bikermutt07

That is just great, Y. I love it.

Well, that is just a fantastic 6th attempt. No? Great start. Looks like you have already been at it awhile now. Very impressive. Welcome aboard.

Cool. I didn't know there were Bond arms molds out there.

I love it. And I really dig that knife.

Never heard of this tannery. Thanks Matt.

That stitch line has really taken on a professional look. Way to keep at it.

I thought it was the girl from Rogue One, but I guess it is Cameron Diaz. It looks really awesome.

Sorry, Sheila.

I've seen your pricing, Buddy. Everyone gets a great deal at Nstar. As for the topic of discounts I work in a retail construction environment. We do cut some good deals to long term customers. And we do wholesale for builders and contractors. But someone new, no. And, I try never to make a sale based on price. If you are selling based on price, you need to spend a little more time focusing the client on the products, and how it will improve things for them. Every customer and product is different, but if you do the above (the right way) you will see sales. Example: A woman wants a tote. You build the strongest best tote available. She scoffs at the price. This is the time to ask her something along the lines of this.... Do you travel? (Yes). Do you have children (Yes). Let's say you do purchase this tote. Yes, it's more expensive than others. But, imagine one day, years and years from now. You and this bag have traveled everywhere together. France, Italy, the grand canyon..... Now imagine after all of that, being able to hand this tote to your granddaughter on her first cross-country trip. If I was selling my leather wares, that is the approach I would take.

Oh that place looks like fun.

Oh that place looks like fun.

@ComputerDoctor, if there was a good middle of the road machine it would probably be the cowboy cb341. It is basically the 277r with a larger bobbin, slightly higher? lift, and runs up to 207 thread. This could do knife sheaths as well as wallets. The 3200 could technically be adjusted to do wallets and sew with small thread. But, the presser foot tension is really high on these machines for running thicker material. And, once you get one in your hands you will find yourself wanting to get it to a "set it and forget it" mode. These things a kind of finicky. I'm just now learning how little I know about these strange beasts. All machines have a range of thickness and thread size they can work with, but really what they have is a design that is really geared towards the middle of that range. So, that's where we wind up needing more than one.

That is cool. I thought it was legal to carry in a national park these days? Of course, maybe you're not in the States?

I like it.

Nice rig.

@Jwyrick, keep in mind these machines used to be thousands more before the Chinese and Japanese machines came along. But, deals are out there. Be patient and save up. 30 days ago I had no machine. Now the two I mentioned above both fell into my lap. I got the consew locally for 400 with a new table and servo. Then last weekend I hotshotted it out to Vegas to grab a 3200 and about 3,000.00 worth of materials and tools for a grand. If it wasn't for the Good Lord, good friends, and this site none of this would have transpired. Just keep your eyes peeled.

@Jwyrick, I'm not very tuned in on that machine, but I think it is comparable to the 206. If that is the case it tops out at 138 or 207 thread, which I understand is too small for holsters.

I have stropped the tiny blades for the strap cutter. Just get some miniture pliers and drag the blades backwards across your strop. Makes a lot of difference.

@wrz0170, yeah Terry is a victim of his own success. I don't have any idea what he can crank out in a month. I do know he won't ship anything less than perfect.

With practice you can do more than 90% of your cutting with a good round knife. Buy Al Stohlman's Leather Tools book. It is a wealth of knowledge. It will teach you just about everything you need to know about using and sharpening your tools. Skiving is hard and I haven't done very much of it. But, my most successful attempts have been with the round knife. I have had very little luck with the Tandy skiver and super skiver.

@fredk you going off to war? Your avatar is different.

Welcome aboard, Simm. We are glad to have you. I think you are on the right track with buying a cheap set of tools to try out the hobby. If you know how to sharpen things really well then you are ahead of the game. If not, you will learn. Things have to be sharp sharp sharp in leatherworking. Otherwise you will find yourself frustrated and not have any fun. So, have fun getting those new tools sharp. P.s. always be prepared to sharpen anything in the lower cost world.

@BDAZ, right? You know I can't think of why a servo motor wouldn't make a good burnisher. They are inexpensive variable speed units with a shaft sticking out. I don't know the shaft size of any particular one but bushings are always out there. Plus the shaft is designed for perpendicular pressure to be put on the unit. Much more than say a drill press.

If you're in the States contact pro-edge burnishers. His motor burnisher fits a 1/2 and 5/8.

@immiketoo