just punch two holes at either end of your desired slot, then chisel through both sides. If you don't have a punch, you could drill the holes. You could do a straight slot with no roundness at the ends with just a knife of some sort, but the rounded ends look better.

I've always called it a Push Beveler. Lots of people call it a creaser...either way is okay, but by calling the old fashioned name, at least people might understand how to use it properly. Many people pull it back towards themselves...don't. Push, and keep it as straight up as you can without sliding off the edge. That allows for the rounding part to be more effective. I always burnish the edges first, before using it, makes for a smoother ride along the edge. I still heat mine up on a small propane torch, but others don't. They case the leather properly, then use the tool. That makes a fine impression. With it heated (not to much now), I think it seals the bevel nicer, and glides smoother on the grain...each to his/her own.

Hey Nathan, Welcome to the Board! Tandy has some pattern kits for simple vests. They should be just right for just starting out. You'll be able to modify them to be a little more RenFest specific, easily. If you see a vest in the local Goodwill type store, just buy it, and then take it apart. You'll be able to figure it, I'm sure. Also, do some searches here on this Forum, there are many RenFest people here, and some very good examples. Good Luck, and don't forget to post pix of your work once it gets going.

Welcome Rob! Don't worry, your English is much better than our Dutch !! We have Google translator if we get stumped...lol You'll find a lot of people here from Europe. They'll be a big help, I'm sure.

For now, I merged them all into one post, and moved to used cutting machinary for sale. When the Mods wake up, they'll sort it out. Sure was messy....

Your making an 8/9oz belt, which is less than some standard regular single layer ones(9/10oz). I don't think you will have any problems lining the entire length. When I double my carry belts, I skive the two layers at both ends, and line the full length. I want to see this thing when you're done! Sounds real blingy.

Amazing! To pull that off from design to construction in one day shows just awesome skill. Congratulations. You'll be suprised at those designer bags, most aren't much better than any imported bags. The leather and hardware is cool, but the actual bags, meh.

Here's my Catahoula, Lucy..smartest, best damn dog I ever had...she's old now, but in her day...Wife says we'll never own another kind of dog! Plus, a typical Southern trio (just for laughs...no insults meant...remember I live down here)

A quick possibility: Would be to assemble with rubber cement, or even small clamps, burnish, then carefully peel apart for the stitching and the final welt edge. Maybe when you peel it apart,or repositioned, you'll have roughened the edge a bit, but it would be easier to reslick with the majority already burnished?

As many people on earth, that's the sizing..... I've sold 40" to 72". But children need even smaller... Generally if I'm making straps ahead of a show, or for a retail shop, I make an assortment of straight straps, various sizings, e.g. 44", 46", 48", 50", etc. Then, add in some adjustables, with about a six inch adjustment, eg. 44-50", 46-52", etc.. There's a lot of elementary students who need straps, so small sizes are welcome, but they don't buy expensive leather ones, but plain simple ones, they like. From my experiences, the Bass players like the 3" wide, while the others prefer 2 1/2" wide. Mandolineers like 3/4"-1" wide . Banjo players, like 1.25" (cause some of them are heavy). I stay away from stocking a store with straps, if they are on consignment (for one friend, I do..), because by the time there are enough straps, you are out of a lot of time, effort, and material to make up enough variety of choice. If you do a web search, you'll find only a handful of handcrafted that are popular for each instrument. Then they break off into genres (rock, bluegrass, etc) Each one has a particular style, and typical measurement options, but all offer a custom size, width,etc. I'm at the point now, that if a store wants the stock, I think I will have a minimum order of $750, which would allow me to make a variety sampling of say, a dozen straps,different styles, different sizes, from $40-$125. Even then, they will be asked for something they don't have in stock..... I, too, would be curious to see how othere handle this type of situation.

Thanx Art, FredF. I know, 4700!. Can you believe it? Well you can add a few hundred today to it. we rode 8 bikes all the hell over half of NC today. They beat this old man up, I tell you. Them long curvy country roads.... Right off the bat, I need to get me a bigger tank...lol I've got my leathers figured out now, though. Once I figure out the new seat, and how it all fits, I'll start on making them. Fred, be sure to post your pix once you get started. Same for anybody else watching this thread. Let's see what you've got going...

Just a quicky...went into my messenger section, and found my capacity at 100%. Last I checked, it was below 50%. Has the storage capacity been lowered, and I need to clean out, or do you plan on raising the capacities?

Thanx Troy. I fixed the original one too.

For all you UK steampunk fans: http://www.boingboin...cience-mu.html Congrats Tom!

All I see is the great potential of the new software. It has all the things I've been hoping for, with the promise of even more. The buggaboos will get fixed, and this too will be forgotten with a little time. Look how many people here don't even know about the "Big Crash" IE seems to be the big problem, but that's understandable. Microsoft has always tried to bully its way into being THE standard, while the rest of the world developed a cooperative standard. MS just doesn't play well with others. Teacher Parent conference will be necessary...lol. The feed back from users here has, I'm sure greatly helped J&K and the others to make this work, and they've done a helluva job, right in front of everyone, not behind super closed doors. That takes guts, I tell u. There are a lot of people who don't like change. It works for me! Why fix it. I really do understand their feelings, but change is the most basic of human development. Some do get left behind. Others get mad and go elsewhere, but the majority work with what they have. Whether that's good or bad, I can't say. I'm just hoping we don't lose a single User. We all need each other more than we know. I still consider this forum, to be an historical part of Leather Working. The Guild of all Guilds. It's definitely not something I thought I'ld ever see. Meanwhile, when I click "view new posts" the first time comes up "no new posts". If i click again, up comes the new posts. I happens quite often (this is on firefox 3.5.2). Speed has definitely increased. Page loads take a few time units longer than they used to, but I think the adverts loading has more to do with it than anything else. A few milliseconds is not that important to me, especially if it helps pay the bills, and informs the leatherworker of new potentials. Thanx Johanna, and everyone else who have worked so hard!

Thank Chuck Burrows for this big link about walnut shells http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21507.0.html This page starts to talk of where to get http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,21507.60.html There are Topics here on LW that also give specifics as to where to find...I just can't find them now. Do some multi searching here, include walnut, vinegaroon, natural dyes, etc. hopefully, someone with the specific answer will respond. But I hope I helped

That's a beauty!. I like the sweep of the tank. The stock sportster is a short 7'. When you turn, the back wants to overide the front wheel, and the bike wants to stand upright through the turn, making it a sometimes, an awkward thing. A little rake helps the bike sort of lean into the turn. Not much, 4-5 degrees. At least that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. lol I rode for twenty years, but it's been 25 years since then. I'm a bit rusty, and my figgerin might be outdated, probably "old school" is what it is. Flat black, y'all! Did I tell you, your bike is beautiful...lol PS: Boudica, the Irish Warrior is a distant relative of mine.....that an a quarter, I suppose.

'88 HD 883 Sportster Deluxe. 4700 original miles. This thing roars! I plan to lower it, give a little more rake for better handling, and a bigger tank for longer rides. But mostly, it's got me figuring what leathers to make first...saddlebags, solo seat, grips, chaproll...don't know where to start, but it sure is fun thinking about it. Haven't seen a bike thread in awhile, show us your babies.... PS. the new attachment stuff is great!!!! And the Preview shows pictures...much better than before!!