verus22

AE7TX here. My dad was a Radioman (Navy, late 60's, USS Shelton, KD7NQ). I was a wrench turner in the Army in the 90's.

I'm a licensed ham (not to be confused with a smoked ham). I'd say that code is about 2000 wpm. Makes perfect sense.

Wow! Really nice work!

I think it's a secret message in morse code.

Took it outside for some better lighting. There's still a couple of things I'd do over, but all-in-all I'm kind of satisfied. (If Tandy was open today, I'd run down and get another clip and make a new sheath...maybe tomorrow?)

Thanks! I wasn't too impressed by the stitching on the original. Makes me want to send them a pricking iron. On the colors, I was trying to match the overall color 'profile' of the knife handle and the braided piece (customer's handiwork).

Those are beautiful! I think I need to invest in a 3D printer for some of the ideas I have... :D

I was thinking the same thing with the clip. The other metal problem I had was with the snap. I skived a channel on the inside back to hold the clip & rivet and then split a thin piece to cover the all the metal parts on the inside. I'm not a fan of working with those clips, but he didn't want a belt loop. I was just trying to keep the thickness down to a minimum (although it's a good 1/4 in. thick). The knife is an "Elk Ridge".

The first project in about a year and a half. Feels good to get back into leatherwork! A friend at work asked me to make him a new sheath for his knife (old sheath is in one of the pics.) It was a bit of a challenge keeping all the metal away from the knife blade. A bit of skiving, a bit of splitting...made it work. Leather was half-shoulder on sale @ Tandy, thread is 0.8 Tiger Thread, Colonial Tan, saddle stitched. Dye is Fiebings Saddle Tan (including edges). All work done by hand. Next project...build me a new wallet.

Thank you for the comments! I used a 4 mm Seiwa stitching chisel. SPI is aprox. 7spi.

Well, it was either that video, or another one from what appears to be some industrial area...no narration, but half-way through the video, someone starts using an angle grinder or something. I figured the Tandy one would be more entertaining. Here's the other video Art, for kicks:

Thought this would be a good reference for anyone interested. (I got all but one of these colors in yesterday...wanted to make a reference card to help visualize during project design).

Got some new thread in yesterday, and decided to make a sample card. This might be of help to someone as a reference, so I'm posting it on here. Holes were punched with a 4mm stitching chisel (Seiwa?).

Picked one of these up from Bantam Saddle & Tack (http://www.bantamsaddletack.com/6-Deluxe-Cowboy-Leather-Skiver_p_41.html#) for less than I could find anywhere...$379.00 with FREE SHIPPING!!! This thing works great...very well made. He sent mine Priority 2-day, but the Post Office decided they wanted to take a bit longer...got it today though, and I love it! This is a picture from their website: Here's a video of practically the SAME tool (only difference I could find is mine has a wood handle, which I like better anyway)...but another 'brand' name (that also costs $385-$549 depending on your 'level'): Save your money...buy from Bantam. Matt is a great guy to work with, and the Cowboy skiver is solidly built and works like it should. Bantam also has a basic version of the Cowboy Skiver for $229: http://www.bantamsaddletack.com/6-Cowboy-Original-Leather-Skiver_p_40.html I'd be happy to answer any questions about this tool. - Mike

Found this in an old late 19th/early 20th century leatherworking book.

I skived both ends, but not around the bend (did the same with the first one as well). I did it more for feel than anything...didn't want it too chunky in the hand.

Thanks! I need to get some more of my lighting set up...I just use one soft light at the moment...I mainly use it for lighting up my workbench, but since it's right there, I use it for the photograpy as well. The 'backdrop' is a yard of canvas I picked up for burnishing, but it works great for the pics too.

Everything going great until the stitching...had to redo a few times (tough trying to sew through 3 layers of leather). Ended up cutting it a bit shorter, skiving the ends, and restitching twice (after all the other times!). I had thought it wouldn't be too hard...but it taught me a ton of new lessons (plus I stabbed myself at least a half-dozen times by accident). I'm going to show this to my customer, but I don't think this is the length he wanted (this one is 12 inches), so I'll probably have to make another one. However, it'll make a great model I can use with future customers. (I need to clean up a couple stitches though...but no biggie.)

Wild Bill, please disregard my last comment...I think I understand what you were talking about, finally! (Too much going on today...brain not working right!!). I'm assuming that you were referring to the two threads that go over the side at the top end of the stitching. I'm not too worried about it being a wear point since it's only a key lanyard. And if someone doesn't want it, I'd be happy to not do it...after all, my main focus is bespoke work (thus, my extreme pickiness). But thanks for the observation; I really do appreciate it!! I forgot to add that the middle piece of strap extends just past the stitching, so the clasp cannot come into contact with the stitching.

This picture, that I'm sure we've all seen all across the web, is from Al Stohlman's book "The Art of Hand Stitching Leather", page 3 (Copyright 2009, Tandy Leather Factory). It's not 'free advertising'...it's copyright infringment. Unless you have written permission from the copyright owner of that image, you can face severe penalties. Reference: https://www.lib.purdue.edu/uco/CopyrightBasics/penalties.html Reference: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/chapter-5 (17 USC 5), includes the DMCA Reference: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2319 (18 USC 2319) I can't give legal advice (not a licensed attorney), but if I were to put up a website, I'd make sure to get written permission to use copyrighted materials first. Also, "Chromexcel" is a registered trademark of the Horween Leather Company Corporation. You can also have legal problems simply because you're using a registered trademark for commercial purposes (you don't have it marked 'tm' or ® on your website. (Reference: http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4806:1u5461.2.1) You might want to consider getting some assistance with the legal side of things as far as your business goes (a lawyer would be best, but the Small Business Administration might be able to help. Here's a link you might find helpful...it's in your area: http://www.nyssbdc.org/centers/centers.aspx?centid=10) I'd just hate to see a talented young leatherworker get into legal trouble so early in their career (even though I am one of your competitors, I still like to see others succeed.) Good luck to you!

Wild Bill, I'm curious...how else would I close the loop and attach the clasp?

The more I look at it..the more I don't think it meets my standards...so I've decided to make another one. (I'm picky when it comes to my work.)

I've got a friend at work who asked me to make a key lanyard for him. It's 22" long, but took about 5 hours total mainly because of the edging (all work done by hand).

Wow!! That's insane! Very cool...Great job! :D