UKRay

Art, et. al. Having checked out Foredom thoroughly, I discovered that my existing jeweller's pendant drill is pretty much the same thing. Check out http://www.suttontools.co.uk/acatalog/Sect...ools_Acc_s.html for UK prices. These guys are excellent and very reliable. They do sell Foredom as well as their own brand but their own stuff is used extensively in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter and really does the job - and they didn't pay me a penny for saying that! Art - I PM'd you about the roller guide. many thanks. Ray

I'm pleased to report I now have a belt sander but that machine Bree uses looks like the perfect solution to me... I've looked all over the place in the UK but can't find one. I can't justify the Burr-King guys - but what an amazing bit of kit! Now I'm on the hunt for a Dremel - any suggestions please, given that Badger has already warned me that the new ones are not as robust as the older ones. Is there a model that would do the business or are they all bad? Remember that I run a commercial production workshop and need a tool that can work hard. Thanks everyone, Ray

I have been thinking about adding some kind of power sander to my workshop and wondered what you folks think is the most effective type? I have looked at belt sanders, drum sanders and disk sanders and can see good reasons to use all of them but only have the space for one - which would you suggest and why? How do you get the best from your sander? Ray

I'd like to request the return of the pics as well - this is one of the nicest bits of historical leatherwork I've seen in a long while. How about it Mike? Ray

Nice job! I'm glad the tri-bolts are coming in handy. I like your carving very much. I'm going to have to stitch my next batch of stools - they'll look great with corners like this one. Ray

I have just been informed (yup, I didn't run fast enough) that I am to teach a leather carving class at a local youth group camp. As I am undoubtedly the worst artist in the world, I'm keen to source any unwanted/unloved craftaids and will gladly pay a fair price (plus shipping to the UK) for them. Ideally I'd like to track down the set of Zodiac signs that were around in the 70s plus any animal patterns as the kids always like those. I'm also happy to hear about classic flower designs. If you have anything at all then please drop me a PM so we can reach an arrangement. Thanks guys, Ray

An amusing idea. I must try it some time...

That would be most kind, Steve. Can you also suggest a good UK supplier? Maybe Celtic Leather or Torrbuidhe have some ideas on this? (thanks for the help, Neil!)

I like the idea of this badge and admire the way the work was carried out. Has anyone any experience of making custom badges like these commercially?

No argument with that, Hilly. In fact, as a writer, I'd have to argue for your right to say it! But at the same time, I'd have to argue for the Horse guy's freedom to say what he believes too. He thinks he is right and so do you. However, I may not agree with either of you...

Thanks, Dave (and Barra) that makes a lot more sense now. All I need now is to understand how to choose the the right size needle and some idea how to understand the US threads / UK threads thing... I'm getting there slowly! Ray

Thsat was something of a masterclass on patch stitching, Bree. I'm most grateful for all the advice. My slip into the vernacular, so astutely picked up by Ian, was entirely down to spending far too much time on a certain Leatherworker's forum... that is my excuse and i'm sticking to it (probably with double sided tape). Confidence, Luke? I wish! They say a person with their mouth open learns less than a person with their mouth closed... I'm going to shut up now and see what happens.

Nice idea, Spider. It seems to be a bit short of skulls but flames are nice! LOL

You play the fool exceptionally well though... I learned a lot from you! LOL Ray

What an interesting connundrum... What one culture sees as acceptable and commonplace another culture perceives as cruelty. It begs the question: which culture is right and why? I'm sure that killing animals for food/leather/whatever would be seen as the height of cruelty by some cultures - maybe they are right? Maybe they are completely wrong - who is to say? I have no intention of being judgemental here, merely philosophical! - What is culture anyway?

Like Luke, I would also use Lexol to soften the leather, but you may want to treat the surface of the leather after you have restored it's texture; in which case pick up a 1oz pot of Skidmores www.skidmores.com and apply it sparingly with your fingers. The heat from your hands will help it to soak in. Ray

You know how it is when you start out on a new course of action then reach the absolute end of your knowledge and there is a vast raft of stuff still to know... I have been struggling with this particular set of questions for about a week now and am no nearer a solution. I have been trying to make sense of needle sizes for my Highlead GA2688-1. Do I just need one size of needle (which would be easier) or should I have different sizes of needle to match each thread size? That was almost a rhetorical question, as, right now, all I really want to know is what durn size do I need to buy? FYI: I am generally stitching straight lines along two or three thicknesses of 3.5mm thick leather strap with either a #20 or #13 thread however I can't make either of those sizes correspond with US thread sizes. Is there some kind of a chart that would help here? My local machine dealer just told me I should use a #26 needle - I just checked and there are a range of #26 needle types - what type do I need? Does it matter? Why? The ideal answer would probably include a Schmetz part number - or even two Schmetz part numbers if you like! Help me guys - I'm losing the will to stitch... Ray

Philip, First thing that comes to mind is that you are unlikely to be able to compete on price with the huge country store, so check 'em out thoroughly and see if you can beat them on quality. Find beautiful leathers, top quality fittings and tell local people you are using them in your flyers and cards. Hey, you could even hang a 'top quality custom leathergoods' sign on your truck and park it in conspicuous places in your neighbourhood. Easy free local advertising. My next suggestion would be to concentrate your efforts on a niche market - you need to identify a particular and distinctive style of belt, spur strap or whatever that is popular locally and make yours so much better than those sold at the local country store that people won't even consider buying from them. Don't try to compete on everything - specialize! Finally, Promote your products direct to the end user using all the techniques you can utilise and offer to make up custom orders at no extra charge. It is unlikely a big store will be able to offer the sort of individual service you can provide. Word of mouth advertising from all your satisfied customers should do the rest. I hope this helps, Ray

Bob, I had never thought about fixing my Weaver burnisher horizontally on the end of the bench... it has been taking up valuable bench space for far too long and is about to experience a change of scenery! Thanks fellah!. See - this is why this forum is so darn good!

Nice job, Jim. Looks like Repo landed on all four feet when he found you! The harness looks like a good fit - did you design it yourself or copy another? Ray

Beautiful work but I'd like to see the processes you go through to make one of these. What is underneath the leather? Ray

Nice one, Cecil!

Well said, Bill.

I agree with Kevin, Josh. Try to find a set of metal worker's stamps and if you get some border markings lose them under some very light background stamping. I get the same problems with the larger 3D and letter stamps but it is an easy matter to use a background tool to cover the border marks. Ray

Fred, that is a really nice piece of work. The contrast between the hair-on and the plain leather is superb. That lining color is a scorcher! Ray