Thor

Totally agree with the first paragraph. The second is a rumor. Anyhow, it also depends on the type of leather you are going to use. For almost all types of chrome tanned leather I wouldn't groove. If at all, only veg tan leather would be grooved. For most wallets I would say that a stitching groove isn't needed at all. I collected over 1,000 different wallets here https://www.pinterest.com/riding1493/wallets-portefeuille-geldb%C3%B6rse-billetera-%E8%B2%A1%E5%B8%83-%E9%92%B1%E5%8C%85-%D0%B1%D1%83%D0%BC/ and I hardly find a stitching groove on any of them.

I definitely did misunderstand that part... The only sense this would make to me is to get the acids into the hide better than just letting it sit on it.

Yeah I can't complain about their service. I'm chatting with him once in awhile. He's a hobby leatherworker himself. He'll tell you if a tool sucks or if it's really good. Also if it's not in their current stock they are trying to get it with one of their suppliers at a fair price. What I really like about them is that they are always trying to improve their stock. Usually if you order before noon you'll have it the next day. Once you get your gouge don't put it to work right away. Strop it first.

Just to be on the same page. Are you referring to this kind? https://www.google.de/search?q=incense+burner+wood&num=50&newwindow=1&client=ubuntu&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiQ54Tfr4PLAhXMWhoKHa7GAF0Q_AUIBygB&biw=1229&bih=818 If so I'd just try some sole bend leather first. If you're referring to just a holder, here's one of someone else http://www.maxandmoritz-la.com/lifestyle/leather-incense-holder-by-made-solid

I'm not absolutely certain on that particular step as for rawhide I don't think it is necessary. The so called staining process (sorry not sure what that relates to in the English explanations - maybe liming) usually follows the decalcification and would be used to promote further dilapidation of the hide to open the fibre structure for the following and actual tanning process. Pounding of cattle has a negative impact on the skin, but luckily it only damages the hypodermis, which is removed anyways. However, it doesn't help in loosening up fibres as adrenaline and the occurring bruising start a process we're trying to prevent today. But again, a fair amount of water would be needed to get this process really going. Traditionally dog, chicken and pigeon feces have been used for this procedure. Pigeon feces are still used a lot in Morocco for tanning goatskin. Unfortunately I'm not having a very good answer for this step but to guess that they are trying to make the rawhide more durable and making it "heavier" and therefore thicker. We are speaking of a swelling process. And yes it must be the ammonia in the urine and feces. Today's industrial mixtures are a combination of ammonia, pancreas extract and sawdust.

There's quite a bit of info on that available from organisations from and in Africa. There's even a Maasai Conservation organisation. The most info on leather tanneries etc. in Africa you would find in Morocco. Terms such as Fes Morocco Leather Tannery should return you some search results to start with.

Nothing wrong about that TinkerTailor if referred to the general term Alum. If we are using Alum for tanning today, we are usually referring to a Chrome Alum sulfate complex (technically chromium and potassium) as pure Alum only provides poor binding features with the fibers. Further tanning by just spreading pure Alum powder (would still be crystals) on the hide and let it cure in the sun doesn't happen. Even with today's Chrome Alum tanning compounds it takes 3 - 6 hours in a drum tanning process. Anyhow, the shields are obviously rawhide and the limestone is part of the mixture for the colors etc. No point to argue over it.

Alum would require access to that chemical compound and since this is supposed to be traditional and the old tribes certainly didn't have access to this I doubt that it is Alum. Ashing hide is the second step in preparation just after watering. Since the video doesn't really show anything past this point which could be considered tanning this should just be rawhide. Also you might want to read the article to the video here http://www.conserventures.org/news/ finding this text line "But one icon of Maasai history—those tall, intricately decorated rawhide shields, so universally recognizable that one features centrally on Kenya’s national flag—seemed lost forever, save as dusty relics in museums, rare and expensive objets d’art from exclusive curio dealers, or, tragically, as cheap, undersized, shoddily made tourist souvenirs."

Lovin' it!

If you're lucky she reads this post, if not go here http://leatherworker.net/content/index.php/about/

Wow jonasbo, that is well made.

Are they for horizontal or vertical holes?

Looks like this revolving punch could conflict with Selzer's patented revolving punch http://www.selzer-online.de/en/innovation

I have several patterns from them. Never had an issue. But I'm using Linux and not Windows. 7-zip is a good suggestion for windows. However, double check the package or just download it again. Go to your account and it should be in your downloads. Sometimes the package can get damaged while downloading or saving.

It's no problem at all linking to youtube. Ian Atkinson is known here... This is the referred video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4meaY6lWOMw I believe the correct term is a rule die what you are looking for. I wouldn't bother of making my own as it is really time consuming. If you look at the top banners you'll find this company within the US http://www.usacuttingdie.com/ It will be less stressful to send them a template and have one made up than making it yourself. Plus if it's not done right it's up to them to fix it and not your waste of money. If I would know how far along Ross is with his planning on making clicker dies I'd be suggesting him. He's also a member of the forum. If you're having access to a laser cutter I would look into that option before making a clicker die.

Tor, one source would be here http://sattlerbedarf-shop.de/epages/c59aed11-e2bc-485e-949a-91cc2ce760a3.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/c59aed11-e2bc-485e-949a-91cc2ce760a3/Products/%22Lz%20006%22 If you use the German terms "Lochpfeife oval" on Google Germany you'll find quite a few places. Sorry my Norwegian sucks. I'm pretty sure I suggested Rickert Werkzeuge several times on here already https://www.rickert-werkzeug.de/de/Allgemein/Lochen-Stanzen/Selzer-Oval-Lochpfeife-6-x-4-mm.html Or various choices here http://www.lederhaus.de/lederwerkzeug/lochzange.php If you don't have the Selzer tool already, don't bother buying it. If I wouldn't have a set of punches already I'd consider buying the set with the replaceable tubes Lederhaus sells. The CSO look-a-like is made by several manufacturers. One is Anzleather in India. The price ranges around 25 EUR in Germany for that one. I believe I mentioned that I have the original CSO and the noname one. Can't see any difference than in price and a CSO logo on the other one.

thunter, since restoration of old furniture was part of my first job this isn't so uncommon to me. Unfortunately your picture doesn't show any detail and one can only guess how the leather is attached or inserted to the top. It may be on an extra sheet board or just glued on and the edges placed into some "grooves". Do me a favor and pull out all drawers please. Place a light inside the cabinet so the pictures will actually be of a good quality. I would like to rule out or confirm that the leather here is just tacked in place on a plywood board, which then is placed in the gap of the top frame secured by some more boards on the bottom. So what would help are pictures from the corner details (inside and outside of the cabinet). If you're lucky it's as simple as this

I'd just like to add to what Art said... The old Craftool stamps have been continued by HideCrafter. If my latest info is correct, this company doesn't exist anymore either, but stamps are still available. In Europe this will mean extra costs due to customs. Barry King are pro stamps and worth what they are asking for. A cheaper alternative are craft Japan stamps. I'm owning a few and they are pretty good stamps. I'm pretty sure that there's a retailer for those stamps in England or closer to you. If not let me know and I'll give you the address of my retailer in Germany. If I'm not totally wrong the stamps Tandy sells at this time are made by Ivan leather in Taiwan.

Absolutely!!! Looks great!

I bought such a set in the beginning and I ended up asking for a refund as the stamps were not only cheap but bent right away. They aren't even worth the time looking at them.

Okay and the pictures will be found where?

This one I would use for winter gloves, say snowmobiling etc. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/557461260105902227/ This is an old pattern https://www.pinterest.com/pin/557461260105785813/. It was used into the 1900s. Some still use it for re-enactment stuff. This one here should tell you all you need to know https://www.pinterest.com/pin/557461260105785811/ Your cowbay4500 or 441 clone will work depending on the thickness of your leather. For most cloves you could even use a household machine if you don't plan on making them commercially.

Ery use Google translate to translate this page https://www.lederzentrum.de/tip/moebel/kuli.html it will tell you everything you need to know. I didn't know there's a "Kugelschreiber Killer". So thank your for this post.

It may help if you'd explain what style/type you're looking for.

It is attached to a strap and you just pull on it to get the phone out. The sleeve is made to fit this LG phone, but also works with an iPhone 6 just fine, but the phone will extend a bit over the case so the pull isn't even needed. However, the phone sits well in there and you could make a back flip without losing it.