MADMAX22

Great work as always. Really like how you did your edge seem. That custom brass work sets it off as well.

Ill have to say I appreciate Steve, Bob, and Ryan as I am just getting into sewing machines for my work. Picked up a CB4500 (from neels) and also got a 211G155 from craigslist. Finally got to talk with Steve this morning and Bob also to get some parts for my 211. Ryan was great with helping me with the few questions I had on the 4500 although to be honest it came all setup ready to go. Would recommend any one of these guys to help with both questions and to pick up a machine from. They sure are making my head long plunge into sewing machines far easier. Cant forget our own guys Art and Wizcraft as well. All have been a great help to this greenhorn.

I have to honestly say thats not exactly my style (not a fan of bright green lol) but your abilities are without question. Flawless construction. Really some great work.

Sorry didnt look at this thread for a while. The way to put this on is have a nice warm place, furnace room or a hot summer day, something that will warm up the leather a tad and also the sno-seal. Apply one thin coat. At first it will be kind of oily/waxy feel. Let it sit overnight. If its nice and warm the stuff should have gone into the leather and is now relatively dry. I usually use a horse hair brush to buff it up afterwards. Oh also if need be add a second thin coat to it on the second day if it seems like it really needs it. Just dont over do it.

Thats some great looking stuff Cowboy. I think the carving and design looks killer. Stamping is pristine.

Great looking stuff as allways. I never get tired of looking at your style of work.

Keep checking craigslist, atleast thats what I do. Sometimes you may have to drive a ways but eventually stuff turns up on there. If I had the room and money I would have tried bargaining with this sale http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/bfs/2360879047.html but no such luck right now.

http://www.campbell-bosworth.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=12

Congrats, I am jealous mine wont be here till tomorrow or Monday. Really hope tomorrow so I can play with it this weekend. How was the setup? This is going to be my first real machine. Kayak have you had any issues with yours so far, I have heard nothing but good about this class of machine weather it be cobra, these guys, or one of the many others out there. Would like to know if any one has had any issues though so I can have a heads up.

I am by no means experienced with sewing machines to say the least but I have been picking Art's opinion and a little of wizcraft as well. Not to mention reading tons of stuff both here and all over the web trying to find a sewing machine. I originally was going to try and find a used maybe older style machine but in the end after a couple of weeks of that I decided that for now spending the cash and getting something new that can do everything I want was the way to go. I really did alot of looking around and after deliberating for awhile due to the amount of money I was going to be spending decided on the CB4500. I purchased it from Neels saddlery after talking to him and Bob a couple of times. no offense to Bob at all it was just that I talked to Neel first and they were both as far away from me as the other. The price is pretty darn good over all. Got the whole package with flat table insert and everything should be here friday. The one nice thing about getting one of these cylinder bed machines is that you can basically turn it into a flat bed machine with the table top attachment. I also kept in mind the 16" arm for my own use as well as if I ever need to sell it. I cant give a review of the machine till I get it but I hope it is as good as alot of people say. Similar if not the same machine that is offered by Cobra and others, consew which was alot more expensive and went above my price range. I am in no way worried about purchasing from a one man show either. I think the smaller companies in my experience seem to generally have some very good customer service. No complaints about Neels so far.

Have you tried sno-seal or something along the line of picards or montana pitch blend. All of these do really well at providing protection but need to be reapplied on a regular basis depending on wear and tear. They usually result in a very mellow sheen. Its what I primarily use on everything.

personally that is one reason I just use the blue painters tape on the back. It is much easier to remove.

The higher end tools are nice, however one of the biggest determining factors in the results of your stamping is going to be quality of leather your using and how well you case your leather. With the craft tools you will get decent results for a while by just learning to properly case your leather and by using good quality leather to begin with. I was really surprised the first time I tried WandC leather vs the cheaper tandy stuff. Same tools and same technique and the stamping just looked so much better. Now that being said there is a fine point that you can achieve where the only improvement you will make is by purchasing higher quality stamps and such. Even then it will be after you have achieved alot of experience.

Yeah just call them they will or should send out there swaths of all the leathers they carry in the various colors. I think they may send out a larger sized piece maybe. I can pretty much say that if you ordered one of there sides that you will be happy. They have some for $107 a side last time I looked. I also think Kevin at springfeild has some HO for close to that price as well or he use to. Not sure if he still has that on sale or not. Now these special sides arent going to be there best but they are still pretty darn good. Ive gotten one of there top shelf vegtan sides before and it was outstanding, just dont have the cash to buy that stuff very often.

Funny you mention that Reaper, I made my fiancee a credit card holder out of horse and she ended up washing it and drying it lol. Well it is died brown but looked ten times better after the wash and dry then it did when I gave it to her. Had to throw some oil on it but other then that it seemed just fine.

Ive gotten vegtan a few times from there sales. i cant speak for all there vegtan as some of the other stuff may be better. Its just that the leather on the flesh side in my experience has been really loose, also the "old english style" they say theres is tanned to has a really soft body to it, IMHO way to soft. I compare there vegtan to that of tandy (regular stuff there high end stuff is pretty good but way to pricey). I like the firmer HO or WandC style of tanning. Also if you do any vinegaroon the HO and WC take to that far better in my past experience. If I am carving or building anything like bags and what not and using the same leather for the straps I get either HO or WC. WC specials being great for the price. This is all just my own opinion, I am by no means the most experienced person out here. Waterhouse leather has good deals on other types of leather though that I occasionally partake in.

Thanks guys appreciate the complimants, yeah like the horse natural. it wears reaLly nice over time

Thats odd, Ive ordered from WC several times and always got my order within the time they said it was gonna get here (has to be shipped ground since Im across the US). Ive also gotten stuff from springfeild leather as well and it arrived on time without issue well except it took a couple of times to get my address fully updated with them. Both places had great customer service though. Water house I dont use for vegtan, I either get it from WC or get herman oak from springfeild.

Well finished the second try at this guy. This one is in horse (the ones from springfeild). I think it overall turned out a little better. Doesnt look any better lol but function wise its a little better. Forgot about covering up a little more of the cylinder like you guys had mentioned but ah well. Maybe next round. I think I could have forgone the reinforcement on the front but wanted to give that a try. It is already so thick whats another layer of 6-7oz leather right ...... I think next round it will be left off. I think I will have him try this one out for a while and give me feed back on how it performs and go from there. The best opinion is from actual user response right. Thanks for all the input previously. Oh and the extra holes are so he can move the straps down a half inch. May help and if not it doesnt hurt.

Great looking stuff, really like that wood grain effect that you got with that sheath.

Thats super nice David. Great looking carving as usual. That leather looks really nice as well. The dark lace and the dark backgrounding looks really great together.