firefly67

Hello all, I am looking for a reasonably priced, good condition 5 in 1, and a sole splitter (both hand cranked). The ones I am finding online in stores seem pretty expensive but I don't know what they *should* cost, either. Therefore, some comparison is in order, or info from those of you who may have purchased these machines in used condition and can tell me what to look for, both good and bad, and what a fair price ought to be. Also seeking a pair of bulldog pincers, and have had no luck so far in locating them. Anybody got a pair they don't use much? thanks for any assistance!

Hey, Rob, Where is Tampico IL in relation to Champaign-Urbana? That's where I am. Would like to meet other leatherworkers & exchange questions/knowledge! Haven't done much braiding except a four-part braid I made w/artificial sinew & used to lace a pouch with. It took seemingly MILES of lacing!! I'm going to try & attach a photo of the lacing on another bag I just finished.

Yeah, I do think about the animal (cow, buffalo). I hope it didn't suffer during its life or at the ending of it - though I don't know how that latter is possible. I think the Native Americans had the right idea when they made a prayer to the spirit of the animal before they hunted it or slaughtered it. I think about that especially when I get a new piece of buffalo leather (my favorite) or when I have a nice big buffalo roast cooking in my crock pot. We are all animals together on one little planet, and if I'm going to use another animal's hide, I want to honor its sacrifice by doing the best work I can with it. Hope that doesn't sound too sappy! Mostly I look at the leather & start imagining 'what will this become?'

I marked 'learned the hard way, no help' because that's pretty much how it is. I'm just beginning, and other than books, I don't really have anyone who is working in leather doing what I'm doing. However I do get some much valued assistance from my husband, who may know little about leather but knows a lot about pattern making & sewing as he was a parachute rigger in the Navy & learned also to design & make his own utilitarian clothing. I also have a longtime friend in California who has had an international business for many years, building soft shell musical instrument cases out of leather or cordura. He admits that his work is 'carpentry' not 'aesthetic' but his designs are nonetheless elegant as well as functional. I can email him or call him & he will attempt to answer my newbie questions. Still, all in all, I'm struggling along on my own. I could really use some classes on pattern making, how to line up lacing holes better, what hardware to use where, etc. etc.! I do feel lucky though, that I'm already an artist & have a small established business making & selling bead jewelry & handmade glass beads that I make, and this has given me the confidence to go ahead and branch out into leatherwork, to which I was exposed decades ago and always wanted to study! I was thrilled to find this forum & hope I can find answers to some of my ongoing questions here, too. Clearly there are some fantastic artisans here, whose work will be very inspiring to me.

I'm making my first handbag with a side panel; my previous 3 designs have just been front & back pieces laced together. This one will have the side piece folded over (riveted? don't know yet) a D ring. To attach the strap I was thinking of a 'trigger snap' - not sure if that is the right name for it or not. But I see a couple different types - one that swivels, one that appears stationary. Can anybody suggest whether one or the other is better? I'm thinking the swiveling kind would be better for a shoulder bag like this will be, but am not sure. Also, I don't know anything about rivets or snaps. What'd be the strongest way to fasten down the leather that holds the D ring in place, some kind of rivet? I could sew/lace it down, as all the rest of the bag is laced - no machine sewing at all.

Hi, I've been using two Nikons, both in the 'Coolpix' line, and found them quite handy. Neither of them are new by now, but I got them to use for close-ups of my glass bead work (my main $ source) and they do fine for that kind of work as well as ordinary photo taking. I load my pix right on to my Mac and process them using Photoshop. I will try to attach a photo of my beginning leather works (close up) so you can see the quality of photos! Good luck finding a camera. There are scads of good ones.

Gorgeous stuff, Darrell! I'd like to learn to make mocs--too bad you are in LA! Do you know James Gottselig of Bald Mountain? I've been trying to get hold of him but have no contact info and Bald Mtn. isn't answering my emails--I know Miles is retiring & they are not making mocs anymore. I'm just getting into leather work after years of being around it & wanting to do it. Also working in soft leather & buffalo is my favorite! Bags & maybe some vests.

It must be Illinois week--I too have just joined, and am located in east central IL! I've been around leatherwork off & on for many years but did not have the time to really get involved in it till now. I've made several bags and a vest, and am currently searching for a good supplier for trigger snaps (or that's what Tandy calls them) and other good hardware stuff--D rings & the like. Would like to find someone who offers them in brass if possible. Also, does anyone have a source for Indian head nickels that have been made into buttons already? I found some at Friendship (Indiana) but they aren't quite what I'd like. Anybody got a favorite source for buffalo leather? I got some nice black buffalo from Moscow Hide & Fur recently. Also (I have way too many questions!) is anybody familiar with Adler Durkopp 267 sewing machines? I'm so glad I found this forum--I've been looking for something like it! I've included a photo of my first buffalo leather bag (actually a belt pouch).

It must be Illinois week--I too have just joined, and am located in east central IL! I've been around leatherwork off & on for many years but did not have the time to really get involved in it till now. I've made several bags and a vest, and am currently searching for a good supplier for trigger snaps (or that's what Tandy calls them) and other good hardware stuff--D rings & the like. Would like to find someone who offers them in brass if possible. Also, does anyone have a source for Indian head nickels that have been made into buttons already? I found some at Friendship (Indiana) but they aren't quite what I'd like. Anybody got a favorite source for buffalo leather? I got some nice black buffalo from Moscow Hide & Fur recently. Also (I have way too many questions!) is anybody familiar with Adler Durkopp 267 sewing machines? I'm so glad I found this forum--I've been looking for something like it! I've included a photo of my first buffalo leather bag (actually a belt pouch).