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Had to make a working holster for my customer's 22. Straight cant. He hunts them "varmints that git the corn". Chestnut bridle top(8oz), calfskin lining. I tried to match the dye job onto the lining with mahogany oil dye, and neatsfoot, mixed. I didn't bone it all too much or carefully. Tonight he'll be dragging it through the swamp anyways...lol. I know how much time I spent developing the pattern, and making it, so I have a price in mind, but I was wondering if anyone can come up with the price they think it should be, or how much they get for something like this, it would help me in the future on my market pricing. Tell me if your pricing would be based on something better than this, or if you get that price for something less quality, say, unlined for example. Thanks for looking, and for the help if you can.

Do a search for any comment by Art here on this board...the man is a walking, breathing encyclopedia of sewing machine information!

Very interesting website Mike! The shoes look great, and authentic to me. Just curious what the purpose is of the high curled toes. Is that specific to dancing, or just the traditional English clog?

Some good practice there. What are you using for embossing backing?

Wow..looks like the vendors are paying attention to this board!

Reminds me of New England, and many weekends out on the ice. Back then they were just shanties, now they are like hotel rooms!...lol With the price of lumber now, I see them being built out of metal studs, and 2" insulation board, but inside still has all the "amenities". You know it's a posh one when there's a generator outside, and a tv antenna!

I like it! Nice color to it! Holds what you want, and wont get so thick with stuff that your back aches...lol

Welcome to the Board, Jim! I missed the pix of your cellphone case..I'll have to hunt and peck for them later. I just finished up your PIF, I'll be mailing it out tomorrow. Better late than never! Considering these modern times, it should be very useful...that's all the hint you get...lol

Looks beautiful Kate. Someone is gonna be real happy. I'm like you, I like to figure out new ways to adjust and attach.

sorry, I didn't understand. yep feibings oil dye. It's the only kind i use. Stir the neatsfoot and oil dye constantly, it mixes well, but settles out quick. I've learned to make a lot of "happy accidents", out of dyeing with unintended results, so enjoy the experimentation...lol

I see no mistakes and that lettering is great. Thanx Go2Tex, the longer I look, the worse it looks...lol There's something inside me that will not allow me to do things perfectly, even though I'm quite able to do better. It goes back to the pricing thread, I think. To keep my stuff in a price range that people can afford, I use lots of shortcuts, and spend less time thinking about a project, just diving in until it's done. This strap took about 4-5 hrs, and some $15-20 material. So instead of a $200-$300 strap, it comes down around $100-$125. It looks pretty good, and the construction is solid, but the work is not like the saddlemakers or others here on the forum. I'm more like the local cobbler pumping out repairs and such, than the fine artists that show here. What tool did you use for the matting around the letters? a-888, my favorite Also, was that saddle tan antique or highlighter or what? Saddle Tan mixed with neatsfoot, covered with hi-lite I assume that was mahogany dye on the edge? yep .

mntdshootrdoc, as was explained to me, unscrew the tensions all the way out , and adjust in a tiny bit in on the main. Adjust in tiny increments until it works for you. But better than that is the new Artisan video they made. It is a GREAT asset to the community. Follow their setup advice exactly, and you shouldn't ever have a problem. You can search this forum for the thread that talks about the video, or, I think, it's on their site. I haven't had a problem at all since watching it.

Thanx abn. That pattern is the easiest BW, to me. It's just a matter of matching legs, and hitting the center point. There's very little lining up to do, like a regular BW. The hardest part is getting the correct angle so the edge line leg will be blended by the border tool, just takes a few seconds of experiment on an equal sized scrap piece. This is the second time that I've heard people having a bit of trouble getting this one down, next time I do one, I'll take some pictures of the process.

Outstanding! Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here, and we look forward to your contributions. There's a good global presence here, thanks for adding to the mix.

Nice clean work! Clean molding. I tend to overdo the molding. The belt slot looks right for a double layer gunbelt.

Looks like a great start! Now get to it. There's a lot before you finish...lol How did you figger the curve to it?

Jbird, you better believe I used my new strop board...gotto be careful it don't cut too deep now...lol Thanx Max, it's belt leather, maybe 8/9oz, with a garment leather lining (suede side showing).

Thanks Luke. Actually I don't want to go far, I just want to stay here in the shop, and have them come to me...lol

For my bestest guitar strap customer. This is his third one. No hardware, adjusts from 48 to 56 Arrowhead basketweave and san marcos border Mahogany edge, saddle tan body Made a few (probably many!) mistakes. I have GOT to practice my freehand lettering....but all in all... Hope you like it.

These things have happened to all of us at times. I've used deglazer to solve this too, but you have to be careful, too much deglaze in one place causes the stain to be darker in that spot....light coats, and easy rubbing seems the best approach I've found. Funny this came up. Yesterday I had to wrap some chain for a guy who uses the chain as a handle on his gigantinormous pitbull. He needed to wrap the chain to be easier on his grip. The dog has that mottled coat, I think they call it "brindle"..not sure...my catahoula has the same coloring. Well, anyways, I tried to take advantage of some leather I had that really showed flaws when dying. I attempted to create the brindle look on purpose with it. Dunked the piece in a mixture of mahogany oil dye, and neatsfoot, and was rewarded with this result. I like it a lot, just hope I can duplicate again...

I'm gonna second the vinegaroon black. I was gonna jump in with this suggestion but I thought it was a standard suggestion, so I didn't. I've given up on any commercial black, there's just too much trouble involved with them. I even use the vinegaroon to dye the edges on belts. It doesn't rub off on people's clothes at all. It can be as dull or as shiny as you want using anything from Neatlac to Atom Wax, various cremes and finishes (tan kote, bag kote, etc.). Personally, I like the look of Sno Proof. It isn't all that shiny after it soaks in, and gives the flat black just the right finish I like. Picard's etc would probably work just as well. You can cut any of the finishes down, like Atom Wax to reduce the shine, and still leave a sealant. You have to experiment with this to get the look you want. I have had many compliments from the biker people with this look. It just has a completely different black than what they see out there. I also have had success using Harness dressing on some leathers, although I haven't used it on the vinegaroon as yet. On some veggi tanned it leaves a satin shine, but on other leathers it soaked in more and much less shine. I can't think of one sealant that will leave that flat you want though. All the finishes leave some residual shine. I do have to think there is a possibility you don't have to seal the vinegar black though. Chemically it pushes all the oils and such to the top grain. Notice that after oiling and drying that water is repelled completely, even if you pour it on. It seems waterproof by itself.

Great job! Anything that makes the Union stronger is alright in my book!

Welcome! Looks like you've come to right place. There's plenty of historical work here, and it looks like you've got plenty to share with us here. I like your designs. a lot.

Real nice job, Goldwing!. The lettering looks great! I thought you embroidered them on at first, then I looked closer. I'm always jealous of good lettering.

I don't know if this is the same company Art has mentioned, but this one does make braiding machines that look awesome. They are UK based with US presence and worldwide sales. If they are the same CO., that's great, because there must be a growing market for a Co. to add HD sewing machines... http://www.cobrabraids.co.uk/textile.htm