Tugadude

I think it looks just fine as-is. If it really bothers him, perhaps a little color can be massaged into the slit? Wouldn't close it up, but might help it to be less noticeable. My thinking is a sheath is for utility and is meant to pick up scars. Just a sign of use is all. I think you did a beautiful job on it!

Just for grins I looked up sources for lead online and found the attached information. Cheaper than I thought, less than $32.00 for a 6" diameter x 1" thick disc. Of course you have to pay shipping and it is heavy as lead!

I think this is ingenious. Good idea and thanks for sharing the tip.

Agree, great idea

My wife has been pretty supportive with my hobbies over the years. With bicycles, I used to buy vintage road bikes (mainly) and refurbish them. Some I kept, some I sold to help pay for the ones that I kept. Started out with a few and now have more than I need, but if I want I can sell them for a tidy sum. I don't currently sell my projects. If I do, it will help me buy more and better tools, so it's all good.

BTW, you could still make a full belt with that "sample". Just takes a little creativity.

You have it down! Nice job.

I think Carnauba AND Super Sheen would be a waste. If Super Sheen is resistant enough for your project then use it alone as it is shiny, hence the name.

Sorry, but I missed the pic showing the backside of the rivet. What I was saying related to double caps, where both sides look the same. That one is supposed to be flat on the back. Assuming you hammered it on a firm surface, I agree with camano ridge that it might have been too long. There are tutorials online that show how to set and properly size rivets. My rule of thumb is I don't want to see more than maybe 1/16" of the shaft sticking up above the leather.

Maybe line the bag with a thin, stiff leather to give it a little more body.

Welcome! First, a question on your rivets. Do you have a setter AND an anvil? If not, Tandy sells the little anvil that has a depression and will maintain the rounded shape of double cap rivets. Second, stitching chisels are remarkably cheap, whether from Springfield Leather, goodsjapan.com or Tandy. Lots of threads on here about chisels. I would also direct you to Nigel Armitage's videos on Youtube.com. He reviews chisels and pricking irons and teaches saddle stitching extremely well. His website has written reviews of the various irons. Lastly, a running stitch is a weak stitch in comparison to a saddle stitch. It is great unless or until a break and then it starts to come undone. A saddle stitch is like two running stitches, but from opposite sides. If one side breaks, the two pieces remain together, held by the other side. It is all I use. And yes, it is nice that the stitches look similar on both sides. Hope that helps! Not the best photo, but this is an anvil. About $3.00 or so. It is concave, although the pic doesn't show it well.

First of all, welcome! I went to your website and read your "About Me" section. You are as good a writer as artist. I enjoyed the read. Glad you stopped lurking and decided to dive in!

I don't know. Sometimes my tools, I'd swear, look at me disapprovingly as I saunter by. Perhaps they are cold, deprived of the warmth from my hands.

Welcome to the club! Tools end up being like a mathmatical equation, N+1.

Pictures will likely help folks identify the problem.

Great job! Stitching is looking good to me... Do you mean a pricking iron to mark holes to be made with an awl? Or a stitching chisel that goes all the way through? Goodsjapan.com has a European style pricking iron for $45 plus shipping. They also sell great stitching chisels. Nigel Armitage has videos up on youtube reviewing those and others. I just bought some chisels from Springfield Leather cheaply and one of TandsY's Craftool Pro irons. I like them both.

You are well on your way. What does your logo mean? Looks like a short version of RaNDoM.

Goodsjapan.com has pricking irons for about $45.00 USD. Doubt you'll find cheaper. They also have a number of stitching chisels, the Seiwa getting good reviews. Tandy is another source.

His videos are great and I love the way he says gussy!

Do you have a website or etsy page where you sell your work? I too love the contrasting interiors. You may be new to leather but it is obvious that you are expert at sewing. How long have you been at it?

I'm thinking you are going to have to make your own if you are wanting the overall wallet smaller. To me, in order to make that interior fit a smaller back, you will have to reconfigure it so much that it isn't worth investing in. I suppose you could cut the pocket sections free and mount them in a narrower manner. I think you are just better off doing your own thing.

Is this similar to what you are using?

The only way I see you lightening it up is thinner leather, whatever the origin. Thinner leather might require using stiffeners, which will add some weight back. The thing about Saddleback bags is they are producing bags that they hope will last beyond the current user. So they build 'em very robust.

Thanks, it is a 34 year old watch that still works great! I bought it when I was in college. Time flies!