YinTx

These are awesome. YinTx

I have a bottle, but couldn't really get a pull up effect, seems I don't know how to use it? Be happy to try again if anyone can suggest techniques... YinTx

hahahha.. yeah. this. In fact it only serves as the first place for her to find any cash I might have on hand lol. YinTx

Nice! Stitching looks nice, edges are great, tooling held up, your buddy otta be happy! YinTx

Nice alteration! Definitely more consistency with the same type of rivets. YinTx

I have seen this around here before. A quick search in these halls revealed the following nuggets: Hope it helps! YinTx

Thank you Scoutmom! I have another version of this I am trying to finish... but having a challenge matching the dye for the back....usually do dye work at the same time, but wasn't able to this go around (some match up issues). Inability to match colors is why I always try to do colors at once, instead of weeks later! YinTx

Hmm, yeah, gonna hafta be honest here, I'm just dang slow. But, on the bright side, I don't charge for my pace. In fact I tend to charge less based on my pace. Makes em happy anyhow. I agree on most of the stuff on this thread, I get frustrated with the low end stuff being sold for premium prices. Had a guy try to sell me some Damascus knives, high end he says, only USA retailer from his custom supplier. Alas, made in Pakistan. He seemed to be doin good business selling 3 kitchen knives for $400. But, somedays I just put my head down, damn the torpedos, ignore the bombs bursting left and right, and trudge ahead... at my slow pace. YinTx

How long have you been working with leather? Many of us have been at it for years and still regularly make errors. As they say, practice makes perfect. I don't think you should consider it a personal struggle if you make mistakes while learning, that is how many of us learn. YinTx

This is awesome info, even something I have been asking a few players and they are unsure what they want/need because they don't have enough experience with custom work. I am in the process of making a tooled strap, this answers most of the q's I've had! Thanks so much for sharing, I'll be applying the info to my build. YinTx

Thats probably a closer match, since their stuff is machine stitched. YinTx

Unique piece, thanks for showing it off! I like the spots of green color, gives it some bling! YinTx

Likely 532 Juane Fil Au Chinois will be a close match. Fine Leatherworking and Rocky Mountain Leather sell them I think. The binding on top is FAC thread, the handle has LV's thread. YinTx

For the curious, I have finally put together some bits to mail! Hopefully tomorrow. Some Tandy, some Mystery (I think it's Wickett and Craig), some Hermann Oak. Some plain, some stamped and antiqued, some tooled and dyed and antiqued, and one small bit of oiled and waxed with a skived end, different thicknesses, etc. Looking forward to seeing what happens when you wet em and wrap em around a handle. I think if you just lightly wet the backs to form them, the tooling/stamping should be ok. Some folks talk about this with gun holsters, to maintain the tooling. I myself have not done it, so looking forward to seeing if it works well in this application. YinTx aka Slow Draw McGraw - told you it would be like watching the lake dry up lol

I advertise this all the time. I tell everyone that wants custom that "I am SLOW. As in months." So if you need it fast, I'm not your guy. Only one guy didn't get that. And I gave him his money back, no problem. Usually, I don't take any money from anyone until I am done and they have it in their hands and they are happy. What I don't advertise is that custom work is slow. Some folks do custom fast. What I mean is *I* am slow. YinTx aka Slow Draw McGraw

Looks good! YinTx

Thanks for clarifying! I was thinking you had some of those Ott lamps... YinTx

I am a bit confused, are you trying to make rather large imprints, or can you just buy the set of stamps and get to work? Or are you trying to 3D print something custom?These seem remotely related: https://www.infinitystamps.com/pages/themed-fonts YinTx

Looks like a water line on the arm... like it had been underwater for some time, resulting in the rust. All things are relative. What would be "a very low price?" YinTx

Looks great then. Usually when I follow the process you outlined, I get darker leather where I don't want it darker. I will have to try the oil before antique approach, maybe that will help, a step that I didn't do. thanks for the details! YinTx

Dang, I was hoping it would be easier than that. It looks fantastic on the sides! Not a wrinkle one. Clearly a lot of hard work though. Is there padding underneath the leather on the sides as well? YinTx

Unique! And cleanly done! I love the leather color. YinTx

Meh, I'm not offended at all. Like I said, I go utilitarian on a lot of things myself. Also I appreciate nicely crafted things. Always up for a decent conversation on topics like this. Usually, they are better done with a cold one and not via keyboard to avoid misunderstandings, but I do what I can to understand and be understood. Doesn't always work tho. Cheers! My knives have a variety of woods, even a rough unfinished magnolia handle on a Japanese skiving knife (not a thing of beauty). None of my clients care. Nor was that the point of my paragraph. Point is, I care what my handle is, and I hope my clients care what their leather is - not what my tools are. Vast majority of shoppers in my city, state, country kinda don't care what the leather is, and they buy utilitarian and shop big box discount stores. A tiny percent do, and they buy our nicely tooled/finished fancy leather goods. Same as a small percent of tool shoppers buy nicely crafted tools. I can tell the difference when I use my nice tools, and I hope our customers can tell the difference when they use our goods. And that is why pay a difference. Otherwise, if as a consumer you don't see/feel/smell/taste a difference, makes no point to pay. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. YinTx

Ok, I'll bite. What are the 2 lights? YinTx

Yes, and there is the added "Fees" that most other countries add onto anything coming from the US. as an example, an individual on another forum compiled this list of costs for ordering some sides of Wickett and Craig leather: Price of sides from Wickett and Craig $256, $241 - £194, £183 shipping $90 - £68 customs $118 - £90 inc fees the courier charges to pay for the customs. total: $705 £535. So Customs added $118 fees on $500 of leather coming from USA. I imagine that protects a lot of leather mfr's in other countries, and I suspect other goods coming from here have similar issues driving up costs. YinTx I think for a while they were, but with pricing like that a lot of competition is entering the market, like China - easy to compete when somehow they can ship for free to my front door a tiny tool from overseas, but I have to pay $10 to have something shipped from a state or city next door. Also the likes of SLC, Weaver, etc are making and selling similar or better items at better prices. This is good for the consumer to have choices again. I think Tandy takes advantage of the fact that new entrants and hobbyists to the leather working world are not aware of the other options out there, and after all, Tandy is generally a close by bricks and mortar, along with the online presence. Can't blame them for understanding their market. Also, I don't have to shop there all the time. YinTx