YinTx

That came out incredible! YinTx

Cool work, textures on the pier poles is right on the money. YinTx

You can also find them all over ebay if you don't mind vintage. They do mystery braid cuts quite well. Weaver leather even mentioned them in a shop tricks video as a very useful tool that you don't use very often, but when you do need it, not much replaces it. YinTx

I think Springfield Leather had some Hermann Oak D Grade sides available at one time, you might contact them. @TonySFLDLTHR may be able to assist. YinTx

The whole thing is beautifully done! Every detail is impeccable! YinTx

It's all art, so whatever preference you have, go with it! Seems there are 10,000 different methods to using antique, and 10,000 different results. So I'm always practicing, trying to get something I like. In general, I have not been using the paste antiques lately, and when I do antique, I have made my own recipe. But I went back to some paste to try things out again a week or so ago. This was a piece of 10 oz Hermann Oak that I doodle'd on, oiled with neatsfoot, then put the old school NeatLac on (yeah, the kind you have to take outside because it smells so strong), let it dry, then put the paste on, wiped the heavy stuff off, left the rest sit in the cracks and low spots and cuts for an hour or so, then really cleaned it out and applied Tan Kote over it. Then some matte acrylic finisher. I kinda liked the way the cuts darkened, and the background darkened, but the leather stayed fairly light colored, stayed clean and not muddy, with no gummy junk caked in the cuts or tooling marks. The finish is not shiny and plasticy, with a nice gloss and hue. The background stayed a bit flat for my preference, but all in all workable for me. The prototype sheath was done with my own mixture, Tan Kote for resist, finished with resolene. But then someone looking for a really darkened antique job would be totally disappointed in both I suppose. YinTx

@Rossr that is the exact concept I was going for! Whimsical, not perfectionism, fun and no seriousness allowed! Yours turned out great! I like the backgrounding you did on the one, really gives him an aura of magic! YinTx

@maxdaddy, I suspect so! Tried to make them fun and whimsical for any age... @fredk, appreciate it! @hashtagartz, yeah, enough grinches running around trying to spoil cheer and joy and anything else they can this year. Maybe I'll add one next year, but he'll not be happy with my treatment, lol! YinTx

As I said, this was inspired by @Stewart, so thanks much for that! These have been a hit this year, folks love them it seems, so i made a bunch. Course, now I could be stuck with a bunch, but hey, I'm alright with that! It also gave me a chance to get comfortable with painting on leather, which I really needed to do. Sorry about the fuzzy photos, enjoy! YinTx

considering the apparent gloom cast over the masses this Christmas Season, it is good to rely on happy memories to understand what the season is all about and to snap out of it and regain joy. Thanks for providing the medium to achieve just the remedy! YinTx

I love these things. I keep telling myself I'm going to make some, but never do! Where do you get the bells, and do they make good on the noise when you open and close the door? Awesome work, also! YinTx

Awesome! YinTx

Thanks for that. A customer requested a 9/10 ounce single layer belt, so that is what I was working on. It took significantly more neatsfoot than I am accustomed to, but I worked in a small amount at a time and I have been working it gradually by hand over a few days allowing the oil to do it's work. The leather has softened a bit, enough I think it can be comfortably used now as a belt. I had tried some water on a scrap piece, then some casing solution, then a lot of saddle soap, none of them really seemed to do the trick. I did try to wet mold this leather, and it worked fantastic for that. A bit heavy for a cc or iwb holster, but may be nice for an owb carved holster, single layer, so I may relegate the remainder of it to that work. YinTx

I think one of the definitions of a professional is "engaged in an activity for financial return." By that regard, I'd say yes! cool story, and Congrats on the new maul, may it serve you well! YinTx

https://www.springfieldleather.com/Finish-Carnauba-Cream-32oz https://www.doublekleather.com/shop/liquids/carnauba-cream https://www.zelistore.com/products/carnauba-cream-4oz-18-22012-1?_pos=1&_sid=2e8dd253d&_ss=r&variant=14996912966 And I am sure many others. Just take a look around. YinTx

That is fantastic work! And I bet it feels nice too, being Haas leather! YinTx

I noted the same about H.O. However, I got in some 10 oz H.O. that is very different, very hard, almost couldn't get my plough gauge through it. Almost like sole bend hard. When I wet it down, it behaves very differently, as in even though completely soaked, you can bend it and it will stay in that position. Seems very moldable, as if it would hold its' shape very rigidly. But no good for a belt, which is why I bought it. Trying to figure out how to soften it a bit so I can get this order out, no time really to buy another side, and worried I may get the same thing. So was wondering if what I received was holster leather instead of standard tooling veg tan. YinTx

thanks for that! I think it might make a great gift, if I can finish one in time... YinTx

Can someone explain the difference? Would really appreciate it. YinTx

If you were to use an awl, there would be the smallest slit in the leather that would try to close up on itself. Tugging 0.8mm thread through that is pretty snug and takes some effort. When you are done, you usually don't see the hole. If I were to knock 1mm round holes in leather to stitch, it would feel like the thread and needle were wallowing around in a cavernous gap to me. From my perspective, you don't need smaller thread. But then, I don't stitch with round holes, maybe someone else that does that style can pitch in some experience. YinTx

Not a saddle guy at all here, but I do recognize nice work when I see it! Impressive! YinTx

Went into my local Tandy Store today, first time since the virus issue. They had some of the tools. They were in a locked plexiglass case. Look but don't touch. I was not allowed to touch them to leather, so I did not and as such I did not purchase them. The Barry King are online only, which kind of defeats the purpose in my mind. All in all a let down. YMMV. YinTx

That's awesome! YinTx

A search of your website only turned up swivel knives and mauls from BK. Are you selling tooling stamps also, or no? YinTx

Z series tools from Craftool are generally some of the lowest quality you can get. They will probably do nothing but frustrate you. I would recommend the older Craftools, you can get sets for reasonable prices that won't break the bank. The older tools were generally hand made, and of good quality. If you want, I'll look through my sets and let you know the numbers. YinTx