308

Thanks for the info, Matt. I have bought similar leather before from the same tannery but from a different distributor and the center was not blue. This is only my second chrome tanned hide ever. This distributor wrote on the description that the center was a natural color... Unfortunately, I only make strap goods and can't use this side. I was curious to see what they say when I apply for a return.

I don't ever buy chrome tanned leather but I thought I'd try... I received a side of Crazy Horse leather and after putting a straight edge along the spine I saw the entire center is bright blue. Is this normal or does it mean the hide is not fully tanned and still raw?

Interesting topic and I've wondered about similar concepts. I was once told by a leather supplier that I used that some of their customers would only order a specific side of a hide. For example they would only buy the right side. I guess it would make sense if you cut straps by hand and your shop table is easier to cut right to left/ butt to neck. Some folks like to cut belts from double shoulders as that cut eliminates the belly area but the lengths might be limited. Not sure how the grain pattern would be on those? The best straps seem to be from the spine area or the first several cuts on a side, back or bend. The only time I'm concerned about grain direction is when doing edges because I like to slick with the direction of the grain not against it until most of the fuzz is laid down smooth.

I've had some good results with the Sheps Neatslene Harness Oil for the slings I make. It's available from Weaver and can be found on Amazon. It comes in light and dark flavors. The dark doesn't look good on natural veg-tan so go for the light stuff. It will darken the color a bit like neatsfoot oil but the harness oil seems to have better water resistance than neatsfoot alone. For extreme hunting slings, you might consider using Latigo if you don't need to do detailed tooling.

I just wanted to update this thread to say I've just received the 3 steel loop irons that I ordered from Bruce Johnson. They're excellent quality and just what I needed. I recommend ordering from him. It took a while to connect because his website doesn't allow ordering but it was worth the wait for me. Thanks Bruce and thanks everyone for their help here.

Hi Tug, Thanks for your reply and the links. I have not tried to contact Bruce through facebook messenger because I don't use social media and no FB account. However, I did look at his page and there has not been a new post since April 10th. I will try to call the Canadian company tomorrow their product looks nice. The Booth company is about an hours drive from me but their loop irons are showing out of stock on their website. Not sure if they have a retail store but I haven't heard of them before. It seems that the other companies in the old thread are not around anymore. Anyway, thanks again for the help, it's a good start.

Does anybody have a source for 1.25" loop irons? I like the steel irons on Bruce Johnson's website but I've been trying to get in touch with him for over a month with no replies. I hope everything is okay with him.

Hi Big Sioux, Sorry for my delay in responding to you. I thought this thread had died. I'm still trying to find rivets that will work. I'm looking for black finish, steel. Going through two- layers of 5 min. - 8 max. gauge Latigo Straps. Thanks very much for trying to help but as you can see from the above post I don't even know if your rivets will work with my press even though Weaver said it will accept rivets made by other manufacturers....it does not. I'll have to wait on your offer. Thanks again.

Thank you Stephen! To follow-up with the original post; I purchased some rivets from Ohio Travel Bag (252 Series w/5/16" heads) and they don't work with the Little Wonder. They just get mangled. I think the Weaver 104 driver is too small or tight. Ohio's rivet heads vary a very small amount in head size over 5/16". I measured them with digital calipers to be sure. The head catches inside the driver tube and the rivet will not punch straight. I'm only trying to rivet through 2-layers of 6/8 gauge latigo which isn't too excessive for this machine. I called Weaver for help with their product and to see if they sold a different driver without the rivet holder tube, I was transferred to another department, nobody picked up the phone and I had to leave a message. I never got a call back. I also sent Weaver Customer Service a message on their website chat, no rep signed on during business hours, and again, I had to leave a message and never got a response. I called Ohio Travel Bag to see if their dies would work with the Little Wonder but they had no idea. They were surprised to hear that the Weaver Little Wonder press could put a rivet through leather straps without punching a hole first and they said that their presses would not do that. Not that I want to give any more money to Weaver but I see they now sell a new model Rex Riveter. I'm interested in that because all I need to do is rivet right now and don't need to set snaps or spots of punch holes. I really need the Weaver Loop Anvils to make keepers but it seems that those attachments are only compatible on their very big and expensive foot press machines. If anyone wants to buy a barely used Little Wonder, shoot me a PM. I will trade for a straight up rivet press that works without punching holes and will accept mil-spec rivets. and by-the-way.... Ohio Travel Bag still honored my wholesale account without spending $500-$1200 a year. They had the rivets in stock that i was looking for without having to buy 1,000 pcs at a time just to try different sizes.

Thank you. I haven't worked with this style rivet before. What specifically make them a #104 size? The head diameter... Body diameter?

Hello, I just picked up a used Weaver Little Wonder press. It has the #104 rivet setter and splash plate attachment. I need to feed it some rivets. I went to make a purchase at Weaver and they kicked my order back and apparently closed my wholesale account (after a few years of being an account holder) because they have a new wholesale program now where you must make a minimum purchase of $1,000 to qualify for wholesale prices. Well...... I'd rather not spend my money there ever again. My question is are these #104 rivets exclusive to Weaver or is there an alternative I can buy. I would also like to get a caps and a cap setter as well. Ideally I would like the Hanson Mil-Spec rivets for this project but I have no idea what size to order. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Thanks very Much. Here's the Hanson Mil-Spec chart which can be found at: http://www.hansonrivet.com/rivets/tubular-rivets/ Mil-Spec Tubular Rivets BASIC MIL-SPEC PART NUMBER HEAD STYLE BODY DIAMETER “A” HEAD DIAMETER “B” HEAD HEIGHT “C” HOLE DEPTH “D” FILLET RADIUS “E” CLINCH ALLOWANCE “F” WORK HOLE “G” MIN / MAX MIN / MAX MIN / MAX MS20450-C4- * OVAL .058/.061 .104/.114 .015/.019 .044 .005 .037 .064 MS20450-C6- * OVAL .085/.089 .142/.152 .020/.026 .064 .010 .054 .096 MS20450-D6-* 100° SHEAR .085/.089 .164/.172 .065 REF. .062 .010 .054 .096 MS20450-C8-* OVAL .118/.123 .213/.223 .030/.038 .089 .016 .074 .129 MS20450-D8-* 100° SHEAR .118/.123 .245/.255 .075/.085 .062 .010 .074 .129 MS20450-C9-* OVAL .141/.146 .229/.239 .035/.045 .106 .020 .088 .156 MS20450-D9-* 100° SHEAR .141/.146 .307/.317 .086/.096 .125 .010 .088 .156 MS20450-C12-* OVAL .182/.188 .306/.318 .055/.065 .137 .020 .122 .201 MS20450-D12-* 100° SHEAR .182/.188 .354/.364 .099/.109 .125 .010 .122 .201

Haha.... Well, the sling's length is adjustable from about 27" shortest to about 37" fully elongated. I make them out of nylon webbing now and want to do a nice leather model. Thank you.

They said the longest they've got are about 65". Maybe they misunderstood me because I have no idea what I'm talking about. Brand new to this craft.

Thanks, I tried them and they don't have anything that long.

Does anyone know where I can find a thicker gauge (.097" thick, or so) straps or belting that is a minimum of 85" long? Need it to be 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" wide. Good quality, tough and rugged, not stretchy belly stuff. Will be used for rifle slings. Thanks!