Randy Cornelius

The last time I was in Sheridan for the show there was a man there that had several stitching horses that he made for sale, they were very nice and solid but they were very high end priced, not saying they were not worth it but for the money you could have a very nice down payment on a sewing machine. Not sure how many he sold. Also the Weaver Cataloge has a stitching horse in it you can buy for a reasonalbe price. Randy

See the above post that says "it sold" Yes, it is still sold, I do not have it anymore. RC

Thank goodnes, someone came through. Will be coming down you way sometime later this month. Thank you Kevin for doing this.. Randy

Old Shop in basement to new shop in outside building. Randy

Look for an older SC Osborne off ebay. You can tell the older ones from the newer ones by looking at the handle. The handles on the newer ones have a kinda squared off end and the older ones will have a round end on the handle. The older knifes are very good for the money. I have a few and have not given much over 45.00 for any of them. The best seem to be the older ones with a star on one side. IMO stainless steel does not make a good leather knife. I like the carbon steel. I have a new Goump knife that I gave 100.00 not sure if it is worth it. I had to comletely re grind the angle when it came even after I told him how I wanted it to taper. It does Okay but I seem to go back to the CSO knifes that I have. I like a thin knife with some flex to the blade. Randy

Just give Barry a call, really nice guy will help you with what you are wanting. Randy

Use Johnsons No more Tears formula

This is not a new concept, making leather from dead cows. The only thing new is the promotion of the fact. Leather has been made from dead cows everysince there has been a dead animal wagon going to farms and ranches which has been as long as I can remember. As far as I know the hide off every dead cow that went to the rendering plant was used to make leather. Mike Row from the show "Dirty Jobs" done a show on an animal rendering plant where the hides were taken off the cow before being ground and rendered for by products. So I think its just being advertised for some of the people out in cal. Present company accepted Bruce!

The spliter is SOLD!!! Randy

Hi, I am selling this for a friend of mine. It is a CS Osborne 8" splitter. The blade is sharp with no chips or nicks. All the screws are working and not froze up. The spring is good with lots of "spring". The roller has some rust and surface pitting but think it can be polished. I have used it and it works just fine the way it is. It has a gray metal finish almost like it has been sand blasted. I am not sure it that is the origional finish or not. Asking 175.00 or best offer. You can contact me through the PM or send me email to southwind58 at yahoo dot com Randy

Some people are like buckets, you can only put so much in them and then it starts overflowing on the ground. I don't waste time with these types of people. I am surprised everytime I have a begining leathercraft class, I seem to learn something from one of my students. Randy

I use filtered water out of the filtered tap, then I put 2-3 drops of dishwashing detergent per pint of water. Just enough that when you shake the bottle it will have some bubbles. I then use this to case the leather. While still wet on top I put several drops of lexol conditioner and a large drop of Johnsons baby shampo NO Tears formula! and rub this in, work it into the leather very well while the leather is still wet on top. This conditions the leather and acts like a lubericant and makes it very easy to carve. The Johnsons no more tear will act as a luberican as well as an anti fungal. Thats why you use the no more tears formual. An old saddlemaker showed me this years ago and it has worked very well over the years. I have heard of other reciepts over the years that are very simular. It's whatever works for you. Some recipts use listerine mouthwash, not sure I would want that in my leather.

Weaver Leather

They are the only accredited school left in the US. I do not know of any other school that you would be able to use your VA benifits with. There are a lot of good instructors around the US that you could learn from that do classes from time to time but nothing like the Green County one. I know of one person who has went and they talked highly of them. Ask Keven Hopkins at Springfield Leather to talk to Bo Riddle and see what he says about them. He is the one I know went to Green Co. Randy

Kevin, I use them all the time and have liked the ones that I have used. My supplier has quit handling them and I will have to find someone else. It would be nice to have you as a supplier. Even if your profit is not that great you would be providing a service to those who do not make their own insides. The Tandy one dried up and there seems no where else to buy insides like the CF. Randy

Weaver Leather sells an exact reproduction embossing plate of the orginal US stamp that was put on McClellan saddles and other calvery horse gear if that is what you are looking for. Randy

I had a Colbalt steel round knife once and was not very happy with it. Cutting heavy leather would make the blade chip. They were very small chips that you had to see with a magnify glass but chips none the less. Got tired of having to hone the blade after this happened. Finnally sold it. I would like to see some of the new Gomph knifes. I hope they are at the show in Indanapois. Randy

My guess would be that they oiled your saddle with harness oil that has a darkening agent in it. I would question what kind of professional you took your saddle to? I don't use anything but pure veg oil on my saddles and other fine leather products, no chance of changing color with the veg oil. I think I would have a few choise words for whoever done that to your saddle... Randy

Thought I would bump this up one more time in case someone would want me to bring it to Indinapolis next week. RC

I was like you when I first started looking for a machine, I suggest you do what I did, that is go to one of the major shows and see first hand what each of the machines will do. Spend some time sewing on each of them and talk to the dealers. Not just ask a few questions and go on, be a pest and see which ones will take the time to deal with you. I went to Sheridan, Wy one year and I tried them all. I settled on the Artisen because Jerry and Steve were still together at Artisen and they made a great team. I am sorry to see them split. I would not be afraid to reccomend the Artisen to anyone. I have not had a chance to see Steves new line and hope he will be at the Federation show in Indianapolis where I can take one of his machines for a test drive. If I know Steve they will be good if he puts his name on them. Anyway, everyone you talk to will have an oponion about a machine, take the time to test drive one like you would a new car. Would you mail order a new car? A sewing machine is a major expense in a small shop, invest the time and money to go try one out and talk to the people you will be dealing with after the sale. If you are close to Kansas City you can come by and try my Artisen. Randy

I ordered some from Hitching Post Supply back in April but I don't see them listed on the web site now. Might give them a call at 800-689-9971 Randy

I have 2 granite slabs for sale. They both measure approximately 32" X 32" usable surface. They are 1-1/2" thick. I am located just south of Kansas City. Local pickup only or I would consider delevering these to the IFLoG show in Indianapolis the weekend of the 25-26 of this month. Would like to have 75.00 each or would consider offers. Thanks Randy

I have a friend in leather that has a Juki LU 562 sewing machine for sale. Went to look at it tonight and found that it does not sew. He says the timing is off. I suspect something broke. I know a place it can be repaired but that will require a trip. It has a nice table / cabinet with thread holders ect. Speed reducer and the knee lift thing. If this machine was repaired what would it be worth? Any ideas? Randy

Sounds to me like an excuse to buy a new gun, forget the blue buy real. You will get your money out of it when you go to sell. Randy