wood

Beautiful as always Andy. Have a good time in Sheridan, I'll be at the day job wishing I was there.

Very nice. I like it a lot.

Looks great Tim. Next time I make down to the coast for awhile, I'd love to come by and pick your brain. Keep up the good work. RW

I carving contest would be great in my opinion. And changing up the project every year would keep it fresh and new stuff coming along. Keep us posted. RW

Thanks for compliments guys. Sam, yeah the sewing is coming around but that thing still has a mind of it's own sometimes. I actually made two of the one with BJW on it, the other is sitting in the scrap bin with a large rats nest of thread on it. Such is life. Your work has been looking real good, your carving is great. Take care, RW

Here's a couple of ranger belts and one straight belt I made for a family. Dad and two brothers all wanted matching belts with their initails on the hip. Nothing special just putting up something to show since I haven't been building much of late. As always, critique and comment. Thanks, RW

Tim, I wish I could say my first belt turned out that well. One thing I picked up along the way is to use a viener (that I thinned way down) to define the flower petal coming into the center. I agree with Spencer that a little texture around the center adds alot to the final picture, I use a vertical lined thumbprint (It probably isn't the best tool for it, but it's what I got). I'm no master tooler but these are just things I have picked up from others that may help. I really didn't have a good pic of what I was trying to say but here is a flower I did on a spur strap a while back that may just help as reference. Also study Mr. Parks work alot. You could stare at his stuff for hours and not pick up a lot of little things that just make it pop a bit more. Good decorative cuts on your petals adds a lot also. Great job, keep at it, you're well on your way. Take care, RW

Color looks good Tim.

Very impressive. The front rigging on those are interesting, I guess there is always something new to learn even when you been at it as long as Mr. Gorrell. Thanks for the post.

Those chinks are amazing. Perfect color choices and layout. Would like to see them after two or three brandings when they get a little "life". I sure hope these aren't just going to hang on a hook in someones house. Great job as always. RW

Klenda saddlery sells some patterns for chaps and chinks. He has a website I think.

I did that same holster for my 4 5/8" vaqueros. I dyed one dark brown and left the other natural. They certainly look better on the longer barrel guns. Guess I'll have to get a Schofield sometime to build one for. Great job, it looks good. Now all you need is the matching moneybelt. RW

I've done it both ways. Recently I have gone back to fully casing it overnight. On Wickett & Craig leather my knife seems to do better with it fully cased so I've stuck with it. The guy I watched tool alot when I was learning didn't bag it and wait, his stuff always looked really good so it worked for him but I think my stuff looks crisper and more burnished when I case it overnight. I believe Mr. Bob Park cases his 24 hours and you sure can't argue with the results of his work. I do agree though that leather tanning has come along way and that it may not be absolutely necessary anymore, I just know what works for me. RW