PapaWolf

Anyone ever used one of those wood burning pencils to carving on leather? I'm thinking about testing it out. I bought it to carve out some Norse runes but I was thinking about trying it on leather. Any experiences with that from anyone?

I have been having some trouble carving just in general. I am thinking that maybe I starting to cut too early or maybe too late after casing the leather. I am stropping my swivel knife. It just seems to jerk sometimes and the leather kind of bunches up on the edges of the cut if you know what I mean. Any thoughts?

I was wondering what type of airbrush, brand or whatever anyone would recommend for just airbrushing the entirety of a piece. Like dying a whole belt black. And is there any certain technique to doing this? Does the dye need to be thinned out at all? I am just having too much trouble with getting a good even coat with anything but black. I use the dobbers in the proper method but it still seems to always be uneven. HELP!

While everyone was thinking of how to fashion one I was just thinking that cutting the skin from around the tail of the animal in cross sections and of course removing the tail bone and other 'in-nerds' then carefully tanning would have doen the same thing. Anyone else think that? I see now that Carr52 had kind of the same idea. LOL

I bought the Biker Bag pattern pack from Tandy, I just finished cutting all the necessary pieces out but was having a some trouble. I have the Industrial cutting knife that TLF sells, it's sharp but seems to "lose the line" at times. Is it the knife, the cutter (me), or am I maybe cutting the leather when it's too wet, or dry? Also I did not have any tracing film so I went straight from the pattern to the leather. Which of course has put a lot of wear on the pattern sheet. What method do you guys use when needing to trace something that is too big to fight on a lightboard?

Is a pain in my a**, just throwing that out there. LOL

I meant to post this sooner but I have been playing with all my new toys! My wife and I went to the TLF in Wichita Kansas a few weekends ago. We were running late because I got called into work that morning. We called over and Nick agreed to stay after closing a little bit and wait for us. We got there right at 4, but he stayed 2 HOURS! after closing to help me out and answer some questions I had. Great Guy and a Great Store! Thanks Nick! Papa Wolf

Well I have decided that I need a new table to go in my shop. I went to Walmart and they have a standard size folding table (like ones they would have set up for a big picnic) only its got a hard plastic top. Does that sounds like it would be ok to cut on, or will it possibly dull any knife I use? The table would be used strickly for cut, no tooling. Any input?

Glad to see some input on those. I was thinking about trying one myself. My shop in in the basement and the furnace is down there so hopefully it will not have the temperature problem.

Ok, I've been doing minor leatherworking for a little while now and decided, as I have mentioned before, to try and bring in some extra money with this hobby. I took into consideration the items I want to make and then thought about the BASIC tools I would need to start out. Let me know if you guys think I am missing anything or have something I probably won't need. Items I'll primarily be making: Belts, Bracers, Motorcycle Saddlebags, Bracelets, Grieves, Key Fobs, Medicine Bags, Dog Collars, Tank Guard/Bibs, and Medieval style belt bags(those and the saddle bags make me wish I could afford a sewing machine right now) Tools/Items I am looking into: Sewing Awl Needles Jewlers Rouge Ball Point Stylus 8 prong chisel 1/8" Industrial Knife(Possibly Head Knife) Strip/Strap Cutter #4 Edge Beveler Nylon Edge Slicker Steel Blade 1/4" Angle for Swivel Knife Neatsfoot Oil Eco-Flo Gum Tragacanth Eco-Flo Carnauba Creme The 77 2D/3D stamp set from Tandy 1/4" ABC/123 set Eco-Flo 12 dyes Do you think I need any leather? (that was a joke of course) Things I already have: 3/4" ABC Set Safety Beveler #6-12 hole punch Sm/Md/Lg Rivets and Setter Mallet Line 24 Snaps I know things like a Sewing Machine, Stamp Press, and Belt press would be great but due to just starting out it will be a little while before it comes to that. Keep in mind I am just trying to get mostly the bare minimum at the moment. Any ideas on what to add or take off would be greatly appreciated Papa Wolf

Wow, there are leather guilds...awesome!

I've been reading up a little and am getting ready to order some things to make my projects look more professional. I'm orderingsome Gum Tragacanth and the crafttool nylon slicker for my edges, Neatsfoot Oil for the "Vinagarooning" of some leather, and Eco-Flo Carnauba Creme for water restiance and proofing. Is this the right order to do those things? 1) Slick edges 2) Apply neatsfoot oil 3) Apply Carnauba Creme and then 4) Apply Tandy Spray Finish??? And if I put on Carnauba Creme is the Spray-Finish necessary

I know this was discussed before but I put the last reply into that thread and haven't got an answer yet so I figured I'd just put this up here new.Sorry Ok so the way a read things (just want to make sure I don't screw it up here) If I want something dyed a good black color. I get a bottle of vinegar, add steel wool 00 or 000 (do you have to put the steel wool in the acetone to degrease it ?) Let it sit for about a week. Put it in a container, run my leather through it (Do I just run it throw or let it sit in it?) Then it will be a brownish color, then when I rub some leather oil into it it will turn black...Did I get that right? Then you can paint the areas if there are any and then what would you put on them leather to help make it water proof/resistant. I would mainly be doing that with saddlebags, bracers, and belts. Think I threw enough questions in there? Papa Wolf

Ok so the way a read things (just want to make sure I don't screw it up here) If I want something dyed a good black color. I get a bottle of vinegar, add steel wool 00 or 000 (do you have to put the steel wool in the acetone to degrease it ?) Let it sit for about a week. Put it in a container, run my leather through it (Do I just run it throw or let it sit in it?) Then it will be a brownish color, then when I rub some leather oil into it it will turn black...Did I get that right? Then you can paint the areas if there are any and then what would you put on them leather to help make it water proof/resistant. I would mainly be doing that with saddlebags, bracers, and belts. Think I threw enough questions in there? Papa Wolf

Before I go and leave this thing unfinished or screw it up, after you cut with your swivel knife you bevel the outer or inner edge? And you bevel to open the cut up a little and make it more defined right?