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Thanks all for the info. I will take a look. Same thing with pricking irons...dang those are pricey...but if you can find some old saddlemakers tools...even better. Just sharpen them up and use them like they are brand new. -Brent

Hello, I recently saw a video of some bridle making business in England (can't seem to find my saved link) and they used a strap cutter that was pushed instead of pulled. It appeared to be in a box and did not look adjustable. I make watch straps and the widths are pretty standard so I wouldn't mind owning a few custom ones. I would prefer something like this versus the standard tandy strap cutter. Can someone tell me where I can find one of these strap cutters or how to make one? Thanks, Brent

Thanks all...headed to the hobby store to see what I can find. I will let you know what I come up with.

Karl, Excellent write up. Thanks for the background information. I remember seeing the rings in the movies that would be pressed into the wax. It would really be a nice touch for my straps and look very professional. I would definitely like to make some out of the red polyurethane resin since it would not mess up the leather during shipping. Do you know of any companies that could make the metal seal? -brent

I am looking for something similar to what Rolex uses on their watches to promote authenticity. I make custom watch straps and would like to come up with something similar...just have no clue what company could make these for me. My logo is the fleur-de-lis. Is it plastic or wax? Any idea what these are called? Thanks, Brent

I'm am planning a trip to Rome and would like to pick up some real Italian leather for my watch strap hobby. Does anyone know where I can purchase a couple of hides while I am there? Thanks, Brent

Craftool Backgrounder #E294

But here is where I ended... I decided to just do the shield and put a letter on the opposite side to represent the initial of my last name. Thanks for your help, Brent

Yep...Eco-Flo Satin Shene Finish and I am wiping it on with a wool dauber.

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm out in Northern Virginia and the nearest Tandy store is in Richmond...some 2.5 hours away. I just finished up a practice run on exactly what you mentioned...I just did the shield and attempted the fleur-de-lis...but it is very intricate. Can you recommend any tools that I might want to get? What would you use to flatten the background? Thanks again, Brent

Hey all. I would like to make a sheath for my head knife that has my family crest on it but I am not sure the steps I need to get this done correctly. I know practice makes perfect. Take a look at the pic ... should I carve the fleur-de-lis images or should I find a stamp to do that? I would like them to be raised. What do I used to trace the pattern onto the leather? I was thinking about starting out with the armour section and maybe add foilage last. Am I supposed to cut all of the lines with my swivel knife? I wish there was a class I could take around here. -Brent

Very nice. What color dye did you use?

How many coats of finisher is recommended? Thanks for your help.

I really wish there was a local leather shop around me...cause buying all of my dye from ebay not really knowing what works is not fun. I just received some Fiebings Leather Dye and have a question about application. Can I apply Eco-Flo Satin Shene on top of this dye? Do I apply Hi-Liter on top of the finish? How long should I wait before moving on from step to step? Thanks, Brent

That was it. The inner core of the watch strap was actually some sort of rubber and the rivets held in there pretty tight. I could actually just pull them out but it took some force. I reused these on a custom strap and was able to spread the edges a bit more. Now I just need to find a bunch of these. They are 5.5 mm wide and 5 mm deep. Is this still a rivet? Maybe I am searching for the wrong thing. -Brent

I purchased a second strap so I could take it apart and see what I was dealing with. The rivets are just one-sided and have a flaired out section on the end. Does anyone know where I can purchase this exact rivet?

I am making this guitar strap for a friend and have limited stamping tools. I bought a beveler and found a nice f-hole pattern. Can someone help me with the next few steps that will make this pop? Or, am I done? -Brent

Hey all, I have a friend that has a guitar like the attached photo. Is it possible to get the black stripped effect (flamed maple) after the red/burgundy dye is applied? Thanks, Brent

ody { background: #FFFFFF; margin: 0px; padding: 4px; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; } Here is a pic of the layout of my strap. My friend plays a "f-hole" guitar and wanted to have that in the design. In addition, he wanted the conchos. I am trying to determine how to best display the f-holes: 1) Do I just cut them out similar to what you would see on a guitar or violin and dye the leather black on the inside edges or 2) Trace the design onto the leather and use a swivel knife to outline and then somehow depress the middle and dye darker color than the strap. Any design comments welcomed Brent

Will do ... thx.

Here are the images!

Hey all, I just finished tooling my first guitar strap...well...first tooled one anyway. Now it's time for me to purchase the stuff I need to get this thing finished for a friend. I am looking for a medium to light brown dye and not sure what to put on top. How do I make the tooled section pop? I'm thinking if I dye the whole thing, then that section won't be as visible anymore. Is the eco flo product that also contains the finish any good or should I buy separate? Also, is 4oz dye enough to finish a strap? I was thinking i need some neatsfoot as well. Thanks, Brent

On the particular oem strap I have with these rivets, they are covered over with lining leather, so I can't tell if they are screw on or just riveted in place. Thanks for you reply. Brent

I am looking for a specific rivet to be used on a watch strap and I can not seem to locate a supplier. Take a look at the pic and let me know if you have seen them anywhere. They are generally used on pilot watch straps. The rivet is about 5.5 mm wide. Thanks, Brent

That is really cool! I have been making watch straps for awhile and a friend at work asked if I could make a guitar strap for him. Can you tell me what type of leather you used and where you got it. Also, I have never died leather before, can you tell me what products you used to get the job done? Thanks, Brent