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Thank you, does indeed sound like fun. So has anyone made a medieval saddle? I think I'll have to have a day researching about saddlers and leatherworkers through the ages. Off topic, but is leather worker one word or two?

I use google mail and noticed a advert for Tandy leather in the uk. Anyone here a member?

Hi a bag for your viewing pleasure from Sheridanman.

Hi, can't really help answer all your questions, but being broke and spending all my money on leather, heres what i do. First i use my home made creasers to create a channel for my stitches then i use a pair of dividers set to my stitch length. I have found them fairly quick to use and plus it's easier to judge spacing when i get to the ends. Also i have no problems getting round corners. With practice you don't need the angle marked on the leather it just comes naturally. When I was starting out I thought it might help to put a dab of red nail varnish on one side of the awl, to help keep the diamond consistent. I find hand stitching very satisfying and doesn't take to long. Just to keep it more interesting I also roll my own thread from a single linen thread. Hope that's some help Tony

Hi Ray, what a really nice offer. I would love them pm sent.

Thanks HammerHead, don't have a use for it yet, but given time I'll think of something

Thank you for such an informative and awesome site

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the tutorial, my only sugestion would be to put the video on another host like google video or youtube. Then embed the code in your blog. That way your video can be watched without having to download and it will save space on your webpages.

Spider that is such a cool idea. It looks really good. How about a spot of blood seeping through? Keep up the good work mate. Tony

What a great idea, charge the customer what they get paid per hour. Just try to only work for lawyers.

Well I just received the Aussie strander today, haven't really used it properly yet. Was a little disappointed with the quality but it worked surprisingly well. Will give it a proper testing this week. Jim I can see why you say you use it on your right index finger, not only is the hole almost to small for my thumb it just feels more comfortable on my right. I guess that's why I'm here. If you can't learn first hand it's better to get advice from lots of people. Would be a nice to have a few pictures of people using them. David I to would like to see your strander. Gremlin glad to see someone backing up Ron Edwards! Has any one tried using a safety razor blade split in half? I briefly tried with a old one from my razor, didn't seem to go well. Not sure if its to flexible or just not sharp enough. Tony

Looks like your stuck between a rock and a hard place. Maybe if you replied with your concerns and sent them a photo of the cheapo's saying that it was their mistake and that you don't wish to pay to send them their rubbish back. It would also be worthwhile saying that you will talk to ebay's dispute center if this isn't sorted out to your satisfaction.

Yeh no way can I get all the way up there, mail order for me. I just sent them a email and asked for a price list. They do have a huge range though. I think they'll be starting up a european website soon.

Thanks Jim some very good advice from someone who has used the thumb strander for some time. As they say "there's more than one way to skin a rabbit". I can see your point with cutting an oval and not a circle, but in R. Edwards defence he does metion both way's. His reasoning being that with an oval you get left with a odd shape in the middle. Like you said you can trim this piece as you go. I must say though that Ron Edwards was a very respected man in his leather skills and bush skills. He was also the president for the Australian plaiters and whipmakers assocation. So I really don't think he would write advice in one of his books just to sell it. I think it's just a case of what you know. For one I'll be following your advice and Ron Edwards and probably come up with a different technique that works for me. Thanks Tony

Just found that we now have a tandy in the uk. How exciting, so I thought. Just recieved the catologue and price list. Very impressed with the catalogue. But the price list, Grr . Do they think that we don't look around and compare prices. For example craftool stamps retail price in the us is $5 to $8. They want to charge £5.63 or around $10. Le prevo sell them for £4.00. Most things I can price compare are more expensive. It's cheaper for me to order from a ebay seller in the states. We havn't got many leather merchants over here so I guess they just thought that with a glossy catalogue people will buy off them. I guess I will end up using them for some things. But I think they seriously need to review their prices if they want to get the more serious leatherworkers. Okay thats my rant over for the night. Thanks for listening.

I've just ordered one but have a book by Ron Edwards who recommends them. Heres how he say's to use it. I'll put it in my own words so as not to break copyright laws etc. The strander is used on the left thumb (right handed people) Lay the skin on a bench and with a piece of string and marking tool draw a circle. Fix the circle of leather to your bench with a tack in the center and let the edge overhang a little on the side you are working. Cut the first inch or so with a knife and feed into the cutter. As the lace is being cut the leather circle revolves. You will need to repostition from time to time as the circle gets smaller. Use a sharp blade. Change the position of the blade or replace after each skin. Amount of lace is somewhere between 100-200 metres of 3mm lace from a hide. When cutting pull the lace slighty away from the circle. This will lesson the chance of the blade running off and cutting uneven widths. Hope this helps.

Hi ChaChi, thanks for sharing your pictures and reasons for the suspenders not having elastic. They look fantastic, and I can see why they are selling well. You may have inspired me to make myself a pair. My only concern being once they are made you say that to get them to fit comfertably you have to have "one good sweaty fire" Well not being a fireman, should I just have a bonfire and run round it for a couple hours?? Anyway love the work and I hope mine are half as impressive.

did a quick google search, and found this. http://www.carpetfittersshoponline.co.uk/q...rws095-70-p.asp That was my first port of call. So I'm sure we can find one over here for a good price. Will have a proper look around later.

Thanks Tina, your drawing looks really good. Can imagine it with some colour. Had a trial yesterday and made a wrist bracer with my design on it. I'll try to get my camera to be co-operative and show a picture.

Yep your right David. It's sometimes easier to say you can't do something and throw your toys out of the cot. After looking at the picture on the screen it looks better than I thought. So I'll sit down and give it a good shot. Thanks for the advice, I will remember it. Thanks Tony

My younger brother asked me to make him a belt and while doing so decided to make him a belt buckle to go with it. After customing a old buckle I had I was trying to decide on a inlay design. After much thought I have come up on a design representing 3 brothers. BUT try as I might I can't draw it. So I was kinda hoping one of you would do me the biggest favour and draw it for me. I hate to ask but it would mean a lot to my brother and I'd like it to be right. Okay enough of the begging heres my design. Yeh I know my drawing is rubbish, But I think you can see what I'm trying to do. I promise I'll post some pictures when it's done. Not that I can hope it will come even close to what I've seen on here. Thanks

Thats pretty impresive, not everyone can say that they're triple great grandfather worked in the oldest surviving oak tannery. Are you still in the area? I'm from Bridport in Dorset.

Hi dave I'm in the uk at the moment and I've found the best prices are from http://www.leprevo.co.uk and from https://www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk/ You need to create an account with abbey, but they are good prices and good to deal with. They're the best prices I've found over here. I last got my leather from http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk/index.php. Lovely leather and from the oldest surviving tannery in the world. Hope this helps