Torquewrench

Very nice work! Looks like your pupils have learned well.

Is there a sealer for latigo to keep the color from rubbing off on clothing. The two messanger bags I posted in Critique My Work has the straps, strap keepers, handles and gussets made from Latigo. The color is rubbing off on clothing. Or did I just make a poor choice by using Latigo? Thanks, Ross

Hi Fred, welcome to Leatherworker. Quite a few on here from AZ. Lot of help avaiable here for the asking. Ross

Congrats Grandpa!! My suggestion is go to the second hand store and buy a diaper bag. Rip it apart for your pattern. Make a leather one and it will still be around when this grandchild goes to college to be used as a book bag! My 2 cents, Ross

Welcome to Leatherworker! I like the belt. Where in Az. You from? Ross

Is this for a bird hunter or a trap/skeet shooter? A trap/skeet shooter will just most likely want a formed pocket that holds a factory box of shells and a larger bag hanging below that for caseings .(spent shells) Sew the belt loop and not use snaps jusy my 2 cents.

I even sent some lace back to Tandy's HQ. in Fort Worth. No response at all. Have been buying from Jim Downey and getting ready to try Springfield Leather. I have just about sworn off of Tandy due to 2 sides of Latigo with more than their share of butchering holes in the middle of them.

Call Jim Downey, he advertises in the Leathercrafters-Saddlers Journal. 50 meter rolls Best price I have found and good quality.

I like your bag, very good for a novice. I am sure your wife is proud of it! We all make mistakes, thats how we learn. Did you hand stitch all of it? Ross

look under fabrication - leather tools. There is a pinned topic at the top about making your own stamps.

Does anyone have the website address for Ohio Travel Bags retail outlet. My computer crashed about a month age and all bookmarks were lost. I am just a hobbiest and don't have a resale license to order direct from OTB. Thanks, Ross

try a google for packing material suppliers. McMaster.com has alot of packing materials. That is where I would start. I don't think you would find them listed as belt sleeves though.

Ed, I like the look of your bag with the retainers much better. The clasps on the others look gaudy to me. Also not sure of their quality and once the leather softens up a bit from use how easy they will latch. Some times less is more- offer these other things as options. Just come up with another name for a bag with these options, to seperate the origonal from those with the options. You have a great looking product that I am sure people will pass on down to future generations. Just my 2 cents, Ross

Very nice work! Like the way the Basketweave blends toghter in the middle and compliments the western floral.

I have seen Peter Main take a craft tool from the shelf, stamp an impression, in 3-5 minutes on his sandpaper pack modify it and start tooling that would make all of us drool. Of course George Hurst will bash Craft Tools, he is a former Tandy employee who now has had to sell off Hidecrafter, but still remains an employee. I have some of Hidecrafters Pro-Series, they make great impressions, just don't use them too much as they are soft metal and will actuall deform in a short period of time. Everyone should use what they can afford. The more times you do the same pattern, it will get better, so comparing 2 items with diffrent tools done back to back will show improvement. I turn wrenches for a living on frarm equipment, have tools from every company under the sun, they all put the bread on my table and allow me to be able to afford my hobby of leatherwork. Just loose a 35$ Snap-on wrench or a 5$ craftsman - witch hurts more?

About 6 years ageo I cut my finger to the bone and taped it with electriacal tape, company then sent me to Doc. Everyone thought I was crazy for using elect. tape--until Doc. stabs herself while sewing my finger. She freaked out about my blood in her finger.(aids scare) I got her calmed down and told her to take a blood sample and send it off after she cleaned her finger real good. When all said and done I said to her that would not have happened if she would have used medical grade electrical tape!!

Welcome, lots of good people here to offer help. Some here also from Phoenix and surrounding area. Post some pics!

Very nice! Use this bag for now , start on a larger one, and keep this one for your baby's college bookbag. I really do like it. My 2 oldest are in college now, the oldest wants a bookbag. The younger of the two does leatherwork( way better than mine) and can make her own!

Equipment mechanic for a fresh produce grower/shipper. Mechainc is a broad description in the produce industry. Been here almost 22 years. 6 months in Ca. and 6 months in Az. each year. Spare time leatherworker, 4-H leader.

I have to say Jim Augustson in Tempe, Az. is great to deal with. Whenever I need help with my 4-H group he is always there for us. The group of guys that meet there have always helped us out also. All around great people.

I have only made 2 camera straps. The first was a kit from Tandy 25 years ago-no longer avail. and no padding. The next one was actully a pair of matching straps made from scratch, I folded over the pig skin and then hand stitched. I used quilters batting as that was around the house, worked OK but not great. I am in the process of making another strap and will use a foam material that I fet scraps of at work called fruit foam. It is a fairly dense foam with a vinyl ? overlay that I will peel off before using. It is 1/2" thick si I plan on using a razor blade to taper the edges. Hope this was of some help.

very good for a few first projects. The case making series are very good ref. material. My case making is not advancing as fast as I would like, but I do enjoy it. Keep up the good work. Ross

Great looking planner. I really like your lacing, the way you punched the slits close togther. I have never acheived this look, you have motovated me to try again. Ross

I was using snow seal 25 years ago on boots. Had forgotten about it. Worked well. Diffrence between a $5 and $20 weatherproffer? Marketing hype? Thanks for taking the time to do a comparrison test.

Just stept out to look at thermometer buried past 120f. Thank god for a/c !! no wind or moisture in sight. if it gets below 100 before dark its ourside to fix lawnmower. The goats are too spoiled to eat Bermuda!