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Ian

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Posts posted by Ian

  3. Posted · Report reply

    The frog skin pattern is great, as is the last one. I can't figure what tools you used to get that effect - it's great.

    BTW, I had a principal in S.A. named Potgieter (Robertsham Primary School in JHB), but of course, there's a million Potgeiters in S.A. so I'm sure no connection - but, you never know.

  4. Posted · Edited by Ian · Report reply

    Joe, Euro Leather has a very nice red auto uphostery leather. It has a satin finish with a bluffed, natural grain, rather than a glossy polished finish, so I don't know what is more authentic to the truck you're doing. And, of course, they also have black.

    www.euro-leatherinc.com

  5. Posted · Report reply

    When China first began producing leather jackets, they were high quality leather and construction, priced low and subsidized by the government - just long enough to put many of the American makers out of business (same with boot makers), and then they began mass producing low grade products once the competition had been eliminated. When I was selling Pakistani leather in my shop, even my Pakistani supplier told me that they could barely compete with the prices of Chinese goods, even considering that most garment leather is American hides tanned in Pakistan and India.

    I blame the consumer as much as I do the foreign goods. My tattoo guy wanted a couple of vests made. When I told him that my price is roughly 3 times that of the Pakistani stuff, he was fairly shocked and opted to order imported stuff from the Internet- YET, he has no quams about charging a hundred dollars an hour when I go to his shop. People have been conditioned to price other peoples labor based on imports.

    I am not one of those people who neccessarily think that American made products are always superior. I had seen some beatiful quality coming from Asia, and some pretty sloppy stuff made in the US. But, when it comes to motorcycle leather the number of guys who ride 25,000 dollar Road Kings wearing $25 dollar vests seems to be the norm.

    And, how about this one. I got a jacket in for repair, made by a fairly well known American maker. I happened to have the same jacket in the shop, but made in Pakistan. I spent quite a while going over every inch of both jackets, counting stitches, comparing linings, and measuring every square inch. It was identical in every detail. I came to the conclusion that this was a jacket made in Pakistan which he had sewn his label and 'Made in U.S.A.' tag into.

    No doubt, this industry has been ruined by all the fakery, phony products, flea market vendors and the like. Where is the Federal Trade Commision, protecting American consumers? My idea for a slimulus plan would be to procecute all these hucksters and bring back the mystique and value that leather used to have.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    Imagine all the super talent that is hidden in tiny towns and villages all over the world that no one will ever see or hear.

    It's funny, I was having this discussion with my sister last night. My point was that talent is never wasted unless your only measure of success is public acclaim or financial gain. Somehow, in the material world, fame seems to be the pricipal measure of success. This lady has probably gotten great joy from her talent since she was 12 and while her recognition on BGT is wonderful, it doesn't make her talent in obscurity any less relevent.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    Welcome Zack, this is a great place to be. Not only will you find answers to every imaginable question you might have, but you'll always be challenged (by seeing all the great work here) to get better and better. Since I've been checking this site out, I've kept raising my bar, in hopes of someday getting even close to where the successful members here are. Don't know if it will happen, but it keeps me off the plateau of self satisfaction. I'm guessing you'll like it here.

  11. Posted · Report reply

    I want to know what happened to Mary?

    My guess, is that 'Mary' created 'her' account to make a comment that 'she' normally wouldn't make under her real name. That's the way it usually seems when a 'new' member makes a single post, which is critical and has no profile info.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    My question is this, what is the difference between lace made from a chrome tanned roo hide and a veg tanned one, I know there has to be something that would justify the veg tanned hide to cost almost 3 times what the chrome tanned one does, Ive made a couple of seats using boght roo lace and after using it everything else is in a whole nother league, im loving that stuff, but no way I can buy pre cut lace without taking a major bite out of profits. so Im thinking of getting one of those super slick lace machines, and buying a few hides and seeing how much lace I can get out of one. Rick

    Rick, if roo tanning and cowhide tanning is the same process, the veg tanning process can take 2-3 months, whereas chrome tanning takes just days. So, that's the reason for the big differece in price.

  15. Posted · Report reply

    2nd one this week...what have you got, a pile of elves that work while you sleep?

    Great job. I like this one better than the other one,

    Thanks Dave. Two a week isn't that unusual, but the usual seat job I get is basically just a seat recovering job, sometimes reshaping the foam or putting a gel insert in, but believe it or not, between making the pattern (I never use the original cover as a pattern anymore) and the rest, they are usually as time consuming as the more artistic ones. Still, work is work.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Shoot the picture *BEFORE* you box it up for shipping.... :lol::P

    Yeah, I've actually done that. Made something cool, thought, "I should get a picture of this" and the next thing you know I've gone on auto pilot and boxed it up and got it ready to ship. SIGH.

    You too? lol I can't count how many times I've forgotten to take pictures, or just as bad, been too lazy to set up a decent shot with unusable results.

    That is the main reson I don't have a website. I have so few pictures worthy of putting up there.

    I'm still a terrible photographer, but am getting better at ,at least remembering to take pictures.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    notice that you're using the thinner lace and chisel slots vice punched holes this time - I find this makes things infinitely more harder and time consuming - sure is a clean tidy finished product tho guy :)

    Rob, actually, for this type of braid, I think it's easier than punching holes, apart from it being a bit harder to pull the needle through. Also, this is 2/3oz upholstery leather, and when I've punched holes before, the foam underneath tends to show through, looking kind of unsightly.

  19. Posted · Edited by Ian · Report reply

    Finished this set today - nothing too special, but I'm glad all the braiding is done. 87 inches total of braid. This week I had two seats, three tank panels, a p-pad and a knife sheath - all with braided edges. I need a break from braiding. :crazy:

    Only one of next week's projects is braided, so far.

    It will be like a vacation.

    And, on the topic of lacing/braiding; is there a Murphy's law someplace that says "no matter what length you cut your lace, you will always be about an inch short"? I swear, it happens every single time.

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    Steve_C_seat_3.jpg

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