UKRay

Janice, when I make stuff that has to be properly waterproof I now use Skidmore's Leather Cream as a 'sealer' coat and then finish with Skidmore's Beeswax Waterproofing Cream. It isn't the only answer, but I personally prefer it to Resolene because it is much nicer to use and smells so much better... Geez that old Resoline is foul stuff! The other nice thing is that it wears pretty well and to re-waterproof you just rub a bit more on. An easy and relatively cheap solution - give it a try. Ray

Nice one , Obiwan! May your round knife never go rusty...

I just want to give everyone the opportunity to cheer up Badger who is in a lot of pain from a recent operation and is getting grumpier by the minute. He is a lovely bloke who has helped a lot of folk on here, but right now I think he could do with a bit of 'moral support' from the forum to help him through a tough time. Do take a minute to wish him well. Ray edit due to incompetence

Thanks, Jana. It will have to wait until I can put in a request at the University library - I doubt many of those are available on Amazon! Ray

Ain't that the truth! I'm not going to be treadling much this morning... Ray

Nice job, Schno. I know what you mean about trying to get a good belt picture. In fact, anything long and thin (like a guitar strap) is tricky. I'd also appreciate some tips - Badger ought to have something to say about this... Ray

What an amazing thing! I have never seen anything like this before - where did you find the reference for it? Ray

Love it or hate it, I still get the best results from eBay. I live with the charges and accept the draconian payment system because , at the end of the day, I sell my stuff there. It works for me...

My old treadle Singer 45K would stitch through 8mm of leather with no trouble at all. I have a 29k that will do 6mm at a push. It all depends on the model and in some instances the condition of the machine. Ray

Oh Tina, saying it out loud like that has spoiled my fun! LOL I've seen pictures of your stuff and you are quite right it is beautiful. In fact that is something of an understatement. I simply couldn't make those things as well as you make them. So I don't even try. I don't need to deal with bondage folk because I get plenty of good quality business without needing to chase work I don't really understand. This does not mean I am putting labels on anyone, nor does it mean that I'm being judgemental - simply that I don't make the things they buy. I have been asked to make bondage gear in the past and declined because I didn't think I would make a particularly good job of it. I passed the work on to a guy in Brighton who specialises in it in the same way I would pass on high end briefcase work to Ed or saddlemaking to the saddlery guys - I don't make that stuff either. I find it amusing that this conversation is actually taking place but it is now time to advertise the 'adult' section of the forum - just ask for permission and, apparently, all will be revealed to you. You may all be amused to know that I don't have permission to visit the adult section; probably because I have never asked for it! Like I said, I don't make that stuff and it doesn't interest me unless it involves groundbreaking leatherwork techniques... my guess is that I would have heard by now if that was happening! Ray

Chris, you really do have a serious pen thing going on don't you! LOL I liked the moleskine covers - very nice indeed. Ray

'Questional items' covers a lot of ground... I think the minute folk know you work with leather the 'questionable item' light comes on... I get asked if I make 'weird stuff' fairly often and I always reply yes. I do make weird stuff but it doesn't have anything to do with sex or black magic. Most of the wierd stuff I make is simply for people with no taste at all. Some of the colours people ask for are positively nasty. Some of the designs they bring me make me wonder if they have ever seen a decently made piece of leatherwork - but mine is not to reason why, mine is to apply the dye! I have had my share of weird folk banging on the door and have always turned them away because there is one thing you can always be sure of, weird folk don't pay their bills. Religion is something I can deal with in a work situation - I don't care what folks call their God or what kind of book they read from to give them peace on mind. I respect everyone's right to believe in anythig they like as long as they don't push their thinking down my throat. Anyone who tries that gets shown the door. On the other hand, I have made religion focussed leathergoods (bible and prayer book covers, covers for copies of the Koran, books of shadows, ceremonial belts and wristbands, sheaths for athames, wand covers - hey the list is endless) for people of almost all denominations of the common religions plus many 'alternative' religions. Most people have been polite and respectful some have been difficult - that is just people. Some folk may say this kind of work is is questionable - I say it is just business and frankly I need the money. Now what was it you really wanted to know?

I like the simplicity of this design. It lends itself to all kinds of interpretation including fancy leather neck loops and tooling/carving. Would you be able to share a picture of the pattern you used? Ray

Hey, Tom, You snuck me in there too! Thanks buddy! Hope you get loads of work from the piece and then you can buy me a beer when you come to the UK for the show.. LOL Ray

Outstanding work, Crystal. I liked the undyed version so much I was worried when you said you were going to color it but you really pulled it off. Respect! Ray

The clams would be the belt to the Singer/Seiko's braces, Terry. If the machine stops working Karl can simply revert to doing the job properly Ray

Karl, I have seen them and they are the same as mine. Very nice quality too. R

I was wondering what sort of things you made, Marcel. Nice job! Ray

Wotcha Roo. It's about time you turned up here! Thanks for sending my machine back safely with Martin. I came over all nostalgic as I haven't seen it since the early eighties and it still had the same bent nail holding the foot pedal shaft in place! Cheers, Ray

I forgot to mention that I also buy from J.T. Batchelors and have found the quality of their leather to be exceptionally good. As Badger said, they don't have a website or email but a phone call is definitely worth while. Ask for Rocky! Ray

Thank you, Gesa (and Marcel), that makes perfect sense to me now. They call the process 'plating' over here in the UK and I saw a demonstration of it when Badger, CelticLeather and I went down to Baker's tannery in Collyton in Devon a few months back. Excessive plating does make the leather surface very hard and hides become difficult to work. In fact, I purchased some leather from Baker's and having tried a couple of pieces have avoided using it because I can't face the hassle of cutting it. Badger gave me the pieces he purchased as he had exactly the same experience. I'm waiting until I can find a use for it... I hadn't thought that it was done because the square footage increases, but that kinda makes sense too!

okay, okay, I'll try to keep up next time... Ray

Hi Marcel - what IS deadgrinding leather - do I need to know? Cheers, Ray

How to what, Nobears? Ray

Beautiful things, Ed. I'd be frightened of damaging them! Ray