MADMAX22

Linux as mentioned is great if you know how to use it and it fits your requirements but alot of stuff is not supported on linux and running a vertual machine is not what I call support. Anyways as mentioned STAY AWAY from the pron sites (spelled wrong for a reason), these are like floating std's when it comes to computers among other things. Use avg/avast as these are great freeware programs but are not gonna be the only thing you need to do. A computer needs regular maintenance. Get spy bot search and destroy, malware bytes, and CCleaner. These are great for removing junk, becareful with CCleaner as its a registry cleaner and you can fubar stuff. The others I run once a week on top of my avg that runs daily. Clean out your old stuff occasionally, for windows its Disk Cleanup. Once you have done that defrag your harddrive once in a while also. The windows one works ok but there are others available that work better. Also honestly yes you can run a windows install for a very long time but nothing runs fresher then a fresh install. I do it about once a year or so but I also have my operating system on its own segment of the harddrive which is a good idea if you can. I understand if you bought a premade computer this may be more difficult.

Looks really good actually. The stamping is very good. Work on your lacing technique, even out the backgrounding, and your well on your way. If you can cut a copy of your kits then you can do them a few times except dont punch the holes try a lacing awl or something similer. It will help your lacing look much better.

Thanks guys, and Tom I wanted to keep it rather simple style and found some beads at a store so figured why not. The only problem I see with it is that while very easy to do and undo when your bare handed I think once you put some gloves on it may be a pain in the butt. Atleast till it gets broken in a bit then it may be easier.

That is definatly some cool looking stuff. Very interesting thing you did with the buckle. not sure if its widely used but thats the first time Ive scene it done like that.

Maybe try using the resist one coat over entire project, then areas you dont want the antique do another one or two coats of the resist. Should work pretty good.

You really need al stohlmans books on case making. Basically there are a few techniques to get to doing this. One which is done alot is to make a wood or similer cast with a top and bottom piece and then use a press to basically squish the leather together. Not very good for hobbiest unless your making holsters and change the technique a little. Another thing is making a slit straight down from the corner, then fold the bottom edge down, then cut a slit out from the edge at a 90 angle tot he first one. Then another downward slit which makes a flap on the side basically. This is then pushed down and the corner which is now nice and neat is stitched. Depending on how radical the corner needs to be you can wet form it and just keep on working and working it and it will get somewhat of a nice corner look. It wont be that nice 90 degree corner but still works. Sorry I dont have any pictures. There are other ways to do it I just only use the one.

Sorry guess I should say burnished. I just roughed out the edges. I still burnished them just not to that nice shiny smooth surface. Guess I could of used the proper words for it lol.

Thanks a bunch guys.

Well finally got this one done and managed to screw it up at the last moment lol. Anyways it is about 5/6oz with a design tooled into it. Wanted to try a belt bag type thing and see what I could come up with. Color is tan with antique then atom wax and sno seal. Lined it with about 3/4oz suede so the edges arent mirrored. Entire thing is hand stitched. Used thicker stuff on the straps along with copper rivets. When I was dying the edges I slipped with the thing I used and some dye dripped on the bottom edge. Didnt get it all off in time before it set in so ended up with that stain. Really annoying, allmost last step and that happens. Ahh well.

Frakin great dude, love it.

Gotta soak it in a bit of water before you put your crease in it. Gouging the back will help also. Then throw a spot of oil or conditioner on it once you have it folded.

Looks real nice so far. Outstanding job.

Jeez now I had to go and order some angelus dyes. Ahh well Ive been wanting to for a while. Very nice looking holsters. You have some great attention to detail and excellent coloring.

Yeah no kidding right. Atleast someone has the time to do cool stuff. I work to much lol. Hey you guys there are a bunch of site on this link. Alot of them are no more and alot deal with mass produced stuff but its worth a look thru. http://www.electroniccottage.com/leather.html

From what I understand that is allmost worse, if you have a bank account tied to your paypal account then they can freeze all money's tied to that paypal account which includes your bank account. I have read countless tales of poeple who had there checking and savings frozen because of a paypal dispute and the bank couldnt do a thing about it since you basically signed a contract with paypal. Thats the main reason that any bank account that I tie to paypal will be solely for that reason and no other. And I wont base a business or much else on it.

I dont know the language or understand it but thought these were some interesting leather work. I really like the boxes. http://www.artefact-leather.com/

Nothing better then black on black right. LOL Nicely done.

Just gotta throw my pennies around. Ian you do great work dont stop. (IMHO) Any person running a private business no matter what it is will have to deal with wholesalers and suppliers just like what your dealing with. The trick is to find the right one and hoepfully get a good thing going with them. My parents had a petshop for going on about 15yrs before they sold it. We allways had problems with deliveries, orders of fish ariving half dead, food worms arriving dead or that would only last about a day or two. Plants showing up in pieces. You name it and they saw it. We were fortunate because most of the dealers who delivered the stuff the guy delivering it also worked there so we could have a direct link to them when they showed up. Most of the time it was to tell them to give us a refund and dont bother calling again. Probably took about 5 yrs to get the right companies to deal with for everything we needed. Ofcourse then we had to compete with the chains like petsmart and the others and it was just too much. Anyways I know its not directly related but goes to show when you do more then show up and punch a time clock you gotta worry about alot of other things as well. Im finding that leather working is a tough business for us little poeple.

As usual that looks oustanding. Ofcourse questions for ya. Those liners can you dye them and what not?

Nicely done. I love the flowers, definatly a cool style.

Looks like you got it worked out pretty good. Nice job on the whole thing ecspecially for so short rush order.

I second that place. Did me good with what I ordered from them. Top quality stuff.

Not a pro but will add that its all up to the person making the seat and the preference of the person they are making it for. I have scene everything from 1/4" to 2" for the pan style seats. Go with what you think you will want. You could also when you order it get just 1" and double it up if you think you want it thicker. Using some M77 or similer the neoprene will stick to each other very very well.

THat is a very nice looking belt. Great idea with filling in the center to give it that slightly domed effect. On the lacing, did he burnish it a little after the lacing was finished or was that from when he was skiving and rounding it before He actually did the lace job. It has a nice darker shade on the outside edge of the belt that looks really good. Looks like alot of work but well worth it.

Looks like a real good start. Your stamping is very good and even. Im sure they like having you around making them stuff.