Deryk

looks good, I am still learning myself. One thing, more curves less square. The very first picture, that strap would look nicer curver end, or english point then just squared off. It "flows" better.

I have his turn shoe video...when I can justify right leather I want to make the turn shoes...probably next month. I definitely will order the boot dvd

last I heard was march... guess all the bugs aren't knocked out of it yet

the video should be out in July I wanna give it a try http://laughingcrowe.com/

price went up from $12 to $30? I emailed you about this last week, never heard back from you. For $32 there is a US leather publication that sends a magazine 6 times a year to you as well as a digital version.

so is img 0170 the same as the up-close img0047? If so, what is the weight and type of leather? Just chrome tanned, or is it olied/waxed? Oh anything 8oz weight or higher? I wanna try making viking turn shoes/moccasins. thanks

no problem man... I think this weekend I need to pick up a roll of duct tape and find a sacrificial pair of socks and get one of my friends to tape my feet to make a template. I have been looking at my red wing boots, looking at how the pieces fit together and I totally think I can do it. My mom thinks I am so crazy that I want to make my own boots...I just like making as much of my own stuff as I can...been building furniture for up at my cabin...bedframe, secretary desk, entertainment stand and deck chairs...I don't sit still much lol

I am wanting to make my own shoes...I saw this waiting till july when the dvd is released http://laughingcrowe.com/ I also found this http://www.bighousedaddy.com/camping_boot_patterns.htm . I want to work on them this summer when my work schedule lightens up and I have extra time. Sadly a lot of handcrafts will fade away as people stop doing them. I try to make a lot of my own things just to keep my skill's on the up and up.

Fiebings Kelly green, diluted with a little rubbing alcohol so the colour wouldn't get too dark after i oiled it.

Wow! You are talented!

Very Cool! Awesome design to it too

I have only made maybe 6 wallets in my life...made 2 this weekend. The green one needs the new right sized snaps i ordered yesterday re set and burnished.

Interesting strap hanger

Thanks Tom, I appreciate it...

dam wish I would have saw this last month...I should order the turn shoes video download...but I would love to make my own boots!

Any chance of a copy of that pattern as well deryk_macleod@hotmail.com thanks

Thanks Mike! that is helpful!

Thanks! I think the milled veg tan looks good... then I can dye it to the colour I want, then seal it with Obenauf's so it can handle getting rained on.

yeah, I have a bag in my head that I need to get out lol! I would like some body to it, but not be stiff like plywood, but not so soft that I would have to sew in stiffening to it. Yeah I wasn't aware of other types of vegtan...I have seen it come vat dyed, and I know about grades of it and some better quality hides from italy and spain with different characteristics. So now I need to start looking and seeing the tanning methods on some of the hide sites. Thanks I appreciate the help

Ahhh yeah when someone says veg tan i think tooling leather type leather well lots to learn!

I have mainly worked with softer 4-5 oz chrome tanned leathers, well I am looking at dropping the big bucks for a cb3200 and wanting to make messenger styled bags and I keep reading that vegtan is better to work with, will last longer, stronger then chrome tanned leather. Well I want the bag to have some body to it, but how do I soften it up, especially if I am sewing it inside out and have to turn it right side out. I know neet's foot oil conditions it, but will that work?

Bob wasn't in when I called the other day and I also asked the question about used... hell saving money is always a plus...especially as a hobbyist, not making any money yet off my work. And the answer was no, and he said when they do they are gone in no time. But I guess a plus if you ever need to sell it.

Thanks Wiz... What I have ideas I want to sew would not normally be less then a few layers 5-7 oz leather, but a bag I want to make would have some 8 oz veg tan strap holders and d rings straps... would get close to 1/2" in a few places... For anything lighter like if I wanted to make myself a new wallet I have my sailrite lsz-1 machine. And I can agree with your blog post... those of us who are new are looking for a machine that can do it all, and I guess it doesn't work that way. I know myself dropping 2k as a hobbyist is a lot of money to end up with a machine that won't do what you need it to do...and once you buy it you are sort of stuck with a machine. I know that is why I keep reading and asking questions.

dam....got an email back...weighs in at 200lbs and it ships from Cali...he doesn't stock them....yeah 200lbs is not portable lol

I am a hobbyist but am looking to move up to a machine that can sew leather. Mostly would be stitching 5-7 or so oz veg-tan, I want to get into making rugged leather US mail/messenger style bags, and backpacks, and weekend away bag's...but I also like making journal covers and pouches. I was considering the cowboy cb3200 but then I came across this model... being able to sew up to 7/8" of leather and I can sit it on my workbench to sew, I don't really have a lot of room for a 4 foot long table in my already crowded workshop. Anyone have an idea of the weight of the unit fully assembled and ready to sew? I found a dealer 3 hours away from me in New York state, so I would be willing to take a drive their and get to see it in person . http://a1sewingmachine.com/3200 BT~Artisan+3200+BT+Bench+top+Leather+sewing+machine.htm