SCOUTER

I was just wondering what everyone thought about PAINTING LEATHER? Everytime I finish a project I am always tempted to add some color, but then the purist in me kicks in and I don't. I have lots of dyes just ready to apply but always hesitate. Here is a perfect example of a project that is just screaming for color! What's wrong with me?

Somehow I was delivered to the wrong address, I should have been born on a farm or in the Mts. but I wound up here in Queens, NYC --- Have you ever felt like a pair of Brown shoes in a city of TUXEDOS? That's me. (I'll make it right when I retire from the NYC Transit)

Kevin, Awesome work! What kind of sewing machine do you use? That IS art! Thanks for posting!

Wolvie, I HATE doing things over! I am the type that would spend twice as much time adapting everything else to fit! I don't understand why you can't cut the pan/foam to fit the NEW Cover? What is the pan made of? When you have to improvise you call it "CUSTOM" Nice lacing! (cut the pan!) Good Luck!

Jesse, So far so good, Don't be afraid to add more backgrounding. Your cuts are good depth and clean. When photographing use a regular old fashioned light bulb and place the light off to one side. That will create better shadows and show your work off better. It will also give your work a nice warm glow. Remember Carving is not easy but with every project you get MUCH better! Nice work!

Thanks Rob and Steve! Steve, I went to your website, http://www.steveb.biz/sample.html What awesome work! Nice webpage setup also! Was everything on those pages done with the Boss? Your right arm must be larger then your left! I love looking at compleated projects and that page is a wealth of eye candy! Thanks again!

How funny is it that whiner actually thought I was asking for a discount?! Keen sense of humor that one!

I was just wondering, I've heard so many of the users here have upgraded from the TIPPMAN Boss to the TORO 3000 and others. I was just wondering Does anybody like their TIPPMAN? Is it too slow? What is the reason so many people look elsewhere? and Why do they hold such a high resale value? Thanks much!

Welcome Steve! Please don't take any of this as "personal" every thing I wrote was 100% true. As a matter of fact if you go to your website https://www.siegelofca.com/default.asp The same item I ordered on December 17th that WAS OUT OF STOCK is STILL OUT OF STOCK and listed on your FIRST page. C.S. Osborne TL127 Edger (What I called a SPECIAL WhineWine). So am I wrong here? Steve, Now that you are a member, How about a "club" discount!

Hi all, Just a quick note to let you know that Garrett Wade is having a sale on some tools and they have a nice Punch Set that I just received and it is well worth the money! I am still paying my mortgage on the Osborne set that I got but for the money these are sweet! http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?itemTy...p;itemID=107403

WOW! Sorry if I ruffled some feathers! Like I said in the first post I spoke to Steve and he was very nice, however the problem still exists. First of all, if you are going to list something as a SPECIAL you should have it in stock. Second, any business worth their salt will have a little note on every product that read "In Stock". (If not you should update your website every couple of days and take off any item that is not expected in within a week) What I hate the most is BAIT AND SWITCH where a business will advertise something at an amazing price but when you want it there is a problem like "Sorry we sold out" or "This model is just as good" (remember I live in NY and that runs rampid here!) but with mail order you often order other items to reach the free shipping point and for what? The item you originally wanted didn't show. Also when I called to complain they kept saying that they were waiting for the order from OSBORNE sounding like Osborne's having trouble filling their orders. So being the Loser that I am ^_^ I called OSBORNE and spoke to JAKE the president and 5th generation Osborne, he said that he is FULLY STOCKED READY TO SHIP! The problem was NOT with them. As for Tandy I LOVE that store but have found a huge difference between stores. I found a really good Tandy dealer and now when I need Tandy stuff I only deal thru him!

I few weeks ago while reading some posts here I found out about Siegels of California, I went to there website and was impressed so I placed an order. About a week later I get part of my order and nothing to indicate that the other items were backordered. I was livid. I called their customer service number and they said that this was standard operating practice for them. I asked them "How is it that they have been in business for so many years?" I was still upset so I called Steve Siegel himself I told him that I ordered from his business because he is a leather supplier not a craft store who sells leather on the side, I don't want to hear that half my $170 order is out of stock! If you don't have it don't advertise it on your website. Well, after apologizing he assured me that that was being corrected as we speak. A week later I sent in another order and guess what! Yep, partial order shipped with no explanation. If you are going to order from Siegel's make sure you don't NEED the item!

Well, I felt like a little carving this evening and found this piece of belly scrap. It's 4am now and I am relaxed. This is the first time I ever used paint on leather (eye) it made quite the difference!

Melissa, Ditto on the above books and I would not trust a liner that was glued on for your application. Dogs tend to tug and pull and sweat and shake and scratch at their collars and if you don't want complaints I would make sure your product holds up. If you are going to line the collar I would sew it. OR Look for a Leather that has a very smooth flesh side. I have seen leather like that but I don't know what type it is. Many times thin leather is glued flesh side to flesh side creating two smooth surfaces. That would glue up better then a lining. Just some thoughts...

David, Very nice work! Question-How is it that you punch all the holes around the perimeter so evenly? Always wondered about that.

Welcome Randy, Leatherwork is a lot of fun. Remember It's not the destination, it's the journey! Most of the fun of Craftmanship is the path to becoming "good".

Beaver, Funny you ask about the smell. For me NONE what-so-ever. I am using Veg tanned leather. However I have heard stories about other tanned leather giving off a pungent odor. I also "burn" the leather while damp otherwise the iron is too hot and tends to scorch the leather unless I am going real fast. As for smells- One time I was making a custom pen for a guy out of IVORY. (pre-ban) Well when I started to drill, cut and turn the material my whole shop STUNK of buring teeth! (Like at the dentist) It was making me so sick I had to stop. I wound up making him a pen out of synthetic ivory and he LOVED it. Lessons learned-Plastic smells better then tooth and leave the Elephants alone!

This is the kind of work that humbles us... Jim Linnell of elktracks made this; http://www.elktracks.net/gallery/other/knife_sheath.jpg Thanks Clay for opening my eyes!

Mr Leather! Welcome! As for your question... NOTHING beats a good instructional video or DVD. Like they say a picture is worth a thousand words! Go to Smartflix and rent a couple of Leatherworking DVDs. Even if you don't want to make a holster or sheath, you will learn big time! Good Luck!

Jesse, Freak is right on, forget about trying to make "some-THING" and just grab a small piece of Leather about 6 or 8 inches round or square, pick any animal or leaf or figure and start carving/tooling. In a few minutes you will be lost in your work. For some of us it is the need to be creative for others it can be very relaxing. For you it will keep your over-crowded mind at ease. Many of my favorite leather pieces are just scraps of leather with simple carvings. Hope Mom feels better. Take care.

Hi, As a scout leader and hobby NUT I have always wanted a sewing machine to make cool knife sheaths, axe sheaths, pen holders, tool covers and more. I have done my share of hand stitching but nothing makes a project look more professional then a nice machine stitch job. Ok so I have the Jones for a leather sewing machine. I have read most of the posts here and see that the artisan Toro 3000 is the best machine for the money. Is it me or does $2000 seem like a hefty price. It's amazing that for $200 you can buy a "material" machine that will do fifty different stitches. I have been buying machinery for some time and I thought for 2k I would be looking at big Cast Iron machines with chrome trim and pinstripe but what I see is something that looks like a heavy duty home machine. My questions are 1-Is this machine really worth it? and 2-I live on the East Coast (New York). Where is the best place to buy a machine like this? If there is a problem a year down the road and I have to ship it a few thousand miles will I go broke or should I buy it local? Thanks very much for any imput you might have!

While the board was down I was going nuts! I finally had some time to play and this is a scaled down woodburning that I did in Leather. To give you an idea of the size, I used a QUARTER to make the moon in the Leather.

Two-Crow, Outstanding work! You have the "nack" all right! Thanks so much for sharing! Just out of curiosity How long did that piece take to do? Thanks again!

Johanna, Thankyou so much for sharing that amazing story! It was like a song from your heart. Beautiful. Congratulations on your triumph. =)

Clay, This is just the stuff that can inspire all of us to "kick it up a notch!" Awesome! Thanks for posting and the 'legwork'. =)