UKRay

Jim, as you know, I have a huge amount of respect for your knowledge and I accept that your early experience of 'dead leather' was negative but I feel it might be best to see if this is actually the exact same stuff before condemning it publicly... Right now, as far as I can see, this is simply your opinion (albeit based on your personal experience of someone else's leather made 50 years ago) rather than hard evidence that anyone is currently selling a 'Bad or inferior' product. In fact, unless you are absolutely sure of the scientific processes used to make this leather (technology has moved on even in the leather industry) and/or have personal experience of using this particular product over a period of time then, IMHO, it would be unfair to label these hides in any way. Ray

That is a beautiful piece of work, Olivier. I'd be very interested to see what you can do with a rondel dagger. Drop me an email if you need any more information. Ray

Excellent - I'll be pleased to see what you can make. Drop me an email with some pics as soon as you are able. Many thanks, Ray

Thanks, Al. As you suggest, it could be my interpretation of an image that is causing the problem! Ray

An interesting and though provoking post, Terry and I completely agree with you about letting the customer choose for themselves. Do you think those responding to an enquiry here should add a picture of their work with their response or wait until it is requested? Personally, I'd like to see a picture up-front as it would help the potential customer choose who to contact. The bigger picture throws up some issues that, IMHO, have no answers. The pro-leatherworkers will always have 'someone down the road' who will do a job cheaper than they can - and the amateur guys are just trying to fund their hobby (and good luck to 'em!). The situation isn't about to change any time soon and there is no reason it should. Personally, I quite like competition from amateur craftspeople as it keeps me on my toes and makes sure I watch the pennies when I do my costings - that way I stay competitive and don't get greedy or lazy. I also enjoy to see work that has taken weeks to complete (and would be impossible for me to make a profit on so I don't do it) it is often absolutely amazing and inspirational. I can't tell you how much I've learned from the so-called amateurs on this board. So many contributors here really are artists in the best sense of the word. Okay, there are some (both pro and amateur) who see a shoddy job as a quick way to make money but they never last long. Most people aren't stupid In the end, I believe all anyone can do is show their work and let the customer choose. Some you win and some you lose! Ray

I'm awaiting a reply from Owen and I spoke briefly to Rod at TORM but he said he wasn't making any more custom knives. I don't know Paul Binns but his work looks excellent. However, his 6 month waiting list is a tad offputting as I need this by May. I like Tod's work a lot but would like to see what else might be available from other makers. Ray

I have a commission to supply a 12" blade 14th century style rondel dagger in a sheath - can any of you knife making guys supply the hardware please? I'll underwrite the job so you won't have any worries about getting paid. The knife should be 'historically correct' but not necessarily a copy of an existing piece. Essentially the customer wants a nicely finished dagger that is not mass produced. For more information about rondel daggers please see: http://www.myarmoury...pot_rondel.html Drop me a PM or email if you need more info. Cheers, Ray

Lovely work, Loren. Painstakingly finished too. It is great to see quality hand-produced bags like this. Is that laser etched /filigree on the first bag? Ray

Okay, okay - I'll try to avoid typos in the title in future... LOL Thanks for the idea, Noah - However, I suspect your picture shows a single length of leather with the plates folded over it or riveted into place rather than linked together. It would be much easier to make from a single piece of leather and IMHO nobody goes looking for hard work! Having said that, the thing I believe I may have seen is a long belt made up from several pieces of leather and joined by threading one piece through slots in another (I have seen dog leads made in the same way). The tail of the belt is long enough to go through the buckle and still be tied in a knot around the buckle with a dangling tail in 14th century style. I suspect the belt was made that way because long lengths were not available - or maybe it was made from shorter lengths cut from old belts. an early form of recycling perhaps! LOL I believe I saw the original image in a book of paintings but despite my best efforts I can't find it again...

I'm almost certain I've seen contemporaneous pictures of a man in the 14th century wearing a belt made from short pieces of leather joined together decoratively. Has anyone else seen the same image 'cos I could really do with another look at it. My concern is that I may be mistaken and have actually seen a belt made from metal plates rather than leather - however. I'm looking hard and any help would be gratefully received. Thanks folks, Ray

Its okay, Jonathan, we only like Skidmore's as a condiment - like you might use mustard on a Bratwurst (my favourite German food!) - you won't have to eat a whole pot full with a spoon! LOL BTW: Your summer workload just went up 10%... LOL

I'd echo everything that RDB has said. Patterns are what make your work different and hopefully better than anyone else's. Make do with a craft knife until you find you can't work without a more expensive knife. I have one on my bench most of the time for trimming stuff up. Yes, I have a round knife and a range of other cutting tools, but you don't need 'em until you have something definite to make - so start by learning how to make good patterns. My only additional suggestion is you invest in some scrap vinyl floor covering as it handles a lot like leather so you can use it to make your mistakes before making up a finished piece in expensive leather. I go to my local flooring guy and get his pattern books when they go out of date. Each book lasts me for months. If I want bigger pieces I catch him when he is clearing his truck out after a job and offer to take away the scraps. A few beers in payment every now and again never goes amiss. Essentials for me would be some kind of razor sharp craft knife, an edge shave, awl, needles and thread and a very good quality rotary hole punch (don't buy a cheap one 'cos they don't last). Anything else you need will become obvious - for example: when you need to fit a snap then you will need to buy a snap setter. Until then, you don't need one. Obvious isn't it! LOL Hope to see some of your work here very soon. Don't forget to post pictures - we like pictures! Ray

Nice looking wallet, Electrathon. IMHO, you could be charging much more than that for such good looking work. I have no idea what the inside looks like, but based on other pics of your work I have seen, I'd be very surprised if the collar didn't match the cuffs... Josh, I do believe you could have phrased that a little more sensitively. Aaron's a very experienced and well respected leatherworker so I can't imagine you were suggesting he would use anything but top quality materials. This forum is supportive, Pinkchaps, and will always remain that way. Encouraging and uplifting? Yes, that too but occasionally folks can get carried away in their enthusiasm to sell their products. I'm confident that there was no malice aforethought. Ray

Hey Fredo - what is a Food Saver? It isn't something I've ever come across. Have you got a picture of it being used on leather? I also use a Dremel in a workstation drill press occasionally. A very useful bit of kit. Ray

January is a notoriously tough month for retail businesses (aside from the Sales!) so some sensible marketing has to be a good idea. Having spotted some 'less than perfect' images on my website I'm going to spend a bit of time creating better photography . I'm also going to look at the products I have on sale and see how their descriptions could be improved and I'm also going to try to get some local newspaper coverage by sending out a press release. I'm allocating a weekend to the photography and web writing work as I'll need time to set up lights, backgrounds etc plus I'll need time to edit the pics with Photoshop and upload them. I like writing on a Sunday as it is the only day the phone doesn't ring so I get some time to think. I'll be setting aside a day to write and send out a press release to the local newspapers telling them about the things I make, how I make them and inviting journalists to visit my workshop to try leatherwork for themselves. Stories are hard to find after the big Christmas build up so you stand a good chance of media interest if you contact publications early in the year. Even if they don't use your story idea right away they will at least know you exist and may contact you later on. These are not particularly difficult tasks but improving my 'offering' could improve my chances of making a sale. Likewise, the more people who know about my business the more chances I have of finding some new customers. These ideas might work and they might not - I won't know unless I try! What else could we do to improve our chances of making a sale in January? Ray

Thanks for all your kind words and support, folks. I thought I had made the right decision but the slight uncertainty was eating at me. LOL I'm now convinced! Ray

You might want to check out Joseph Dixon of Walsall in the UK. If you like the shape of their punches I'll gladly help out with the shipping etc. Ray

You are a lucky man! I'm beginning to think I really NEED one of Ed's mauls... Anything (and I mean anything) that improves my work can only be a good thing! LMAO I currently use a Tandy maul, but the handle keeps coming unscrewed from the head. I've lost count of the times it has caused me to miss-hit a tool. Ray

Hi Jonathan, Personally, I'd start with a gentle saddle soap and warm water scrub, followed by an application of Skidmore's Restoration Cream. The saddle soap will help to clean off any stinky residue from the tanning process and the Skidmore's smells good enough to eat! LOL The only risk would be that the saddle soap could strip some oil from the hide, but you would be replacing any lost oil with Skidmore's. I'm sure other people will have some good ideas. Best wishes, Ray

I suppose this is a common enough situation, but a few weeks ago I had an call from a business in Shropshire that restores and sells 'antique' rocking horses. They, initially, came to me about a year ago with a rush job. They needed a new saddle and bridle made and fitted to a rocking horse so I did the job (five hours work) whilst the woman (Sally) stood in my workshop and waited for it. No pressure there then! When I accepted the work she seemed suitably grateful (the rocking horse looked lovely finished) but when the job was done she quibbled about the price (agreed in advance) which was exceptionally reasonable considering it was a Sunday and I just charged my standard rate. She promised to bring me all her work in the future (yeah - we have all heard that one before...) so I relented and even gave her a discount (more fool me). I didn't hear another word from Sally or her husband until just before Christmas when he called wanting another saddle fitted in a hurry saying their regular leatherworker didn't have the skills to do it for them. I asked him what happened to all the other work I'd been promised last time I did them a favour and he just laughed and said Sally will say anything to get what she wants and anyway, although his work is poor quality, the other guy is cheaper than me. He stopped laughing when I told him to take his job elsewhere. Ever since, I've been wondering if I should have bitten my tongue and done the job. The money would have been useful just before Christmas but I would probably have felt angry about it for ages afterwards. What would you have done in these circumstances? Ray

Nice belts. Do you make the hardware too? Ray

Merry Christmas, guys! Merry Christmas P.S. turn the sound up first!

The interesting thing would be if the additional value from a hide gleaned in this way were transferred back to the person who reared the cow. Instead of a complete loss the beast could actually be worth more than a 'standard' cow...