BruceGibson

Nice job!

Beautiful work!

Thank you!

That's awesome! Keep that enthusiasm, and keep sharing it! It's contagious!

Welcome aboard!

Nice job! Reminds me of a saying an old Broadcast Law professor used to use. "Everything's easy when you know how." Gaining the know-how is difficult many times, but once you've got it, the sky's the limit. Jeff over at Grey Ghost Graphics has a tutorial that I found very helpful years ago. Here's a link to it that y'all might find handy. https://greyghostgraphics.com/leather-working-tutorials/

He is back in business. I don't think he's accepting orders, but you'd have to confirm that with him. His website is https://leathertools.net/

Welcome back!

Nice work!

Very nice!

Nice job!

I've never seen a need for a vac system for mine.

Panhandle Leather in Amarillo used to carry some of that stuff. They may still. Website's www.PanhandleLeather.com They DO still carry a bunch of boot stuff--here's a direct link to it on their website https://www.panhandleleather.com/collections/boot-supplies

Awesome work!

Beautiful work!

Nice work!

Thank you, sir!

Thank you--but believe me, I'm not good. Better than I was, but with a long way to go. Keep practicing (and I need to practice what I preach) and you'll leave me behind in no time. I've spent what seems like a million dollars on books, videos, DVD's, etc., and if I had to pick the one thing that was the turning point for me, it would be the Jeremiah Watt floral carving DVD's. All of the stuff I invested in helped, and it still does--but I felt like I made major improvements quickly with the Watt DVD's. They're expensive, but I'd buy 'em again if I had to. His website is www.Ranch2Arena.com if you want to have a look.

LOL! Yep, California's WAY back in the rearview mirror! I still need a LOT of work, but I sure do appreciate the compliment. I do wet and detail the back panel--it all has to be done by hand because I can't cheat and squeeze it in the press with the carving on the face.

Awesome work! I wish I was in YOUR league!

327fed I cried a bit making it. JWheeler331 Thanks, JD!

Thank you, Mike. The burnish from the carving was a lot better before I had to wet it to detail the back panel. I try to keep the carved panel as dry as possible and wet the back panel, but the face panel has to have some, too. I used Fiebing's 100% Pure Neatsfoot on this--light coat back and front applied with sheepskin. Top coat on this one is Tan Kote from Fiebing's, and I was happy with the result. I usually use an acrylic from Angelus and put it on with an airbrush. It's darker in real life--I think my lighting for the photo was a little too intense and washed it out a bit.

Thanks for the kind words, y'all! I love building for the 1911's, but I do need to work on my florals--drawing the patterns is something I fight with all the time. Too lazy to practice if truth be told.

Y'all go easy on me.

Beautiful job! Dang it, now I wanna build one of those!