Avion

Hi all, these are my first two attempts at tooling, and although I am not pleased with them, I found out I love tooling! For my third attempt I want to try this drawing I made from something I saw on the Internet. At the moment I have about six craftools....the one I did of the single flower, I only used a b108. My question is what tools would you guys recommend for the drawing? As always thanks a million to all! Sent from my iPhone

I am looking to purchase a maul, and I believe I'm going to go with a Baryy King. My question is which is most likely the best for a guy still trying to learn this stuff. I know personal preference plays a part but, should I look for a light, medium, heavy.....tapered or or round? As always thanks for you guys and patience with a new guy.

Thanks to all you guys, information is half the battle.

Going back to Nigel Armitage, I just recently watched a video of his regarding a sharp and properly dressed diamond stitching awl. Well, worth watching. Nigel says you can't sew without it, and shows how he preps his diamond awl. I am trying to chase down a cheapy sharpening stone just for this reason.

I have been poking around the net looking for on-line leather working classes, without much luck. Is anyone aware of such an animal? Seems to me that someone with a little leather, computer and business savvy could make a few bucks sponsoring something like this. I know I would be interested in some instruction from who knows leather. Heck, some of it might rub off on me.

Very cool...I sold 2 of these this Monday morning, with a couple of minor alterations in tooling...he wants initials and the Masonic emblem stamped. He is getting them for Christmas gifts. I think I get more enjoyment thinking that someone enjoys this product than the money. And just by coincidence I saw the Masonic stamp down at the local Tandy Saturday.

I like that!

The way I did the basket weave was to draw a line down the middle on a diagonal, then stamp above the line in the middle. Next I went below the line and put the end of the stamp nest to the end of tha stamp on the top line

The dye is "professional water stain / light brown"....Tandy stuff. Thanks for basket weave advice...I watched the Tandy tutorials with the old guy, but I will try to find the tut's on the leatherworkers site. Thanks guys

This is my 4th wallet and I wanted to try a Roper. This is my first time tooling anything, and I practiced on some scrap for about 30 minutes before diving into this. I did notice a missed stitch, which I am going to pick up...dang it! I would welcome all critique....it is the only way to grow. Is this a marketable product? I am thinking of asking $75, but I might be crazy. Your help is greatly appreciated!

I found this braiding, and really like it....would like to incorporate it into some of my projects. I think I see what he has done but would like to find some tutorials on it. Sorry for the picture but it is only a screen shot from a video. Thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Thanks Kiwi, but you should have seen the last couple of wallets, pretty rank.... I have kept telling myself and learning (mostly from screwing up), that the next one will be better than this one. So far, I have improved with each project, (of course it's hard to go backward when you are a rank amateur).

I sold 5 of these at work last week. I didn't make much ($25 a piece), but it paid for materials, and more importantly, gives me PRACTICE! I want to thank everyone for the help I have received here. I have a long, long way to go but my stitches and sewing beginning to look a little better. Thanks to all!

Thanks Tuga, the straightedge for the crease....I should have thought of that myself, but didn't even cross my mind. I was using Tandys' adjustable edge Grover, hince the slip and screwy crease. The stitch holes.....I am using a Tandy diamond chisel....the leather is 5 to 6 oz. leather, and when I stack 3 pieces I diffidently have problems. I tried just marking the holes first marking with the chisel, then going through all the leather with a sharp scratch awl, and finally with a stitching awl...but that looked even worse. I really appreciate your time in critiquing and offering your thoughts and advice!

Thank you tugadude for the kind words...I really thought I would do a better job, but all the you tube tutorials and such just never equal learning by screwing stuff up for a good long bit. This one is my 2nd attempt, still far away from where I want to go but I did notice improvement and learned from some of my mistakes. I got the brand from 12 gauge copper electrical wire....a soldering iron would have been better I think.

I am really embaressed to post this after seeing the quality of work here but I have a question. This is my first leather project, but a friend at work saw it and he wants one. The only difference, this guy is a farmer/rancher and would like me to tool his brand on it. I free handed what he wants with a simple drawing app, this is it My idea so far is to freehand this (giving the characters some width) and then use a background around the brand, but I am not experienced enough to know how that would look. All tips and pointers are greatly appreciated!

You might also try a saddle maker here in Ada, OK.....David Saige.... Check out explore Ada, David Saige on youtube

From what I saw doing a wiki search, they said tough shoes and work boots were the product of half veg, half Chrome tanning

John, I don't know either, but I did see this on blade forums Lightbulb Half or vegetable tanned. which, why ADVERTISEMENT Hi Guys I noticed a lot of you guys use vegetable tanned leather instead of halftanned. Why is that? Halftanned = lighter, stronger and stiffer. It takes and keeps it's shape better.. It's very hard to cut or puncture.. Do I miss something? Thanks!! martin

Slightly off topic, but do you have good results with Barge's?

I'm sure a lot of you have seen this but for those who have not....a true artisan.

I have scoured the Internet look for the plastic film for id windows in wallets, but to no avail. Does anyone know where I can obtain some of this material? Much Thanks in advance.

This is probably a silly question to the majority of folks here, but here goes. I am trying to find the plasticized transparent windows used do pictures, Id's, etc; I have looked all over the net and all I can find are like the "sleeves" for pictures. There has to be a better way but I cant seem to find it on the net. Help would be greatly appreciated. And thank you in advance.

Thanks millions Troy!

I am new to the site, but already finding it a valuable resource! I have a question about veg tanned bison and how well a 5 oz. piece will accept a stamp....also, does it need to be wetted and treated the same as the bovine hide?