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I am interested in learning how to make a pair of shoes. I first need to get a shoe last but do not have any information on where to find this sort of thing. Anyone have a contact on where to purchase one. Does anyone have a good link to patterns and books on making a shoes or boots? thanks, Brent

Just not sure of the name to search. It is basically a hole with a slot. -brent

I am looking for some scrap saddle leather around 4oz or so to make some watch straps. Please let me know if you have some around the shop that you'd like to get rid of. A typical strap (long side) uses about 300mm X 24mm. The short side is a little shorter. I am looking for something like the attached pics. Thanks, Brent

Few more straps from a couple of new hides.

Here are a couple of pics of my latest strap using a Dark Brown Alligator hide I picked up from Louisiana. I tried using my new edge creaser on another strap, but I haven't mastered that yet. Perhaps the tool I picked up was too small (Osborn size 1) and I may need to get a larger size. What are you all doing to make perfect edge creases? Heating the tool, casing the leather? Let me know what you think of my straps. -brent

Hey...what size creaser did you use on the edges? thanks, brent

Thank you Daryl! I'll give them a call in the morning. -brent

Hey all, So far I have tried pipe insulation and rubber weatherseal, with no good results. The grey pipe insulation is nice and cushiony, but very difficult to shape. I haven't yet tried to use the sander/dremel. I just disected another watch strap to see what sort of padding was used in it's construction. Attached are a few pics of what I found. Any idea what this stuff is? It feels springy but also like felt. To create an outer ledge, this was constructed with 2 pieces and they were skived towards where the holes start for a gradual decrease in thickness. -brent

sorry...but your link didn't go to anything specific. Can you send me the name of the product? Thanks, Brent

Where can I find foam rubber padding? Are you saddle makers using this? I tried the cheap foam sheets from the craft store, however, when attempting to skive, it tended to tear quite easily. I need something that can be shaped. -brent

Ok. For my next watch strap, I would like to put an edge crease. Can someone tell me how to use this tool? I am looking to have a single crease. Do I heat the creaser? What size do I need to purchase? I attached a few pics as an example of what I am looking to do. Thanks, -brent

Here is a few pics of what I am after...

Hey all, I am looking for some soft/smooth calf lining leather to use on the back on an alligator watch strap. Most of these are generally light in color (light tan or bone). I have also seen some sort of suede that is really soft but real thin and not much of a nap. Can you recommend a product and place to purchase. thanks, Brent

Very nice! Might I ask what type of leather you used? I'd like to make a watch strap out of the same stuff. Is that machine or hand stitched? Thanks, Brent

I just picked up the same knife. Wondering how much I will need to work on it before it is usable. Any suggestions on products I need to keep this knife sharp? Anyone have a link to instructions for proper sharpening? Thanks, Brent

Marlon, They sold it to me (public) and gave me a business card for future shipments. They ship a lot of hides out of there on a daily basis. They even took the time to cut me a few samples so I could order by stock number the next time. -brent

I have the entire hide, so I'll start my cutting on the belly section. Do I make my cuts from nose to tail or left to right? I'm thinking nose to tail so the scales will line up. Yep, the scales are much larger on the tail and better suited for a larger project. Anyone use some kind of padding between the pieces of leather? I need a product that I can buy to do this but I don't know what I'm looking for. -Brent

Some of the straps I've seen have rolled edges so I would not have to edge in that case. This is where the edges are wrapped around the backing leather and then covered with a nice piece of thin complementing leather. Rick,Check out RTL in Lafayette. I went to their tannery a few days ago and they have plenty of hides. I spoke to Andre and Lisa and they let me show up and purchase a few. A 4-5 hide was about 200$ and a smaller one was $135. I basically did a google search for "Alligator hides Louisiana Tannery". The warehouse is at 105 Dorset St., Lafayette, LA. Good Luck, Brent

I am just back from a trip to my hometown in Louisiana and decided to visit a local tannery I never knew was right under my nose. They had the nicest selection of alligator hides and I picked up a few to make some watch straps. I have been mostly working with leather hides and have not ventured out into any exotic hides as of yet. Most of the high end straps that I have examined seem to have only the expensive stuff on top and usually backed with leather. Does anyone know what is generally used on the back side of nice watch straps...is it some sort of faux suede or is it some really thin leather. Also, one of the straps I took apart had grey foam padding inside about 1 1/2 inches from the top. Does anyone know what this product is? Before I go cutting into this really nice leather hide, I figured I throw out a few questions to the wise. Thanks, Brent

I have some tan / natural nylon thread that I would like to make darker tan almost light brown. Can I just use brewed coffee to dye the thread? If so, how long should I soak the thread and what do I do to ensure that the color stays and doesn't bleed off? -brent

I'm going to have to second this. I bought some english bridle leather from them and it was perfect. Exactly what I was looking for and real easy to deal with right over the phone. -Brent

Hello All -- In my hobby of watch strap making, I have come across a few straps that have some sort of padding inside so that thinner leather pieces could be made to appear much thicker in size. Anyone know what type of material is used inside of watch straps? It appears to be some sort of grey foam. Thanks, Brent

Here's where I got my stuff -- http://www.royalwoodltd.com/cat14-17aw.htm I was looking for 18/8 waxed linen thread and now I have more than enough for awhile. -brent

Rick was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really angry. She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in less than 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!" The next morning Rick got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway. Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back in the house. She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale. Rick has been missing since Friday. Please pray for him

No kidding! Thankfully I was able to get a double shoulder and even with that I could probably make a hundred or so.