Thor

Just a quick update on this project. You're seeing today's work and the tools I'm using for modelling thus far. It'd sure help to have some real modelling tools. Might have to stop into one of the crafting places or a knitting store to get something for the detail work.

Very nice indeed. How much are such bridles today?

Sorry, but I have to ask. Is this solely for yourself or for a customer? Or is it just a training item?

Welcome to the world of leather crafts.

Hey Lee, it looks good to me, except for that unequal piece on the gusset. What I would suggest is to skive the edges before stitching. If wet formed before stitching it may be easier and faster to stitch. One option would of course be a sewing machine There's a gorgeous article on burnishing edges on here. Don't remember who wrote it, but believe it was hidepounder. You've beat me on the reply halitech

I kinda feel the same, but when it happens it happens and I'll have to do it again. It's only about 25" tall. The eye is giving me headaches and I guess she'll have to wear a bit of makeup in the end. But the body is coming along okay. That's another thing I'll be learning with this project. Haven't done any coloring on leather yet. Just dyeing. I'm not so sure about the background yet as I don't want to use a lot of standards. I'm thinking of some chiprock look. Might have to make a stamp myself for this. Will keep you posted on the process. Definitely has a huge impact on my learning curve. Requires a lot more moisture than standard tooling.

Chery, I was keeping my mouth shut... The comment was nonsense, but for the fact that insurances cover a lot and sometimes even stupidity - but leaving the window open and having water of the neighbors sprinkler coming in is neither stupidity nor that kind of water damage which would be protected by insurances. First off, the neighbor caused the damage due to negligence. Don't think he did that on purpose... That's what liability insurances are for, not household or whatever coverage. But I'm sure in South Africa you can be covered for almost anything. Good thing they don't ask for huge premiums. Oh I forgot, claiming it to the insurance doesn't solve the problem.

Must be kinda nice living next door to Tandy Leather. You will find them here http://www.tandyleather.com/default.asp?sectionpath=1/226&processor=asp&asp_processor=directory&action=searchall&p_countryid=Canada&p_stateid=ON&p_city=Mississauga

Welcome to the forum! There's a holster making business for sale I have made the best results for hole punching etc. with a poly board as I found that the rubber board was too forgiving and didn't really work for softer leathers. I have to admit that I really hate it when I have to hit the punch twice.

Well I thought I should post an update on my sax case. After a while I finally found the time to work on that case again plus I wasn't so happy with my initial design and well the leather. Still need to get some leather and an awful long zipper to go around it or I might have to think of something else. It'll take some time, but I'll be getting there. Right now it's just ugly, but I'm quite sure in the end it'll turn out just fine. On the one picture you can see of which picture the design is from. We'll see if she'll look somewhat close to that in the end. It sure is fun to carve and tool something different than the traditional stuff and gives my tooling a whole new learning curve.

Where abouts in Ontario. There are quite a few people from that area on here and I know the place quite well, plus I might just be able to point you into the right direction. Calait, import isn't an issue. Pretty much everything that is made within North America is import tax exempt as due to the NAFTA. If close to the border not even shipping is a problem as there are services for free delivery within the states and hold for pick up. Some things actually work in Canada.

Dang I like that braiding, now I will really have to learn it. Pure jealousy speaking...

There are several members from Canada. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to let them know where you are from and you may get better feedback. Besides that, contact Weaver and ask for their catalog. They are pretty good to work with. http://www.weaverleather.com/supply/ourproducts/requestacatalog.aspx Further to this there are several suppliers and manufacturers on here as well.

You're probably talking about veg tan leather not chrome tan, right? Not exactly sure, but there are ways of cleaning them, unfortunately none of them are without chemicals. At least not the ones I know. Good luck and I'm feeling with you.

I don't think you should see or understand the comments as an offence. They may sound harsh... No doubt. On the other hand if you are in business for long enough you know how to take it. I'm not taking any of these comments personal and the personal opinion of whom ever doesn't bother me, especially when it's just based on a personal experience or emotional feeling even. I'm would be the last to say that I have it right all the time. For instance, and this is something NStar is referring to as well, there's a well known company out there distributing sort of 50%knowledge, mixing up a few facts, stirring the whole pot and then selling it as the one and only truth, which in fact is just wrong and BS. I would like to have some of the German documents written in English, which would help in the education process, but they are simply not available and I don't have the time nor the need to translate. I might get it wrong anyways... However, if the basics are not right, than a person will ask himself what is correct and what not, leaving him with more questions than before. Therefore the pictures I gave you might be all you need. For example the mentioned person is stating that dying is tanning - one way or the other. The facts are. A skin doesn't have to be dyed to become leather. That part can be skipped. Essentially leather is skin with the absence of protein, pigments and keratin... as well as fat will be removed prior or after tanning. During tanning the proteins are being fixated and cross-linked to achieve the desired result. So this is the basic and then we differ into chrome and veg tanning and so on. This is a complex process put into very brief form. Either process, can ,if done wrong, have environmental impact. Due to this fact, one cannot say whether veg tanning is better than chrome tanning etc. What one can say, is that it is a proven fact, that Europe has very strong regulations for this and that they are being enforced. This may be true for US and Canada as well, I don't know, but we know for a fact that in many Asian countries this isn't the case. Hope this helps. BTW. I'm quite sure that your Danish folks do understand German and are able to look up those sources as well as they are quite a bit better in this regards.

Here's a graphic you might want to look into. http://www.ghurka.com/media/wysiwyg/Infographic/luxury-leather-infographic.jpg One may or may not get the feeling it's slanted towards veg-tanned leather but I believe this is kinda what you are looking for as well.

I'm not a fan of chrome-tanned leather either, but it serves a purpose and in fact is a quality product. For instance try making a car seat covered in veg-tan leather or do the same with chrome-tanned leather. If your driving a convertible and you'd have veg-tanned leather on your seats and being rained on, you wouldn't be very happy after. Your leather wouldn't dry very well vs. chrome-tanned on which you'd just wipe it off and your done. We used to own a BMW convertible and it did have some patina although it was chrome-tanned leather. Where about in Europe are you located. I'm quite sure that a few people would be willing and able to help, select quality producers (tanneries). I know one in Germany I could recommend without hesitation in regards of veg-tanned leather. Some of the best chrome-tanned leathers comes from Elmo which is in Sweden I believe.

I'm not American, but it's the same or even more so in Europe. You still didn't find a pattern you can modify to your needs? Well try this search on pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=leather%20wallet%20pattern Or use this on this forum http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=54776&hl=%2Bbifold+%2Bpattern and modify to your needs. Yours really just has an ID flap in the middle. Or this step-by-step picture guide https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/aa/cf/ab/aacfabdbff07cd309fedc3f531038b0c.jpg And at the end of the day making your own pattern or modifying an existing one is part of the fun

Find someone with a 3D printer and have it printed.

You mean like so http://glock.pro/attachments/carry-issues/4127d1365422601-small-back-holster-full-size-glock-but-different-wp_000099-large-.jpg? Well lets answer this by self-testing. Grab behind your back and tell me which way is more comfortable and in which way you can grab the pistol better. In other words, sliding your fingers between your back and the grip, eventually get your fingers caught in the t-shirt... or just place your hand over the handle, grab it and pull. Get what I mean?

me too!

He/They are based in Europe and our regulations are quite strict. So no, there's no chemical involved in veg tanning in Europe. What they say is what the customer gets. If not... well I wouldn't want to be in their place. Dyeing and finishing is a separate step and has little to do with the tanning process. Actually Mike did explain why and what he claimed. I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Mike (TwinOaks) that there seems to be quite a lack of knowledge about leather on your (Sarden) end. Mike is absolutely right that there are various reasons for certain types of leather. For instance shoes, for which one could use veg tan leather but box calf leather is a lot better. At least for men's shoes. And for as long as one prefers not to have their feet wet in a hurry if it rains. Than again, one would want to have veg tan leather for a rifle scabbard, cause chrome tan would not be so great for the gun... NStar.. brought up a thread recently with an explanation for genuine leather, in which the person simply proofed he doesn't know leather even though he's selling his products like hot buns. If you prefer veg tan over chrome tan, that's fine, but to an honest sales person would say so in his article and just state the reasons without putting the other down. Don't you think? BTW. the tone isn't aggressive at all. It's just being honest. I prefer an honest word over a million sweet little lies... On this note, I'd say back to the drawing board. Besides re-read the headline of this thread. You asked if this is correct. If you're not ready to get flaked, don't ask.

First, welcome to the forum! Second it really depends what you're trying to do. What kind of leather are you talking about? Veg tanned, chrome tanned, garment leather... In case you are talking about carving, please refer to the individual section on this board. The leather has to be cased and you transfer the design with a stylus pen or such. There are silver pens as well for transferring. Are we talking about some sort of garment leather, then a pricking wheel would be the tool of choice... So you see, you should tell us what you are actually planning to do.

Seriously??? How about using the search feature in the pattern section which may lead you to a cordovan wallet and you just modify it. All you need is just the outer dimensions and go from there. Wouldn't even take the time to think about this wallet a lot as it's just rectangles and some stitching. Okay, I may have to apologize, or not. This is your first post to the forum at all. So without intro you are looking for help... Usually people introduce themselves first and ask a question then.