Ian

You're right, Kenny, those panels are leather sewn onto Lycra (Spandex). I don't know what the machine that sews them looks like, but I'm sure its a machine that sews multiple paralell rows simultaneously. Don't know how you'd duplicate that on a regular machine - perhaps stretching the lycra in a large embroidery hoop?

What you said is right, Dave. One thing that galls me is when I order from Weaver and they ask what I'll be using it for. The stated reason for the question is to help them select the best hides for the job. I get a strong feeling that if I'm ordering HO veg tan and say it's for motorcycle seats, the person making the assesment may not think top quality is necessary and sends me the stuff loaded with flaws. I'm wondering if I would get a better side if I was a high end saddlemaker. I know they buy TR grade and have to get rid of all of it, but it seems as though I'm getting the lower grade more often than not. The thing is that even the small shops want to offer quality products and (in my case) are even less able to tolerate a lot of wasted leather than the manufacturers. My profit margin, after overhead is just too slim to withstand much more of this. This issue is a huge reason for me considering getting out of this business all together - I just can't withstand being at the mercy of suppliers any more.

Kevin, I have theory - what do you think about this? I'm speaking about chrome tanned garment leather. Since most of it is tanned in Asia, and most leather garments are made in Asia, is it possible that the higher quality leather is reserved for the mega purchasers in Asia, and the balance sent to the wholesalers here and elsewhere. The reason I'm thinking that is how many times I've gotten inconsistent product from numerous different suppliers. I know it's popular to slam Asian products (and they vary greatly in quality too), but I've seen some really awesome leather used in imported products and have a tough time finding similar leather in the States. What do you think? Also, and this is pretty specific to a couple of suppliers I've dealth with lately; How often do dealers switch tanneries, and do they update their swatches when they do? One particular big wholesaler has a very nice swatch catalog, but the leather I recieve is almost never the same as the swatch. I've taken to buying a full side before I place an order for mutiple sides, because nine times out of ten it's not going to be what I expected from the swatch. Also concerning this dealer, I found a leather that works well for my purpose, then out of the blue I get sides that are a different firmness, top finish, etc. with the same stock number. This dealer used to carry a very nice upholstery leather and despite the fact that their catalog still describes it as 'Beautiful Quality' has switched to a low grade split, dyed on the top only. True, it's inexpensive, but I'd rather pay a top price that use a leather that I'm embarrassed to show a customer. I consider myself a leather gourmet and am completely obsessed with the look, feel, smell and magic of good leather, so perhaps I'm just a difficult customer to please - I dunno. I know that to some customers of finished products, leather is leather, but that isn't me. However, when the dissapointments outweigh the satisfactions, it makes it tough to have faith in suppliers. PS If anyone knows of a supplier for a consistently high grade black garment leather in 2/3 oz thickness, I'd love to hear from them. I'm looking for both a milled grain naked leather and a smooth finished full grain leather with minimum pigment. I might consider calf for the smooth leather if it is very soft. So, Kevin, how about giving us some insight ito all of this (Johanna suggested that if anyone would know, you would)

I've seen some pretty rough looking sheathes used in mountain man and Native American regalia - often just thin leather folded and laced down one side. I'm thinking that most sheaths made of heavy veg tan and made with a welt, where the knife fits snugly and the stitching is re-inforced with rivets would prevent the knife from going beyond the guard and be safe for most normal activities - but wrestling with a sharp knife in a flimsy sheath wouldn't count as a normal activity. Sad though, none-the-less.

Dave, honestly, I'm seriously thinking about getting out of this business for a while while I re-group and develop some skills to go in another direction. The work is still coming in, but not the artistic stuff I'd like to be doing - mostly seat re-covering, repairs and such. With such a slim profit margin, just about anything can upset it. For instance, I just got two hides of barely usable leather (junk) in today. Because of a deadline I had to use some, so can't return it. So, there's three hundred bucks lost again - add it to the rack of sides that I'll probably never use again. Besides, when I see some of the really beautiful work posted here, I think "what the heck am I doing? I should be focusing on learning and improving rather than filling up my time taking in quantities of low paying work. Needless to say, I'm feeling a bit discouraged lately. I think I made the same mistake as you in going in a million directions rather than focusing on one thing, which is what I plan to do when I re-invent myself in this biz.

I was digging through boxes in the attic and amidst all the junk, I found this - one of the first things I ever made, 18 years ago - a surcingle for a draft horse. Pretty rough, but I have to say, I had some patience in those days. That's 2 layers of 12oz harness leather sewn by hand (of course). And all those spots set with an awl and a screwdriver to fold the prongs over. In those days, my tools consisted of an awl, needles, a utility knife, an edger and a hole punch. Still remember how excited I was to get that first side of leather.

Hog, if you don't already have a supplier, I'd recommend these guys, and get the high quality grade - it carves and shapes beatifully http://www.closedcellfoams.com/neoprene.html

Good job, Tom. When I first saw that pan, I wondered how you were going to deal with that boxy shape in the back. Turned out very nice.

I use 1/2 inch foam and then layer it (with spray adhesive) to get the thickness I want. By using the thinner foam you can contour it to the seat better. So, you glue your first layer to the pan, and then keep glueing on layers until you get there, then cut the foam to fit the shape and then carve it to get the contours you want.

He mentions 'Deadliest Catch' - my favorite show of all time. I often think when i'm watching it, how ironic it is that the men who are doing the dangerous work of bringing their luxury products to the tables of the Manhattan elites are those men that the elites look down on and would shudder to think of them sitting at the same table as them. And I suppose that is true with so many other guys doing the vital work of the country. The young generation worships the inventors of the next 'Twitter' but feels superior to those who fix their roads and roofs and toilets (look what the media did to Joe the Plummer) I love that the shows depicting the reality of real work are so popular - it's about time.

Wow, her stuff is amazing - reminds me of Bobcat's style. Super-nice construction of her bags too. On the grey, I bet you'd have to prime the leather white before airbrushing. Even if the leather was pure white before airbrushing, it would soon darken to tan or brown where the airbrushing was light.

Hey Dave, just noticed your post - nice looking belts. I was down in NC last weekend. I should have contacted you to see where you were set up.

Boy, that's a sharp set-up. If it's heavy enough to use for small production shops, it could be a winner. I used to do something mildly similar when I was doing a lot of belts, but had to clamp the leather down - cumbersome to say the least. Your idea of using magnets is awesome. Powder coat that baby and I can't see why it wouldn't be a big seller. Congratulations!

Another option is Doc Bailey's. It has black dye in the conditioner and will restore the black color as well as condition it. It works really great on jackets and chaps that have faded. Once it's dry, you buff it lightly and the leather looks like new, almost. Here's the link http://www.docbailey.com/

Great work, and especially considering it was your first time using the machine. My only experience with making the a bag like that, I cemented the lining on the sides, like Panther suggested, then covered a piece of stiff plastic that was cut to fit the bottom. The bottom was held in place by the rivet holding the little dome shaped feet I put on the bottom. Sharp looking piece Fred.

Beautiful belt, for sure - I like the heavier thread myself, On the pattern, I like the contiuous line that runs through it - very sharp.

Nothing against wind power, but if folks think it's going to be cheap energy - guess again. It will be decades before the costs of building wind farms is re-couped, Commercial wind power in countries like Spain is much more expensive than it is from traditional sources. I like the idea of having my own power source, just for the sake of independence, but could never afford the cost, just like solar panels. As far as commercial wind farms - I don't know how thousands of acres of windmills is less of an eyesore than any other means of generating electicity.

I know what you mean - dye colors at full strength are never the labeled color. I dilute with denatured alcohol at 1 part dye to 2 parts alcohol, and do a second application if it's too light.

Janice, have you thought about beveling and backgrounding inside your cuts rather than outside? it would make the footprints recessed rather than raised, which a paw print would be anyway. Just a thought.

Ray, you've got a good start on the lingo you'll need for your move to Tennessee

This is quite timely. Yesterday a guy called from a club that is moving from another state to mine, so he needs all the bottom rockers changed - no problem, but heres the sticky part. The vests were all custom made, and the patches sewn on before they were lined, so he wants the change done the same way - not sewn through the lining. I haven't seen them yet, but I'm picturing what it will be like, undoing the lining (hopefully I'll just have to unpick the bottom seam on the back). There are only 10 members in the chapter, but I'm anticipating this to be quite a job. Fortunately, with this kind of stuff, there is no material cost involved, so beyond the time, it's all profit. But, I'm happy to add a new club to my customers. I do work for 7 clubs now, and they always result in more leather business of other types. So, it was a good score.

Looks like some pretty good dies at a good price http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ME:B:SS:US:1123

In-freaking-credible!

Ray, insurance varies from state to state. In Massachusetts anyone earning under 30,00 is covered. Most employers offer health insurance, therefore 260 million people are covered out of 300 million. The majority of people who don't have coverage are self employed, or, like me, working part time and not eligible for coverage from work. With the balance largely made up of illegal immigrants. If you get old and sick, you are, of course covered by State health insurance. Buying your own insurance is ridiculously high ($450 monthly for a single person, but that varies hugely state to state too) - therefore I don't have it. However, I haven't been to a doctor in 20 years, even when I was covered, and I figure if I get wrecked I am covered somewhat through my auto and motorcycle insurance and no hospital can turn anyone away by law because they are unable to pay. Even though I don't have insurance, and knock on wood, haven't seen the need to see a doctor, the level of health care in the US is very good. I remember reading someplace that the survival rate for colon cancer in the US is in the 80% range, but in the 40% range in the UK. That will change if universal health care goes into effect with the same long waits for surgery, shortages of doctors and nurses that the rest of the state insured world has. But having said all that, the Smokey Mountains are about as beautiful an area as any on earth, and the climate is great too. Without making comparrisons to any other country, moving to America was the greatest thing that my parents ever did - I love it here. You should be able to get insururance rates online. I haven't looked, but I bet Tennessee has a site with links to the info you're looking for.

Or Paul Kruger