JerseyFirefighter

Welcome! Plenty of good tips and tricks for stamping here.

pretty neat! How did you get all of the petals to stay? If you dont mind me asking what weight leather did you use? edit: Started poking around and found a tutorial. I think the wife would appreciate the sentiment. Thanks for showing the finished product!

I'm looking to see if anyone makes special character stamps (?,!,@,$,#) either separately or a set. I'm looking particularly for a question mark but I would buy the set if it existed. Currently the only one I found was 6mm (.25") steel set. Id be looking for something a little bit larger like 12-15mm (.5"+) If anyone has been down this road let me know as i'd prefer to not have a custom one made. Thanks for any inside tracks you may have!

Thanks for the comparison. I use both 9's and 12's. Ill do a comparison once I get back into the shop. If you dont mind me asking... where do you get your rivets from?

Looks nice. Im trying to figure out if it's just the perspective or are those burrs considerably thicker than the ones I use. It would never dawn on me to think that there could very well be a difference from manufacturer to manufacturer.

I was always curious as to how you know you're not being shorted. I know that the suppliers have a much better stake invested in how to calibrate sq footage, but there's always a question now and then if some places are as accurate as they claim.

Here is some 13/15 oz drum dyed harness leather. I stamped a letter and a 3d stamp into it as well as the side view of the density of the leather. http://imgur.com/a/oFMiI

Personalized belts and dog collars I would suggest: A utility knife Edge Beveler Dye and or Neatsfoot oil if you are using natural leather A beeswax and/or glycerine soap for edge burnishing A burnisher Either a Rotary Punch or a multi sized hand punch A sealer such as resolene A rivet setter and anvil (depends on how you want to secure your belts or decorate them Finally, you should invest tens of hours and then some between here and youtube. The ultimate means to learn without a mentor is trial and error with hands on experience. I've made well over 1000 straps since I have started and every so often I have a light bulb moment where I find I can make my straps more accurately, more durable, and more efficiently. The information is there. The fact that you are here is great. Now take this vast wealth of resources and use it to your advantage.

Just dont try to use a small anvil on top of whatever piece you end up using. I've done it plenty of times before... I reckon there was just enough bounce on my bench, and stress from the anvil for me to wreck my trusty 18"x24" slab. Im on the hunt over the next few days to score a new one.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. It drives me nuts that people feel that entering other peoples residence and taking what isnt theirs is somehow justifiable. I'd like to be there right with you the next time to help teach them a lesson.

Maybe I got one of the bum ones. I saw after I had purchased it that a few reviews had the same problem that I had. I just had suspected they neglected theirs. I couldnt have been more careful with the darn thing.

I've used a bic primarily. Got suckered into buying the thread zap 2 (the wire loop burner) and my thoughts are I got about 3 days out of a AA battery, and it lasted 2 weeks before it quit on me. I always made a practice of putting the rigid plastic cap back on it as not to damage the seemingly fragile loop end. Now stupid me goes ahead and buys a butane torch off of amazon last week thinking its time to upgrade. Unfortunately it was either the rum that did it or the lack of pictures but what I thought would have been 4" mini torch turned out to be a full fledged chef's torch that is entirely too big for burning thread. I may be looking to try something different as ive noticed after some moderate use, the threads I burn tend to fray again and look a little sloppy. Maybe im just not cutting close enough to the stitch hole, but that's a whole other thread for another topic. Speaking of which, anyone have a good recommendation of a quality close quarter sewing scissor?

Thank you for your input. I think i tried acetone on black once upon a time and did look a little discolored compared to the rest of the finish. I may want to take the time and order the spot remover and deglazer so I have it on hand. Much appreciated.

Hey folks! Hope the holiday season is treating you well. I have a strap that i'd rather not have to start over again and was wondering if there was anything natural or chemical that can remove the remnants of an angelus paint streak from bridle. I removed the offending paint smear but im left with a small remnant of paint seemingly soaked into the leather. Id rather not have to remake this for such a small blemish, so I wondered if there was anything to help get it out. Thanks for any tips. It's a saddle tan color bridle if it matters. Have a great weekend!

So you bought some drum dyed leather that was struck all the way through? I'd put a dye or edge coat on the edges (before or after burnishing..different strokes for different folks). From everything ive always read you wouldnt need to put a finish on leathers that are already stuffed with waxes and oils, however I always throw a coat of two of 50/50 resolene water mix just to be on the safe side.

Thoroughbred leather carries 13/15oz bridle sides for $8.85/sq. (note it doesnt specify English for what it's worth) You have to contact Mark via email to place an order. Send a request to markcoxon01@gmail.com and he will give you a price list. The only caution i've noticed as of late is that his stock levels can vary. I would consider not waiting until last minute until ordering and ask if the stuff is in stock before you confirm the order.

M&P Shield?

Take good photos... use the tag section aggressively for each listing.... and of course some sort of media presence to help drive customers to etsy beyond just the average searcher. Etsy helped facilitate initial sales due to their customer base... but at least in my business goals the next step moving my custom work from etsy a soon to be finished website..and leave etsy for quick in stock items that can also push my name branding wise.

Perfect examples! This in addition to everything else so far is the type of advice im looking for. While I cant spell out how my business will change over the next few years... I can ultimately say that the near future will be served clicking two to three dozen "sets" of parts (4 parts per set) every 2-3 weeks. I love the notion that I could finally include my wife in doing menial projects while im away to improve overall production capability. If I got 3-4 hrs of help a week i'd consider myself on easy street. Unfortunately.. Im at the cusp of "business is doing well" vs "not busy enough" to take on some part time help. Ive heard the old adage of being busy so prices go up.. OR some businesses just hold orders to catch up. To me.. getting some tools that the wife can use can help reduce some of the backlog would be A-OK for me. This seems to be the next logical progression.

The Weaver's 8 ton is $2000. Ive watched the videos and seem to be ok with going that route. I was also looking at say the Cobra ($$$$) looks a little overboard for my production needs (but really cool) Also i'm not running a new 220v line for it or hauling around 1k lbs Looking at the hydraulic bottle jack press, it would seem that it would take considerable time just to punch out once and reset. I wasn't sure if there was anything comparable or more productive within my price range. There is a lot less info on selecting the right clicker than say the right sewing machine, so your guys info is invaluable.

Now I need to try these as i've always been oblivious to the specifics of making these work.

I was asked by a Jersey City cop friend to see if I can make an OWB WITH retention for his off duty carry and a Camden cop buddy for in IWB. been meaning to make a template.. but Im just going to use it as an excuse to buy my own Shield

Thank you for your insight Art. After al these new toys my wife might get that new house she's been looking for so long as it comes with a much larger work area to comfortably space out work stations. :D

Ouch. Weaver has a few annodized black in 1.5" I think theyre $1.50