billybopp

Beiler's Leather Supply 3025 Harvest DrRonks, PA 17572-9756 717-768-0174 ... Not sure if that's what you're looking for... Bill

I reckon 5 of a pattern is probably a good number. Enough to learn at each iteration, and few enough that boredom doesn't overtake ambition and make you want to give it up! You'll learn something with every one - and it might be fun once you've done with all of those to go back and try each one again - I expect you'll be surprised how much you've learned. -Bill

Regular dye and pro dye are both good. Pro dye is a bit more vibrant, using petroleum based (IE synthetic) colors in alcohol based carrier. Regular dye is also alcohol based. Colors can be mixed to create different shades ... But mixing between regular and pro can lead to surprises. Both are a bit easier to use and control when diluted with denatured alcohol, rubbing alcohol, or (sinfully wasting) vodka or everclear. Sometimes you can get even the stuff that's illegal in Cali via eBay I've heard... At some point, you may want to take a look at some of the leather color books by Stohlman, or the Fiebings Fantastic Finishes book. Good stuff! - Bill

Good choices, the Figure and Pictorial books are great, but not the thing if you want to learn floral carving. These and others are also available in .PDF format from Tandys leathercraft library online for a bit less cash. If you're a 'video learner", I'd also recommend Tandys video series with Jim Linnell. It's a good intro to floral carving. Also, I concur completely with Bikermutt - Leathercraft Tools book is essential. Your tools HAVE to be very VERY sharp to be effective. I'd also suggest practice, practice, practice. Use some scrap tooling leather and just make some cuts with your swivel knife to learn control ... Make a bunch of "S" cuts - practice easing into and out of cuts. Make your "S" cuts from both directions. Work on making some circles with a cut from left and right - make concentric circles around each other keeping distance between equal and symmetrical. Once you have some lines, you can also experiment with bevelers and learn how to get smooth bevels. (Yeah... It's boring, but like practicing scales in music or lines when drawing - it's the basics and gets you comfortable with your tools). When you are comfortable with your tools, pick a simple-ish pattern and do it over several times - critique and learn from each one. Rounders are a good item to use for these exercises. They're not overly expensive, not too big, not too small, and you can use 'em as drink coasters when they're finished. There's also the opportunity to experiment with dyes, antiques and finishes on these. (PS ... Highly recommend Fiebings dyes, antiques and finishes over Tandy's eco-flo products). Hope that helps! -Bill

IIRC, Ian Atkinson's wallet pattern on Etsy has variations for script from various countries ... he also has a "more refined" design available with folded edges, etc. - Bill

Awww. Get better, Wiz! - Bill

I don't have one of Terry's knives, since I went a different direction and have antiques with the exception of the two really cheap ones that I bought specifically as "learners" ( to learn to sharpen and use). They are over 100 years old, are still in great shape and very nice to use. If you look at old price lists, these would have cost one to two weeks wages when they were new - a BIG chunk of change. Knipschield or Leatherwranglers are every bit as good if not a bit better than my antiques and with a little care will last as long - Your great grandchildren could well be using them. The prices might seem a little high, but for most of us they are a few days pay - even after taxes. Not at all bad in comparison to the antiques when new. It's a pretty good deal, really. Just some food for thought - Bill P.S. Mutt - When are you gonna make some sheaths for those?

Most use rounders to make drink coasters with. Great for beginning carver/toolers sine they're not too big, not too small, inexpensive and make something useful. As shown here tho. They can have other uses. We'll done. I may have to make similar. - Bill

Not sure if these would work for you, but Lisa Sorrell (a LWN sponsor) has been selling some heat erasable markers that look promising on her Sorrell Notions and Findings site. She also has a youtube video on how to use them. They just might do the trick for you. - Bill

Barbie needs one o' these. She's a classy chick. - Bill

That's gonna look nice - Very worthy of Thor. I bet it'll feel nice too! - Bill

Those stretched leather strops were pretty common (although usually not as pretty as that one) about 100 years ago. They were usually used to strop straight edge razors. - Bill

You might try pencil grips - lots of styles - not free, but not overly expensive. like these @Amazon. Might not fit all stamps, tho. - Bill

These are coming along nicely - It's fun watching your progress! - Bill

Battlemunkys shed looks nicer than some apartments I've lived in. Probably bigger, and better smelling too...especially with leather there. - Bill

The right way is the one that gets you the result that you were looking for. Some dyes get dark really quickly while applying. Those can be made easier to control when diluted. Resolene can be a bit difficult to get smooth when wiped or brushed, which can be made a bit easier with dilution. If you're getting good results .. Don't go changing! Bill

Love it! Outta the park again. Bill

Those are usually done with embossing wheel and gold foil. The wheels come up now and then on eBay. Search bookbinding. Bill

I love eBay ads out of China that have a long string of words.... None of which have anything to do with the actual name of the item.

There should be a rule on here where anybody that shows a holster or sheath must also show at least one picture of the gun or knife that goes in it! Lots of us like guns and knives almost as much as we like leather! In any case, nice lookin' rig! Bill

I think I remember seeing the loop clam on either a post here by Gmace99, or on one of his uksaddlery youtube videos. But I could be wrong since as you get older the second thing to go is memory. Bill

That thing is bigger than my whole workshop!

I suspect that was done with a roller embossing machine such as Tandy used to sell. Bill

Mitered corners are indeed a bit more complicated and less forgiving than straight up sewing two pieces together. I agree with the above observations, a round awl isn't ideal, the holes are a bit too close to the edge, and the thread is a bit too thick to work effectively, and possibly pulled too tight. - causing the leather to bulge. Amongst other things, on a corner like this, you can see both sides of the stitch line simultaneously so any errors are more visible. Because you are pulling the thread through at an angle, it's a little harder to be consistent with the angle of the awl - your eyes play tricks on you! It is more sensitive to how tight the thread is pulled since it's pulling on the hole at an angle rather than straight through - it bulges more easily. Things that can make the job easier include the proper awl, a box corner sewing jig/clam/horse/maybe-it-has-some-other-name and a smaller thread. While I also like the look of stitching without a groove, that groove can be quite helpful learning how to get your awl lined up just right giving you a clearly defined target for the exit hole. It also provides just a little forgiveness if it's not exactly right by somewhat pushing the thread into position. You may find this video by Nigel Armitage helpful! Hope that helps! Bill

The body of the bag is definitely piping where the two pieces come together with a contrasting piping/welt sewn between them. There is a pretty good video about piping on Youtube by Cechaflo - who has a bunch of excellent videos about upholstery. The flap can also be made with the same technique, but looking at the picture it doesn't quite look right to be plain piping - it's a little flatter, there is no edge showing from the flap body, and the stitching is VERY close to the edge. That leads me to suspect that it is a french rolled edge. Take a look at this wallet tutorial for some good photos of a French rolled edge. Bill