cybertracy

I tried several types (of knives AND round knives) and settled on the Al Stohlman knife (fit my hand better) and after several attempts at sharpening finally used the tutorial Rawhide was so kind to put together. Once I got the hand of using the round knife and can keep it sharp I use almost nothing else! Let us know what you've settled on!

A friend of mine who buys old tools & craft items and resells has great luck with items like discontinued craftaids and doodle pages putting them up in "sets" on ebay for bid. He normally gets a good deal more than their estimated "worth" from collectors outbidding each other.

Hi, and welcome. I'm very new and still experimenting too and find this forum priceless. I don't have the experience to answer most of your questions, but I had the same dye problems where more dye would "grab" in places and some were resistant (and I think the leather quality does have something to do with it). I took some advice I found here and made a solution of 1 tsp of oxalic acid to a quart of water and used a soft sponge to wash the piece before I applied the dye. This really helped even out the color application. Be sure you are compeltely done tooling before doing this. I also did a wiped the piece with plain water after the oxalic acid and let the piece dry to the point where the color of the leather is back to it's natural state but there is still some cool dampness to the piece (tooling ready). good luck in your leather adventures, stick to this forum you'll learn lots.

For some reason, the tops of my favorite dye (Fiebling's) tend to leak (and I had a similar mishap). I put all my dye's in a separate tote (deep plastic open tote w/handle in the middle). But even more important to avoid mess, as soon as I open it, I put the entire bottle in a separate ziploc bag, quart size for smaller bottles and gallon size for the big ones.

for some reason my text didn't post to the above pic! sorry drac, I think I found the "updated" version of the twister exerciser. Do you think this would hold up tot he carving AND tooling? It sells for a tad under $10 on Amazon. . . Everlast for Her Twist Board Product Features Includes twist board and fitness guide Twist your way to slimmer abs, hips, and thighs High-impact, rotating platform provides a vigorous form of aerobic exercise Precision ball-bearing ride for smooth, fluid motion One-year warranty

Beautiful job, would make me want to do leatherwork even more than I do now! I love your custom drying rack, just goes to show the many uses of tools beyond their initial. I am looking forward to finding/making something similar someday, but as an alternative I just "velcroed" a couple of Tandy's toolholders to a lazy susan and divided them up so I can take 1 or 2 off as needed (basic set, Sheridan details, stamping set, etc. . . ). Sorry about the picture quality.

Hi Anne, I too would really like to get a set of pebblers, seems the perfect background stamp I knew was out there somewhere! There is al link on Hidecrafter's website to download their catalog and you will find the pebbler stamps there http://www.hidecrafter.com/uploads/Hide_Cr...Catalog__10.pdf good luck and I'd like to hear how they work for you, it will be a while before I purchase them. Tracy

Thank you so much Marlon (and Johanna) for this tutorial. I've gotten my knife close but can't seem to gain any ground, this should really help.

LOVE the Owl, looks like my Great Aunt Dolores! How about a bat & wings? My daughter thinks you should do a 'fox' mask, like the owl but hairier, come to think of it, THAT would look more like my great aunt! Beautiful work, can't wait to see more.

Hi!, not free, but something I want to try soon http://www.bighousedaddy.com/making_a_leather_hat.htm (and cheaper than buying one & ripping it apart good luck! Tracy

I bought the one from Tandy (also the one in Leather Unlt'd) and after struggling with it for a month returned it. I just finished making the one from the link Chris posted and with a couple custom twirks absolutely love it. Well worth the effort. PS: I covered the wing nut so I didn't keep catching my thread around it, put in a couple magnets on the sides to hold the needles if I need to stop for a bit and have a hook to hang a small pair of pliers for the hard to pull needle)

awesome work, even extra up-close your stitching is perfect. Can you tell me where to get the "pebbly stingray looking" backgrounder?

Hi Mike, I burnish the edges, is there a way to get that color over the entire piece, including the tooling? I also do a bit of braiding as well. . .

would love to see as well. . . i just finished a few collars for a man who lost all in a flood & would be nice to match with a leash for his dogs.

Roo, how cool, I was amazed and inspired at how easy they made all that look, perhaps in a few hundred years I'll be that adept! Don't know if you saw the other Florence leather videos, but I guess they actually have a Leather Channel in Italy--wow. I'm not in an area where there are many (if any) workshops or craftsmen to see in action, but I sure enjoy seeing the work you guys do on L/N. Hopefully someday I can travel to more of the trade shows and see something other than the local Tandy Store (for which I'm grateful!). and all I got was the Wurst Channel when I was in Germany. . .

What is the best dye to get that "natural" aged leather color? I'm very new and I'm sure there's a more technical term for the color, but I always think of it as the horse tack you leave hanging on the stall door or the old utility saddle that's not seen as much tlc as it should. I've used the Saddle Tan (which I had great hopes for) and it seems a bit too golden, others have been too brown or reddish. Tandy's Leather Glow doesn't add enough color once dry and the 'Hi-liter' is too antiquey. I will be using this on tooled and smooth leather. PS: I'm in California and I think we're down to crayola crayons and easter egg dye (only water soluble) for supplies, but I'm willing to travel if needed . PS: I love this site and thank you all for sharing your experience & knowledge . .

beautiful work, how long is the 'tail' of your shoo-fly?

Oh, i'm so sorry about all that work wasted! But thanks for posting as it could stop many new crafters from making the same mistake. My boyfriend did this with his first carved work, oven and low setting but he left it in too long. Thank goodness it was just a "tester" and we could laugh about the jerky he produced.'

sorry, I'm really new to the "non-tandy" tools, but I'm very intrigued. Does Barry King have a catalog? How does one "view" his tools--I suspect trade shows etc? thanks for the input.

While you're there, take a look at this video, amazing craftsmanship

rawhide, beautiful work! Great step-by-step too. I can't wait to try this on my next lacing project.

wow, thanks so much for your help. I've been experimenting w/different moisture levels and getting great results. I can't tell you how helpful this site has been, i've been learning (and unravelling mysteries) so much. It gives me renewed hope that I'll be able to someday finish that keychain for my mom before she's too old to drive. (ha).

thanks bill, I'll keep practicing! This may be elementary, but what tool to you use to create a large shadow area? The bevelers only go so far. . .