sodapop

thanks much art...i tried like twice to put on more antique paste in the eyes cuz they were so light but it just didn't seem to take, or i kept wiping it off too quick ...i'm not so confident with my antique yet...i do always oil it up first with neatsfoot oil...then while its a bit wet apply the antique...but the stuff scares the hell out of me cuz it'll get a hold on the leather wrong and gives me weird blotches...i'm always like in a panic applying it lol i appreciate it clayb...i guess i was confused with the leaves somewhat...as to cut the raised lines/parts for the leaves or just pear shade to get the depth/contours, like on the ripples in the leaves if that makes sense??...and i agree that i should of took more time and smoothed things out more with the modeler...i'll have to get one of those lifters now...like thats a shocker that i need more tools...everytime i turn around or want to do this or that...i need a new tool for the job =0)...i'm gonna go broke before i make a penny hehe sorry tom ...i can find plenty of things to tool...where i'm stuck and still trying to find my way...is with items to actually construct to put the stuff on...since i've kinda changed my mind with the direction i want to go with the leather lol...and your right with the pear shaders...gave them a workout with this guy...just not always sure when i should zig or zag with it...but its practice none the less...how does the saddletan differ from antique paste??...also i'll have to try brushing in those areas...cuz that antique freaks me out ...i see that celtic greenman on alot of garden fountains and such...like clay said, its a nice figure that fits in well with the leather... speaking of swords tom...when i lived in seattle...there was this old irish cat that i went to see once...he was an old school sword maker...made claymores, sheilds and real armor...in his house he had displayed countless ancient swords...he was a maker & bigtime collector...anyways i almost bought one of his last clamores cuz he was getting too old to do the hammering etc and retiring...i could kick myself now for not getting it... thanks alot hiloboy...there are groovy dudes...man i wish i was in hawaii!!...been there twice, i stayed at the bananna bungalo hostel in wailuku on maui & then a different trip and stayed on lanai island...and have seriously thought of moving there...hell never know i still might...just would suck having to ship everything in...as i seen you've run into that issue...pros & cons i guess ;0) darryl p.s i sent the pic to all those that requested it...if for whatever reason ya didn't get it...let me know and i'll give it a go again...

one thing i noticed when i first joined the site with your stuff spider...i swear i could be any shop or wherever...and i could definatively say...thats spiders stuff...if i came acrossed it...you pieces are super and you have a definate style thats all your own...that alone is awesome...thats a tough thing imo to create a unique "style" like that...where i'll probably always be a copycat... darryl

indypbear i appreciate the compliments & critiques but your gonna have to put the above in english for me...cuz i don't have a clue what ya mean lol...i sent ya the design...so if ya don't get it for some strange reason lemme know -k- thank ya there spider...glad ya dig that leafy fella...hes almost cool enough to roll up & smoke hehe enjoy darryl

thanks alot storm!!...ya that was my first shot trying that undercut business...its a cool beveler and that was one thing i learned & got practice doing with this guy...just gotta try it on something a bit larger next time...some of those spots made my little beveler look like a sledge hammer lol darryl

heres a practice piece i did...it was a tough lil s.o.b...as ya can see hes not a big fella...but i wanted to try doing some sort of leaves...i just maybe should of started off with making it larger...but all in all this had to be the most patience trying & toughest picture i've done to date...definately some rough spots with the leaves...lotsa little cuts and trying to bevel some of those spots was a nightmare and made my eyes go ...i think i need some micro tools lol critiques always welcome...thanks!! darryl with some antique on him

i agree with madmax on the grateful dead mechanic freak...nicely done!! darryl

i appreciate it grumpy...i really like that particular celtic design as well...just might see it again in the future ;0) thanks for the encouraging words steve...thats my only finished piece so far...i get stuck on stupid with knowing what the hell to make...still trying to figure out what direction i want to go with it all...so i just sit and tool on chunks and braid holes lol darryl

...are you aren't raisin somethin else other than mules & mustangs on that ranch??...maybe something leafy & green welcome back again darryl

sweeeeeeeeeeet!!...you sure took that to another level darryl

thanks much crystal...now that i know what i need to do with spacing etc...hopefully my next braid attempt will be a little prettier...and no more using the hand drill...i have a dremel and tried that for the holes and works mucho' better/cleaner...but hell just gettin the braid done in a finished format was a milestone for me lol appreciate it hammer...imo inlays just add that lil extra element to pieces, even if its small...something i'll probably incorporate quite often in my stuff...& i agree with the splicing...cuz its annoying as hell pulling a hundred inches though every pass/over/under & through keeping it from gettin twisted uhhggg darryl

zip it storm hehe...go start a fire some where ya freakin pyro ...these things could be made for one of the lil one shot bottles too...boozey bowser barrel huh...i think thats been thought of with the ol st bernards... darryl

dammit tom ya beat me to it lol...thats what i'm making with that pattern...good job!! i'll post mine when i get'er done as well... darryl

thanks alot for the info keith & andy...i look into that number and give'em a call...cuz regardless what i use...i want the quality of course...sounds like good snaps have proved themselves as well & makes for an easy change out... darryl

i got somethin planned for that already...i'll make it and post it up in a day or so...thanks for the pattern hammer!! this would be a good monthly challenge thingy...for the different uses folks could come up... darryl

thanks russ for explaining...makes perfect sense now...sometimes the littlest things can throw ya until a guys tried it...and most certainly i would of found out the hardway by over skiving & would of been cussin like a sailor then start on making another belt lol darryl

tom & choco...thanks for compliments on my tooling/design...the antique really sets the tone with it...that celtic pic reminds me of something you would expect to see on a very old leather book from waaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day... darryl

can never go wrong with the skulls ;0)...but that rhino is fantastic bud!! darryl p.s ya freakin pyro hehe

tom...ya i reckon your right...i explain both methods and let him decide...i guess if he doesn't want to fuss with unscrewin them...then he can do the snaps... russ...thanks for the tip to keep in mind...but honestly i don't understand why??...could you or someone explain please... billy...i can only imagine...but i won't ask ya to elaborate ;o) lol...i agree, if it were me, i'd use the screws... luke...i looked at those...and i'll show him as well...i can definately see those being a nice addition for a lil extra bling... darryl

hey tom...i appreciate the info with the overstitcher...just got it today as a matter of fact...so i'll have to fart around with it...glad ya like my tooling...i'm getting more comfortable & "oneness" with the tools...so i'm able to relax/calm down a bit while doin it...sure makes a difference...imo it about "finesse"...now just to get my overall construction & braiding with the same smoothness i'll be in business lol darryl p.s i do tend to overthink things ;0)

you got'er almost done that is...i wanna see it when ya top'er off as well =0)...looks super tom...even though i'd have no use for a whip...i still going to have to make one to hang on the wall...and of course i'd have to give it a good crack now and again lol when you said before about skiving the edges so it lays flat...you mean ya gotta skive down both edges on the grain side for the length of the strands man?? darryl

thanks much luke & johanna...now i'm on the same page ;0)...the screws would be a better method/quality then snaps imo... darryl

like chicago screws luke or??

theres someone that wants me to make them a belt for a cowboy style buckle they have...but wants the buckle to be removable...my only thought would be to use snaps of course...but not sure if there is other better methods etc...so any info on the proper/quality way of doing this or any related info i should be considering would be much appreciated... thanks darryl

great set guys, i like i like darryl

thanks a bunch roo!!...one thing i've grown fond of so far is antique...the cognac color of the croc, oil + anitque and some aussie to finish'er off...just all went together nicely...some roo lace would of been even better...but i didn't want to use perfectly good roo for a practice piece...and the caimen croc was from some remnants i bought so wasn't no biggie with using that really... darryl