David

I knew I was going to catch a lot grief for my post, I hope this helps to clarify my position.... If you use a round knife and like it .... more power to you. I respect your preference and the work you produce with it. The round knife is a specialty tool for leather workers and like the swivel knife, it takes considerable practice to use it well. I am not bashing round knives or anyone who uses them. If you look at the original post, a member was having trouble with cutting leather.... I simply gave him the alternative that I use. For me, I do not use a round knife because I've developed quick and tried and true means of working without one. Like many members here, I have decades spent in the pursuit of other hobbies and crafts (wood working, turning, building black powder guns scrimshaw on powder horns, scratch building models etc, etc.) that provided me the experience of alternative means of cutting. Also, I'm an old guy and the strength in my hands and wrists isn't what it used to be. So for all those reasons I simply use my own methods of cutting and I find them quite satisfactory. Respectfully, David Theobald

I'm going to get a lot of criticism for this; but here goes. I wouldn't use a head knife if you paid me! Without a doubt the worst cutting (for me) and most dangerous tool made for leather workers. I do everything by the KISS principle. I keep it simple. Every leather project I've done has been cut out using scissors. Please keep in mind I don't make saddles so most of my leather has been the 8-9 oz weight. You saddle makers, I understand the need for something else. But for those of us who are working in the lighter weight leathers, there is no need to use a cannon to kill a cock roach. Go to Tandy and test out their premium leather cutting scissors. They are not cheap, but they work like a charm. We've all been using scissors since kindergarden so you won't need lessons on how to use them. Keep them perpendicular to the leather and you won't have accidental undercuts. You may also want to pick up a good pair of work gloves to pad your hand, but other than that.... give it a try. David Theobald

Ahh...Thats an idea:-) I have one more I just started. I'll take some pictures along the way and I will post them up here when that cover is finished. That is a post I'll save for sure. I'll be looking for it. David Theobald

Tina, Beautiful job as always... How about showing us how that notebook cover was constructed? I personally would love to know how you made it. Dave Theobald

I've only used one HO side and didn't like it at all. Funny you should mention, because it was WAY too soft to use for tooling SO, I'm pretty loyal to W C. If Hermann Oak is Cadillac, Wicket and Craig is a Ferrari. I'm a small user and W&C has never demanded a minimum order. Nice folks too. Dave Theobald

I've always been afraid of slits instead of holes .... there will be much more stress on the ends of the slits .... and the lace could act like a little saw to cause them to tear through.... Just a thought .... although an unhappy one. I do however understand what you mean about the padding showing through .... The type of seat I build doesn't have padding under the lace so I don't encounter that issue. Terrific looking work Ian. Very nice. Dave Theobald

Thank you everyone Your kind words are much appreciated. David Theobald

Doesn't anyone remember Steve McQueen in Wanted Dead or Alive? You did a great job on the latest version of a classic firearm Dave

Looks good Shirley, I like it a lot....Similar eagle, but the rest is very different. Dave

Harley Chef Turned out looking pretty darn good. Dave

Thanks for taking a look everyone. Hopefully this one get delivered tomorrow. David Theobald

Bob, I learned it in the little booklet from tandy called how to lace.....very cheap about $5 It is called Round Braid or Mexican Basket Weave. Dave

Ian, Thanks for the kind words, I've only been doing leather about 4 years or so.... this job with the bike shop has imposed a lot of forced practice. Its been good for me. David Theobald

Thanks for looking James, I antiqued the RockStar seat first and I thought that this batch of leather looked a bit too reddish with just Sheridan Paste antiquing so I mixed some medium brown into the Sheridan. It gave it a nice color, I thought. David Theobald

I've been a bit busy the last couple days. I finished this one also. This is the second one of these in case it looks familiar. David Theobald

I completed the USMC seat yesterday. Here is the result Thanks for taking a look at it David Theobald

Tina, You are killing me here. Your work is always so original, beautifully executed, and such a treat for the eyes. Count me as your biggest fan. David Theobald

Hey Razz, A surgeon eh? No, I can't say that a career in medicine ever crossed my mind. The graphic came from the internet. It is the standard USMC logo usually called the eagle,globe and anchor. I'm going to begin the finish on this tonight. The customers agrees that a lighter seat would stand out more.... Thanks for looking David Theobald

Hello Kliff, I only have one suggestion. On the seat back. I stop my decorative lace well short of going all the way around the "nose" of the seat. Many mounting brackets are long enough to over hang that lace and actually crush and break it when the bracket is wrenched down tight. See this pic: http://www.theobaldleather.com/fullgallery/pages/back.htm Other than this bit of advice, to looked great. Dave Theobald

When cleaning your leather prior to dyeing or antiquing, do you use Isopropal Alcohol or Denatured Alcohol? David Theobald

no no No No NO NO and hell no. I really don't want to know what an off-the-wall nut bag some of my fellow members are. Giving people an opportunity to vent anonymously is like giving a teenager a bottle of booze and the car keys. We don't need to turn this forum into a freak show train wreck. We have "about us" and "off topic" that is enough. If folks vent politically, remove it...if they do it more than once, warn them, after that ban them..... this is a leather forum, not Meet the Press. David

I couldn't agree more guys he want a dark tan finish a bit darker than the seat posted here. The bike is a 1948 panhead. The paint will be traditional harley ..... the tanks will be split seafoam green and cream.... the back fender will be the same green with a cream stripe. Very, very traditional. wow that second picture is terrible I'm sorry about that quality. Dave

Von Dutch, all the info here is on the mark. He was probably most famous for his unique style of pin striping. A style that has now become an industry standard, thus no longer unique. Very nice tutorial, your work continues to amaze and inspire. Thanks David Theobald