meagain

They won't be daily 24/7 wearing collars - just for walking/visiting (being with owner). Will be for Sighthounds - around 40-60 pounds. They have long skinny necks so they wear wide collars and are pretty calm/docile types. Was thinking at least 3 rivets to secure 2 D-rings as the only hardware. Well - I'll look into it but I'm not at that point yet. First need the right tools. Maybe I should just spring for one of the BK 'kits' and be done with it. Hopefully at most get 1-2 more tools like the pebble backgrounder. IF I go crazy and buy that - I assume the Sm-Med 'kit' the way to go?

No I didn't sharpen/hone the blade. Was figuring for $55 bucks (on sale from $70) it would be good enough initially out of the box I did practice with wetting the leather and learned too wet is a very bad thing! I tried with different degrees of damp and I 'think' I was in the proper realm. It seemed 'smooth' flowing but just not wide enough or 'pretty'? If you all think the BK knife/blade is better - I'll return this one and get that.

Thanks guys! Well I did make that trip to Tandy and felt compelled to buy their Pro Swivel knife which was on sale for $54.99. I wanted a smaller one but ended up with this. The bigger diameter with 3/8" blade. Yes I bought some tools and scrap leather. Well - I've watched a ton of Youtubes and I'm not getting the swivel knife results I want. The videos I've seen - notably Bruce Cheaney - show the blade flowing like butter and the blade making a thick or wider cut than I'm getting. I.e.; My lines are thin - more like Exacto blade/razor and just - pissy. The lines I see on Youtube are wide and pretty/interesting in themselves. Detail lines I'm trying to make are wiry thin and 'nothing'. So I'm not sure what I'm doing here but something's not right I think. Maybe I should return it.

Hi. Total newbie here. I'm interested in making leather collars - for myself and friends. Around 2 inches wide. They will me limited slip collars. No sewing. Hoping to do Sheridan-ish - florals, scrolls, and basic stuff to start. Hardware to be held by rivets of some sort. I also hope to add swarovski crystals with rim sets unless I can find them ready to go. I think I'm going to get a Barry King swivel knife and maul (16oz?) but am lost on the tools. And the size of them for a 2" wide design. I'm also worried a bit about buying bad tools yet don't want to spend $25-30 a pop for each. I'm hoping to get by with maybe 6 tried and true tools for now. Go-to tools. Tomorrow I plan to go to Tandy and buy scrap, and I'm not sure what else. Are there any tools at Tandy that are ok or should I search for Vintage types? My fear is spending a ton of cash on stuff I won't be happy with when I get better and playing the upgrade game. Taking advise on a nice go-to set of tools that are the gold standard. Thanks much!