UKRay

Yes, me too! edit due to inability to press keys and think at same time...

As a Brit living on the border between England and Wales, the game of rugby has a special significance. It isn't easy to explain, but just take a look at the following clip to get a brief taster: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fmDheDOT1P4 - the sound needs to be turned on for the best experience.

Sure we have English Muffins in England - the finest baker in Ludlow www.pricesthebakers.co.uk makes a batch every day in time for breakfast and very nice they are too! We also have crumpets and can recommend this recipe as I have used it myself: http://www.history.uk.com/recipes/index.php?archive=17 The very best is a Sussex Scone - we like the fruit ones for afternoon tea on Sundays: http://www.history.uk.com/recipes/index.php?archive=18 Sadly, we don't have Oreos... at least, the rest of the country doesn't have Oreos, but I do (many thanks Aaron!) and I think it extremely mean spirited of you Americans to have kept Oreos to yourselves for so long. I am starting a movement to ensure my local Tesco stocks them in huge quantities... heheheh! I have also had a truly wonderful parcel from Crystal that contained a treasure trove of amazing goodies. We loved almost everything but I almost had to draw the line at Root Beer Barrels which taste almost exactly like horse liniment - don't ask how I know... strangely, the more of them I ate, the more i started to appreciate them. Thank you for your kindness, Crystal, and thank you George J Howe of PA for one of the strangest taste experiences of my life.

Your results speak for themselves K-Man, You have obviously learned what your machine can do. I just didn't want to spend a whole lot of money I can't afford on a motor that won't work 'cos it is too slow... if someone could have spared me the pain it would have been kind. I guess I'll just shell out and see what happens. Thanks for your comments.

Great job, Tim. I really like those letters and the shape is excellent.

This is turning into a bit of a saga... The polishing machine motor was waaaay too fast. Sadly, the rheostat idea didn't work particularly well either as the thing was simply not precise enough - can you tell how fast a shaft is revolving with your naked eye? No, neither can I - but I can smell leather burning... ...and I can tell when nothing much is happening too! The trouble is I don't know precisely what can be done with one of these Weaver machines and to set a few expectations. I also need to know the range of speeds that will work. I have finally tracked down a brilliant electric motor company in Walsall - home of the British saddlery industry. They have found me the right size motor, right size shaft and even a replacement pulley wheel. The only problem is that this thing revolves a little slower than the original: 1500 RPM rather than 1750 RPM Has anyone got any idea how much difference this small difference will actually make to the finished job? I can't see much of a problem personally but I though it sensible to throw this open for discussion. We have heard recently about how a motor that goes too fast simply doesn't work for burnishing - but how about too slow? What is too slow? Does it matter?

I feel for you RDB - I really do! My problems are less distressing than yours but painful nonetheless: I have a cute little widescreen Sony Vaio VGN-S4XP/B which I would love to use in the workroom - It needed a good clean out so I formatted the hard drive; but as I was re-installing XP Pro I realised that I hadn't downloaded and stored the drivers. I can't find the original re-install disk so I'm stuck with half a screen and graphics that would drive anyone insane. Has anyone got one of these lovely computers and could send me an original driver disk please? I'll pay money, walk dogs, wash cars - hell, I'll wash trucks - BIG TRUCKS if I can get this thing working properly again - I really miss it! Before you ask - yes I have been to the Sony website and downloaded their driver set but IT DOESN'T WORK!!! I have even been to the nVidia site and tried theirs but they don't recognise my graphics card - which according to Sony (and the labels on the computer) is nVidia. The frustration is extremely upsetting... What can I do? Who's next?

Nice summing up Michael, I enjoy an articulate man's opinion - and good on you, Josh; IMHO that is exactly what the forum is about. ..and was that another 1p worth from you CL? - Ole' Josh is going to end up a rich man at this rate! (oops...)

Interesting question as I have never routinely cleaned my leather with anything before dyeing - It hasn't needed it. Okay, occasionally there might be a few waxy spots that respond to a drop of methylated spirit but these are few and far between. Have I misunderstood the problem?

Lovely work. Any chance of some pictures of the back and opened up to see the inside?

You said that so well...

Beautiful work Crystal - if you do another I hear Marmite makes an excellent antiquing compound LOL

Not me Josh - completely worthless!

Are you absolutely sure about that, Cousin? - If'n I didn't know you better I'd swear you were making that up! LOL

Only when I think about it! LOL We really are so fortunate to have craftspeople of Peter Main's calibre on this forum. I know I'll never make anything this good but each time I see something superb I try that little bit harder to improve the stuff I do make. Knowing I can't match the maestro definitely doesn't stop me trying to improve - it is an inspiration! Now, if I could only learn to cut in a straight line... <grin!>

Everytime I foolishly begin to think that I might finally know a little bit about leather work, I am reminded that I actually know nothing... What fantastic workmanship!

Sadly Josh you only have a couple of pennies! (p) However, a pound (£) is worth about 1.57 dollars (as of 7.15pm UK time today). I, on the other hand, would have more than a few £s if I could convince CelticLeather to buy his Christmas shop stock from me... <grin!!!>

Pretty much every year we hear the same old stuff, Josh. Everybody says they are cutting back on Christmas expenditure and the high street spokespeople say numbers are down but each year the stores announce record profits - go figure! My opinion (for what it is worth and that ain't much!) is that people need to cheer themselves up this Christmas. They won't have the money to spend on big expensive gifts so they will spend more on smaller 'impulse buys'. I am concentrating on making relatively low cost gift items like lighter cases, phone cases, belts and pouches with a few carved and tooled bags (purses) just in case I get a high roller or two LOL. The economy on both sides of the Atlantic is pretty dire but people in work still have money to spend. It has to be worth the effort to provide them with something to buy. Just my 1p worth...

Just in case anyone is interested Pogonophobia is the fear of beards... nice to know there is a word for it!

So what finish do you use on those amazing wristbracers, Tom? I know just what you mean about the vibrancy vanishing, Hidepounder. It was one of the reasons I switched to Leather Balm and Atom Wax which doesn't seem to lift as much antiquing as other finishes and polishes to a lovely rich and glossy finish. It seems to me that Resolene is a reasonably good looking finish but it doesn't stand up to wear very well. It particularly doesn't like water and damp conditions and turns sticky. I'm not at all sure what I think of Tan Kote as I haven't used it much but after Kate's comments I'm going to take another look. I was very interested in Mike's comments about tooling looking better with Tan Cote - does anyone else feel the same way or have you found something better? I'm also interested hear more about the best way to use Aussie - any suggestions?

Why mink oil? Surely any properly applied oil finish would work just as well? In fact, I would probably use a proprietory finish as IMHO all that is needed is to 'feed' the leather. I'm happy to be corrected...

I've only just started using acrylics and haven't got a good solution myself, Tom. Hopefully someone can help here - Tina, I know you do some amazing stuff with acrylics - what do you use?

I just wish I could design and carve like that... nice job, both of you.

I have just been looking at all the assorted bottles of finish on my staining bench - Resolene, Tan Kote, Neat-Lac, Saddle Lac, Satin Shene, Super Shene, Leather Balm, Carnauba Creme and a host of others - not to mention Skidmores, Johnson's Kleer, Ear Wax and all the other proprietory brands and stuff I have tried - you probably know what they are better than me. It occured to me that too much choice is almost worse than too little. I have trouble some days deciding what would be the most appropriate finish for specific jobs. Belts are a classic example as I have used all of the above at one time or another (no, not all at the same time, Luke!) but have finally settled on using Fiebings Leather Balm and Atom Wax for 90% of my belts because I think it does the best job. It looks and feels nicely expensive (every little helps) and it doesn't tend to crack when the belt is handled or worn, is easy to apply and buffs to a good shine. However, I still find myself looking at the others occasionally and wondering if they wouldn't work better... My question for the forum is what finishes do each of you use for belts, bags (purses) and small leathergoods and why do you use it? What makes it better than any of the others. Also, is there anything you have tried and would never use again - and why?

The cleaning advice had better come from experts in horse tack but I've been using Skidmores recently and can't praise it highly enough for restoration and finishing work. It was designed to be used on saddles so I guess it should be perfect for your task although I have used it on all kinds of leather including some antique Spanish leather chair backs for a museum. I even use it to finish some of my hand dyed veg tan products. www.skidmores.com will find you some online and you can be sure that Vince and Susan Skidmore will do everything they can to help. Nice genuine people and a superb product. Before you ask - they didn't pay me a penny to say that!