Thor

Auctions are great if you don't want to have warranty on your equipment or the piece is so cheap that replacing isn't an issue. Rather than buying at an auction I would attend one of the trade shows if possible and buy one of their displays if possible. Here's the weaver one on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Master-Tools-Hand-Operated-Strap-Cutter-Leather-belts-industrial-machine-/321748800455?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae9b913c7 at $1550. This Germany based company ships to the US as well and offers service in English too. Plus the warranty regulations in Germany are a lot better than in North America. Definitely worth looking into. http://www.sieck.de/en/machines/strap-strip-belt-cutting/. Don't be afraid of the shipping cost. They are very reasonable from Germany to the US. The machines start 950 EUR which is about the same in US$ at this time. From the list of machines you posted the only one I really wouldn't choose is the Techsew as I haven't heard a lot of good stuff about that company's products. The weaver machine is a nice machine if you don't have a lot of straps to make at once. If you do an automated one is more comfortable but also more prone to failure due to the electric components.

I guess it would be a lot easier to help you if you'd tell us what your demand is. None of these machines might fit the bill or they might be just right or way too much... Pricing is subject to the seller. Why they are pricing the way they do will be there little secret.

The general term would be "Stanzpresse" but they are using various terms. Here are two links for larger machines. http://www.ebay.de/itm/Schwenkarmstanze-Presse-18-t-Sandt-415-Doppelstanze-Stanzmaschine-Stanze-/221752611313?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item33a17c51f1 http://www.ebay.de/itm/Schwenkarmstanze-Presse-18-t-Sandt-415-Doppelstanze-Stanzmaschine-Stanze-/221752611177?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_77&hash=item33a17c5169 You can go from there or modify a workshop press to a manual clicker press. Or here are smaller hydraulic ones. http://www.ebay.de/itm/Schwenkarmstanze-Stanzmaschine-Stanze-Lederstanze-mieten-Stanzmesser/170975089867?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30988%26meid%3D6d03766542a04a8d98af146ff8ee783e%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D221752611313 http://www.ebay.de/itm/SIECK-Typ-2037-Schwenkarmstanze-Stanzmaschine-Pruflingstanze-Laborstanze-Stanze/230411232899?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D30988%26meid%3D6d03766542a04a8d98af146ff8ee783e%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D10%26mehot%3Dlo%26sd%3D221752611313 You can use Google translate to at least understand the description on them.

Where about in Europe? I've seen quite a few on eBay Germany lately.

Welcome to the forum! There are a few people from the area on this forum. Feel to ask and bug me anytime. Todd lived out West for quite some time just like me. That's where we got to know each other and a couple of years later he opened his shop in Ridgetown, which is kinda my second home.

The above advice sounds pretty good. If you don't receive the information you need I suggest look into Morello colors and for the conchos, which is the easy part you can get a brass cleaner, just don't get it onto the leather.

Just another quick update. The eye is still giving me a hell of a time, but I think she's coming along okay. My wife thinks she's looking like an old woman, so I might have to do some plastic surgery. Thus far I just stamped the background down a bit to have some room for modelling and to get a better view on things. Don't think I'll leave the background as is, but for now I guess it's time to get some scrap pieces and test the colors to see what I can do with those. I really like that project as the learning curve is totally different on this and it's not just ordinary stamping.

You're welcome. You have the option to contact Studio-N, a member on this forum, and ask him if he could make that stamp for you with his laser cutter. Shouldn't be too hard as it really just is the chain link itself that you need.

Welcome to the forum Neil. This has do be a stamp. Never seen it before, so I may be a custom made stamp. You could contact the site owner and ask them where the stamp is from. It looks like only the link is the actual stamp.

Sweet! Stupid customer, he'll kick himself once he sees the bag.

Just my 2 cents.. For as long as you are trying and training, it may be better to post it in the "Critique My Work" section and you may receive better feedback. If you are having lacing/braiding tools available don't settle for just bringing a lace through a hole one after the other... Braiding looks so much nicer and may let someone overlook other mistakes or not even recognize them. Same with the smearing of the dye. Even strokes would be much better than erratic ones. In any case burnished edges wouldn't hurt.

Very nice! You've done a great job on this seat.

It's folded and attached to the liner. Hopefully with stitching.

Link?

Well if you don't mind Jazzman, than I'd like to add this question: Why are things being glued anyways?

If that works, please post the result here.

Not exactly what you're looking for but should give you the idea http://www.designeralleyfabrics.com/sewing-pattern-duffle-bag-pattern-gym-bag-pattern-green-pepper-patterns-gp-551/

That's what others have been referring to. I've never done it myself. I usually want to roughing it up when working on a saddle, so vise versa.

First, welcome to the forum! Since this is your first post I want to be nice. I have no idea who Mondrian is, but it reminds me on kindergarten drawings. I don't know how experienced you are with stamping, but if using a textured beveler you want to make sure that both lines, bottom and top are equal and not wavy, unless that's what you wanted to do. A smooth beveler is easier to correct as you can draw your lines with it as well after punching and thus smoothing out the appearance. That being said, it's a good start into belt making and don't let yourself be put-off by my blunt comment. And if this is your first burnishing, it's a lot better than my first.

As far as I know, there's nothing that would make it as close as what you'd expect from veg tan leather. What they do with suede shoes is using bees wax along with polishing paste. I'd be hesitant and try it on scrap first.

Very obviously you never chose the right videos to watch or you are a guy who knows it all... I agree that there are many useless videos on YouTube, but so is your post as it doesn't help the OP at all. You could have written nothing and the person would have known as much as before.

You're far better at making bags than I am, so the only constructive critique will be - tell her you're just too early for next year's mother's day and give her a cake tomorrow.

Your freedom of choice https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gun+belt+making

Nope you couldn't Randi. Couldn't even do that with my farm insurance and they cover a huge amount of stupidity. Anyhow, whatever the insurance covers or not doesn't really matter in this case. Question is, what can be done to save some of the leather or a whole hide even? So cleaning methods, that aren't too aggressive or where the cleaning agent doesn't remain in the hide for an extended amount of time. I suggested to try oxalic acid on a scrap piece as it is used as a disinfectant as well and kills bacteria. And unfortunately this is all I can come up with on this case. Everything else I wouldn't want to use on veg tan leather.

Considering the fact, that some of those bridles in the same style are being sold around $300 in Canada, I find this a very reasonable price.