UKRay

I only have to look out of my kitchen window to know spring has arrived here in Shropshire. The garden is ablaze with dafodils, snowdrops and all manner of little flowers I know not what... Absolutely glorious shades of white and yellow everywhere. Thanks for the pointer to the truck, Denise, I might just have missed that one under all that snow! LOL

Very nice belts, Richard. I do like that lacing style you have used, it adds a whole new dimension to a belt. Could you please post a picture of the pattern you used to get the holes in the right place? I'm sure it would be extremely useful to those who would like to try making one of their own.

I do have a copy of that book - Valerie Michael lives a little way down the road from here and I plan to check out her courses later this year. She does quite a bit with leather moulding I understand. Her work is superb, I've seen an example in the Leather Museum in Walsall. Sorry Randy but it is just too far to hop over the pond for your course. I'd really like to but... Thanks, China - any chance of a picture of one of your moulds please? I do admire the way you work, rdb. I wish I could be that 'freeform' but I'm just too darn orderly to work like that! I'd have to find myself very special bits of wood and keep them just for nailing moulds to. I even have to tidy the bench and hoover up the floor after work most days so it is clean for the following morning. Not quite obsessive, but veeery close! LOL Badger was telling me about using fibreglass to make moulds the other day. Absolutely fascinating but he tells it better than I can. He apparently uses a pasta cutter to produce 3mm thick clay strips that replicate the space taken by the leather... sadly I only retained the bit about the pasta cutter and not how he uses it! Hopefully he'll jump in here...

Classic and classy. Nice quality work and great design on that briefcase!

You are such a sweet lady, Denise!

I think Karl has a very good point here, Steve. I spent far too many years carting a pair of heavy cameras and their lenses around the world in a specialist camera bag made by Billingham http://www.billingham.co.uk/pages/index.php but I believe one of your bags would have been a lot more rugged and hardwearing. IMHO, your style of bag lends itself particularly well to cameras; especially if the interior could be changed around by the user to suit their requirements.

Although I have made many wet formed items 'freehand' I have never tried making up a mould and using it to 'mass produce' anything. I'd like to make some knife cases to fit French made, folding, Opinel knives. Have you ever made up a mould like this or something similar? Got any tips or suggestions? Best of all, could you please post pictures of your moulds so I can get a better idea what is involved in making one. Will I need to brace the mould to stop it flexing? What is the best material to use? How should I clamp my mould? What method/tools/clamps works best? I saw a thread a while back that mentioned cling-film / sarran wrap. That seemed like a good idea to stop the leather staining but have you got any other good tips? The radius on the mould edges is concerning me a little. I haven't seen many pictures of moulds and those I have seen have not shown this. I can see it doesn't want to be too sharp but what works best for you? I'm also keen to see how consistent they will be as I have heard that each leather moulding will need quite a bit of trimming to make it look right. I'm also keen to know how close to the moulding I can stitch with a machine. There seems little point in hand stitching the things unless I really have to - my idea is to mechanise these processes! I need to know the optimum distance because I think I have to allow for this in my mould design. Any help gratefully received!

Steve, Even if I hadn't been told you made that case, I think I might still have recognised its origins! It is an interesting design and I can see why you might be questioning it. Overall, the case is beautifuly made but I wonder if it is a tad too solidly built for purpose? Does a lady's case need to withstand an attack from a charging rhino? - pehaps not :-) The insert looks very heavy to my eyes - not in weight but 'substance'. I think this is due in part to the contrasting binding. IMHO it might look better bound in the same colour/material as the lining. Likewise the pouches - I accept they probably couldn't be made in pig suede, but maybe something less contrasting... Externally, as with all your stuff, it looks solid, robust and bomb-proof. All great attributes but would that limit your market? Does it need to be a tad more 'girlie' to appeal to a wider customer base? To be honest, your fieldsports equipment is some of the finest I have ever seen but I wonder how many women would want to carry that look over into everyday life. T'would be interesting to hear from one or two of the ladies - and even more interesting to see how it sells. Just my two penn'orth of thoughts and worth precisely what you paid for 'em!

It never fails to amaze me that the most peculiar tools can be indentified in minutes here... even though I know what it is for (thanks SS), I would still like to know what this thing is called. Any offers? I had never seen a picture of the Barnsley works, Barra - it isn't too far away from me so I'll have to go and see if it is still there one day soon. I went over to visit Joseph Dixon's works last week and got a quick look at their tool room. Most interesting. I'm heading back again next month to pick up some more bits and hopefully get the full guided tour.

My first thought was shoehorn, but it is far too narrow for that...

I'm only four years older than you, Mr Stolp, so you might be out of luck! (any pictures you might have seen that make me look older simply reflect my exceedingly misspent youth....) I would like to add that I have every intention of misspending my old age too!

My take is a bit morbid, but I actually had a conversation about this only this morning... I was wondering what would happen to my tools and machines after I'm gone. Some of my kit is incredibly old and I do feel like I hold it in trust for the next generation, but my son is a computer nerd (bless him) and I can't see him ever bothering to learn how to use them. I actually found it quite distressing to think that the collection I have built up over my lifetime could end up in a dumpster simply because nobody knows what the stuff is. I have decided to appoint a special trustee in my will to find good homes for all my tools. Hopefully they would take on the responsibility of clearing my workshop and ease the burden for those left behind. I'd be perfectly happy to let them take their pick of the toys! Any volunteers?

Hey, Rickybobby - neat truck and trailer - how d'you get the horse to stand on the roof like that? LOL The sad thing is that this vehicle and trailer couldn't be used in the UK because of its size. You would be so restricted as to where you could go it wouldn't be worth owning it. It doesn't stop me wanting one though! Thanks for all the great pictures guys.

Thanks, Russ. I looked at those a while back. Very nice, but I was really hoping for a second-hand set to save some money. Ray

Filligree cutters first: I have been searching for a set of these for quite a while and missed a couple fairly recently. I guess someone is sitting on few of these and maybe they could use some dollars/pounds/euros instead. Please drop me a PM as I have cash waiting. A single, old western style stirrup would make my life a lot easier. I'm curently using an English style stirrup that is a bit too small so I'm fighting my clams on a daily basis (thanks to Badger for the suggestion). I'm after a nice big one, condition relatively unimportant as long as it is serviceable. I'm happy to pay a reasonable price plus shipping from just about anywhere. I'd be most grateful if anyone can help. A PM would be a kindness. Cheers, Ray

Try a saddle maker, Tom - or do like I do and use a dauber. I reckon it is much easier!

There was a very good and useful feature in 'Shoptalk' a while back on making rounded leather collars using a rein rounder. Drop them a line and ask for a copy. Regarding the hardware, the first thing you need to work out is what each supplier calls the style of buckle you are looking for - most have their own terminology. I find it best to order using pictures of the thing I need. The dog collar maker is rather 'underserviced' here; mainly, IMHO, because most people feel that it is a relatively simple thing to make. I'm of the opinion that a belt with a dee is how most people see dog collars but I've seen some recently that have amazed me. Delicate filligree work and contrasting linings - beautiful things and far too good to put on a stinkin' old dog like mine LOL (Don't anyone tell her I said that!). I'm currently trying to improve the quality of my collars with linings, decorative stitching and in any other way I can think of so please count me into your discussions! I have UK sources for most hardwear if that would help - just drop me a PM. Ray

Thanks, Luke. Somebody has to be working around here! LOL Put me down as Wales - I've been working there all day!

That one would make me happy, Tom!

Josh, My thoughts on this pricing stuff are relatively simple. After working leather for a while I kinda know how long a job will take to complete and I guess that, by now, you are getting pretty close to that point. So, how many dollars do you need to make for an hour's work? Easy huh? I ought to point out here that most of us are guilty of underpricing work, quoting for less time than we actually spend on a job and generally giving the customer a far better deal than they deserve which, believe me, is nothing to laugh about... we pretend that if we charged the right price for our work we wouldn't get any customers. But trust me here, Josh, this is not true. My suggestion is to agree a fixed price with your client before you start based on your best estimate of the work to be completed. You will get it wrong a few times but eventually you will start making the sort of money you are happy with. Problem solved. Can you afford to trust your own judgement? I've seen your work and read your posts and IMHO, I reckon it is about time you learned to believe in yourself. If it helps any, a lot of folk here on the board believe in you - which is why they have been so keen to see you progress and improve your work. Just my three penn'orth and worth precisely what you paid for it! Good luck, Ray

Set your sights lower, Des... cut out a key fob and practise - you have a whole side of leather to learn how to make the best key fobs in the US. Just don't give up okay! Ray

Now this is looking more like my ideal vehicle - But I can't help asking asking where the restoration ends and the brand new truck begins? Lovely looking job though! Ray

Don't sell your tools, Des - I repeat: Don't sell your tools! Look at it this way, the worst has probably already happened other than the demands for money you haven't got...and we all get those! Just start working leather for all you are worth and learn to make your own money without relying on anyone else for a job. Depression is possibly the most unfair illness in the world because misery stops you thinking about ways to remove the cause of your depression. You may need to get some help here but do recognise you aren't on your own. You will need some successes to get you through the next few months so why not make some leather pieces the best way you know how and get the buzz from 'a job well done'. Just take time to learn and improve and sell your work wherever you can as you go. There are plenty of folk here who will go ut of their way to help you make a good job, all you have to do is ask. I understand you live in a rural area so you may not sell too much to start with but as people learn you work leather the small jobs will come in and eventually they will turn into bigger and better work. The most important thing is not to lose hope. Good luck fellah! Ray

Anyone in the UK interested in the Lucris M A Series III Clicker Press press should call Alpress on 0141 848 7175 - current price including delivery and VAT is £851 see: www.alpress.co.uk ...and no, I don't work for them, but I have just ordered one! Ray

In my experience using a heated adjustable creaser can be just as tricky but you do have the added fun of burning yourself occasionally. Leatherwork never fails to entertain... Ray