TwinOaks

If he does, it'd be hard to go wrong with them. A lot of my tools are hand-me-downs from my dad who was bitten by the bug 30+ years ago. The collection isn't extensive, but it's better than a starter set. A lot of the newer Craftools from Tandy are lacking in the quality dept. The reason, I presume, is that much of the manufacturing has been outsourced, and we're now dealing with hastily assembled, mass produced tools, made by unskilled labor, and given inferior chrome plating. The corners (inside and outside corners) are more rounded on the newer tools, and IMO don't make good crisp impressions. Of course, you can't really expect hand made stainless steel tools for $6-$8. For that, you pay $30-$80 and call Barry King.....that's EACH. Symmetry in geometric stamps is also an issue, for the same reasons. However, all is not lost, as the big wigs at Tandy have realized the error of their ways and are looking for really good specimens of earlier tools to remake the master dies. Who knows, maybe Tandy will introduce a second line of tools- better quality, but more expensive. I hope so. Anyway, if you can find old tools, and they aren't worn out, it's a good thing.

First off, to Leatherworker.net! I can do nothing but agree with Hilly's and Rawhide's posts. Left out of the tool list is the sewing machine. None of the ones that will sew holsters are cheap. They start at about a grand and go up from there. If you're not ready to drop that kind of money, definitely invest in quality hand sewing materials. There's a nearly unanimous agreement that Bob Douglas makes the best Awl available (search best awl for contact info). Learn how to saddle stitch, the little sewing awls that produce a lock stitch are nifty, but don't produce quality stitching for holsters. When you get a creaser/folder/slicker, invest a little more and get a good wooden one. The nylon ones from Tandy work, but you'll need to dress the edges to remove any mold lines, then re-smooth where you dressed it. Just get a nice wooden one to start with, or if you're handy with tools, you can make one pretty easily. (I made mine using a 'turning blank' from Woodcraft, a dremel, and a bat. powered orbital sander) And in agreement with Hilly's statement about knowlege being the best tool....Experiment! One of our Aussie members, Davy, has had no real training, no guilds to help out, basically he's been on his own. He also decided to do his stamping with multiple stamps over the same area to get unique patterns. It's absolutely fabulous work, and something that most of us never even contemplated. It isn't the traditional way to stamp, but there's nothing wrong with it. So, as you progress in your addictionhobby, don't ever think that there's only one way to do somthing. Also feel free to ask guidance and advice in the holster forums. There's lots of people here that are willing to help. Go beat a dead cow,

For piece-work, you're probably better off representing yourself. Build a small portfolio of your work and carry it with you. Make a few items that are commonly used, like satchels, wallets, purses. Every chance you get, show people your work. If you specialize in something, locate a local dealer and ask to sell a few pieces through that store to establish your name and work.

not even a lump of coal. But the kids made out like bandits.

Just my opinion here, and I'm not a saddle maker, so take it as you will- With the hairs being broken off, it sounds to me like the thin cotton pad is lifting the hairs a little bit and then they're getting folded back over, breaking them. This is probably caused by vertical movement of the saddle when you're riding. Also, the cotton pad might be moving under the gel pad, kinda like a sock moves inside your shoe. I'd say try a more traditional pad, or remove the cotton pad. For the some of the Arabians my wife works, they use a cotton pad, too, but on top of the gel pad.

To all our members in Australia, and Tasmania,

Something you can do to help with the cut depth is to have a spare swivel knife with a much shallower bevel to the edge. I've got three knives, with different bevels on all of them. For 6-7 + oz, and figure carving where a beveler will be used I like a deeper cut, but on thinner leather a shallower/wider cut seems to work better. (This is not an original idea, I just forgot who posted it first.) By using the shallower cut, you can also get more definition/ heavier "lines" without so much risk of cutting all the way through the piece. Plus, just like with finger cuts, (with lots-o-practice) you can "slide" the blade through a curve, opening it up a little more.

Ah, thank the Good Lord I've got a bunch of friends to cheer me up. Just got the newest update: Horse is up and doing 'Okay'. NO VET!!!!! It would appear that the cold snap has caused an unexpected follicle drop.........basically, she's Cramping! Stupid horse. I do feel a little less stress after watching the news, too. First three stories- man dies in trailer fire; travellers trapped in airports; apartment building burns, nine families left without homes. Okay, I get it. It could be worse. Go get some sleep y'all, tomorrow's another work day. G'night

Well, here's me griping, and there's nothing to do about it. Y'all don't even have to respond, as I'm just getting all this out before I snap a cord. Wife got fired the weekend before Christmas, so my whole paycheck (minus about a hundred dollars to a bill collector) went to Christmas for the kids. Then today, the wife goes beserk and writes a check that will cause the check for the bill to bounce. I'm okay, so far, as I've got a spare $30 in my travel account (per diem, expenses, etc.) so I transfer some money to cover the check. Come this evening, her @^&*&%^$$*^%%$!^&* horse collics and she's gotta run to go see to it. I got a call a little after 8 PM, saying she's gotta call the vet. -long silence- When I tell her "we're broke, until the next check gets here", she launches into an explanation about post dated checks, etc., etc. The only problem is that the last time (last November) her other horse got sick, she wrote a postdated check that the SOB vet cashed two days before the paycheck was deposited. That minor incovenience only cost me about $500 to fix- penalties for NSF checks. So here I am with about $12 dollars in the joint account that isn't spoken for, $14 dollars in cash, a $25 dollar gift card for walmart, an unemployed crazy wife who lives in a dreamworld about the value of her horse with an overdue cell phone account that's about to be cut off , a sick horse that's supposedly worth a couple of grand in the show circuit but has to have $300 non-existant dollars worth of veterinary care, and one doozy of a headache starting up. I only say she's crazy because she probably wants to put vet care for a horse on a credit card..... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! And now the @^&@$%%&* laptop battery is blinking at me telling me to charge it!!!!!! And now for the good news- I managed to get all four Christmas bracelets braided. woo. hoo. For sale- One beat up old Ford F-150, includes electrician/amatuer leatherworker, various tools and accesories, some fly tying equipment and supplies, two fly rods, and a set of golf clubs. Gets good mileage. Will throw in spare tire for truck. Electrician/leatherworker has spare tire included. Has anyone seen my Ibuprofen? Thanks for reading my 'Christmas season gone beserk' / 'No, this is a Griswold Christmas' rant. Now go be thankful you aren't me, and have a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday week.

Oxalic Acid crystals are dissolved in water and used to clean the surface of leather, much like ready mixed deglazer does. Though it's also marketed as a 'bleach', I used it on a project a good while back, and never got a bleached look like I wanted. It never went any lighter than the base color of the veg-tan.

Excellent news! I got to discussing this the other day with a friend and he reminded me that Aussie conditioner, one of my preferred salves, contains beeswax. Sometimes I think I need to defrag my brain. Anyway, I'm very pleased to hear that it came out well. Now, umm, where's the pics? Sorry I missed your previous post- re: finishing the inside of the leather.. I think that argument has validity when considering excessivly waxy finishes, or any flesh side that has a lot of knap. The fibers can collect grit/dust and the leather then becomes a polishing pad. I think this is especially possible when it's a closed holster, as anything that falls into the holster is stuck there until it's turned upside down. Sealing it, I think, would actually help prevent this, as would smoothing the fibers down to the point that you have a nearly slick surface on the inside. The portions where the gunmetal meets leather will be burnished down to 'slick' with normal use of the holster. If you have any really serious concerns, you could always just get the gun refinished in Melonite

Next question....Do the three additional tools -specific stamps in this case- have to be used as intended (stock stamps, no special modifications)? I ask because us poor folk tend to be quite creative when we need something we don't have. If need be, I could video myself making it to provide 'proof of concept'. I think I'll play. ( Just so long as Crystal doesn't drop any BOMBs like she did for the August challenge. )

So, in regards to mixing in soap and oil, maybe thin the tanner's bond with water and mix in some Lexol?

Clay, Is this a carve-on-site contest, or can entries be mailed in to the address in the header? I'm asking because probably most of us can't actually be on location.

Critique what? There is nothing to critique! Lots and Lots to just sit and stare at in awe, but Critique?

Hi and welcome to Leatherworker.net. We're glad you found our little corner of the internet. There's lots of members, both amateurs and professionals, who'll be happy to help with any questions you might have. Ask away, and enjoy one of the friendliest sites on the 'net. Check through your tools, and look for some modeling tools. The one you'll need is the spoon- I guess you could actually use a spoon for this if you don't have anything else- anyway, just pull up Tandy's website and look at what they are if you don't already know. After you walk the beveler down the lines, come back with the spoon/modeling tool and flatten out the little ridge from the beveler's angle and where it meets the 'flat' of the rest of the leather. You can also use it to smooth out any 'chatter' marks, where you've accidentally left impressions from the beveler face. Keep it up, post more pics, and STAY IN SCHOOL!!!!! (From the voice of personal experience, it takes f o r e v e r to get back in and maintain your studies once you get out and have a family)

Karl, Here in the U.S., especially the South, we do have holidays that are family-centric. In fact some of them are even community-centric. The most prevalent is Football Season. It's a time of gathering, boisterous cheering, and heavy drinking. Whole regions of the U.S. will turn out in support of a favorite team. Here in Alabama, the penultimate game is the Iron Bowl, played between the University of Alabama an Auburn University. Tony, This year, it'll be about half of the U.S. members- the northern half.

It depends on whether you got lining pig, or glazed split. Lining Pig is the top grain half, and Glazed split is basically a 'split' that's been burnished smooth/glossy on one side

Nah, I'd use the pennies to go buy a small bag of galvanized nuts and bolts from the hardware store.

Beaverslayer has the best hat. Period. And no, don't ask him to take pictures of it, and for Mercy's sake, don't ask him to remove it. The last time he did, the whole forum crashed and we were without LW.net for a few days.

Good looking start Phidelt, and welcome to Leatherworker.net! I see you're hand stitching at this point in your addiction hobby, and the stitches look good. One note about the placement of the belt loops- it looks like the pistol would sit pretty low in the pants. The Glock holster (with the two loops) looks more along the right height. Other than that, you've got a great start. Plus, you started things out with PICS! Great way to make an intro.

Very nice! It's interesting to me that you have the scope covered like that. I thought it could interfere with the scope, so I've been notching scoped holsters (for .22 pistols). Maybe a difference in the scopes, huh?

Hey, welcome back James! Where the H have you been? Vinegaroon will definitely work, but be sure to buff it well. It's likely to a lot of the previous dye to the surface, and you don't want any rub off. After buffing, be sure to oil/condition.

Welcome to Leatherworker.net! Excellent seat work- are you sure you're new to this? For what you've got, and the little bit that's black, I'd suggest trying to remove as much of the Eco as you can with a sponge/paper towel, and using a black permanent marker like a Sharpie. Then, buff well, and seal as prescribed above. For all black, I prefer vinegaroon (search that term if you're not familiar with it) but the detail is too tight on this particular seat to use it. It would wick into surrounding leather, turning it black as well.

How quaint! I carry a .45. No sense in letting them get inside knife range