artwithapulse

How much are you asking?

Is the Saddlemaker's book still available?

I'll take the bottom one if you've still got it.

Hi guys. Looking for any saddle making DVD's (particularly Bruce Cheney's and JW's) And braiding DVD's. Must be happy to ship to Australia (of course I'll cover the shipping costs! )

I spent a bit of time visually documenting "good/bad" or "acceptable/non-acceptable" leather features. The "good/acceptable" will of course vary depending on what you make and who your customers are, but hopefully the photos are useful. Bad qualities in leather Do affect the integrity of the leather. Drawn and loose grain:Leather which the grain separates when bent upon itself. Bad cases may have drawn grain without any pressure applied. Skinning holes and flay marks:Not often seen on small goods, but sometimes seen on sides of leather. Cracking:Leather which the grain cracks when bent upon itself. The suede fuzzies: Shaggy nap on the underside of the leather, or on a suede exterior. Character qualities in leather Do not affect the integrity of the leather. In contrast to tannery mistakes and lower quality cuts of a side, there are complimentary, beautiful character marks. These marks are the things I hope for when I unroll a new side, and the reason I started making dry goods from authentic leather. Growth marks:These marks simply show a life lived, with light colour variation. Scars:Scars can be deep or shallow, large or barb wire scratches. Brands:Branding survives the tanning process, and makes a one-of-a-kind finish. Brands are usually quite large, and look excellent on wallet exteriors. Marbling:Usually found on horsehide, this almost geometric patterning survives the patina process, and you’ll always see a little bit of it. These are really special. Bloom:Bloom is found on heavily stuffed leathers when left for a period of time. It’s a foggy, waxy coating as the inner fats rise to the top. A quick buff with have it back in the leather, shiny and new. Often considered a mark of quality.

Is there anything still available?

Cheers Bob! There is indeed a slot for notes, although these photos don't show it. Here's an iPhone photo as it was finished up which gives you a better idea. This is 2oz horsehide, so it's nice and thin. I thinned the gullets down to 1oz, however. Horsehide is my favourite, despite feeling guilty every time I ride my horses! Firm temper, easily burnished, thin and strong. The busnishing is really standard. Sand > edge > soak in hot beeswax > burnish > more beeswax > more burnishing (repeat until tidy.) Cheers mate!

Another new (read: winged it) pattern for a basic business card wallet. Dublin horsehide "splash", 0.8mm Ritza thread, veg tan roo (flesh side out) liner.

A few more photos...

It's finished! Guys, it's finished. Going to have to add this one to the lineup, I think! Totally winged the pattern, so I'll have to get it drawn up. Dark brown horsehide CXL blaze orange Ritza thread 3 stiff drinks.

This is heavy, abusive use. My CXL wallet is 3 years old and only has a few small scratches.

^ this is correct. These guys aren't leather aficionados and this is a good example of "worst case care" on some. Most of them got a new coat of mink oil and came up beautifully - however veg tan, of course, gets the best age to it.

Amazing that someone can get so upset over $80 - especially when the seller has attempted a few times to make ammends. Some people just need to stick with plastic products, hey?!

I finished up with the deer expo this weekend, and I was lucky enough to see a few wallets come through that have aged through the years. Good examples of what some Horween leathers do when they're very well "loved" by someone for a year or two! These are some examples of some brutally cared for wallets. Most of these are owned by tradies and/or hunters, and see some abuse. A couple there have been a little more carefully cared for and it shows. Hopefully this will be a good FYI for anyone considering carry goods made from these leathers to see what the "worst case care" looks like. The waxed flesh example was the most interesting to see - it can age pretty rough and needs different care to grain-side leather. This one has been through the ringer in only a couple of months, and it really shows. Definitely taught me to include a care sheet for the more unusual leathers! Chromexcel: Aged: over a year. Owned by a builder. Chromexcel: Aged: 6 months. Chromexcel: Aged: 9 months. Horsehide Dublin Aged: 6 months. Waxed flesh horsehide: Aged: 4 months

I'd love to help, but you'd have to ask Horween - that's a tannery mark!