King's X

Exactly. Very nicely said by the soon to be foiegner. Just kidding Tina. She is one of those members who does a lot of her own design work and I am glad she chimed in because I had her mind when you started this thread. Since I am artisically challenged when it comes to actually putting pencil to paper, I take the next appropriate step. I have a couple of projects that will hopefully be published (if they get accepted) by LCSJ magazine. The original pattern is not my work, but I have made a couple of changes. I contacted both original makers and asked for their permission to use the "original" pattern with my take on it. I will then give them credit in the article. I believe that is the only respectful thing to do. Just like many things here that I've learned, I always give credit to those that have taught me something related to leather like Master Sansei Bob "Hidepounder" Parks. And, I will always put forward a lesson to someone new, but I will make sure that they know who taught me. I just think it is the appropriate thing to do. My .02 cents.

Very nice!

Very nice belt. I like the two tone color.

This has come up before. Usually if someone does not want you to copy it, they will not post it here. Sometimes, they will post a picture about it, but you ask them for directions, pattern or plans. You will either get nothing in your request or they will flat out ignore you (it has happened). But remember that any plan change be changed a little to meet your design needs and it will look totally different. I mean how many of the old cravers copied someone like Al Stohlman, but changed the design differently just slightly? I bet a lot of people. I believe the best bet would be to PM the orginator and kindly ask. Go from there.

Very nice, but may I ask why they are curved?

Yea, I have to agree, "beveling lace?" Please explain, but a quick tutorial would be even better!

Very nice tool box. I really like that maul. Wrap it with some leather and bang away. If you get a chance take a look at Stohlman Pictoral Carving book for some more tips on working trees. Good luck and thanks for sharing.

Bob: Interestingly enough you bring up a a good point and many thanks. I was told to use plain old cold water. Secondly, I was advised and greatly discouraged by one of my first instructors not to use plastic bags. I was told that it would create vapor bubbles on the top of the bag over the leather and it could fall and create stains. Glass or plastic I have since used both and they seem to work. I think a lot depends on the leather that you use, period. Good leather will stay cased a long long time. Medicore leather will not stay long enough to take a drink of your ice cold beer sitting next to your maul. So, not that I have a place to disagree with you, but I have to point out the leather think. I think (because I was one of those newbies) that believed a lot of what I was told at the beginning especially when it came to leather. Now, since being a member here and trying different things out there, not so. So, in closing, I would take all of what you heard here and try it out even with medicore leather and see how it works. The leather I worked on last night just happened to be a small piece of 8-9 oz Tandy hide that I "cased" overnight with the glass. Even before I went to bed that night, I could see the change in color of the leather like it was drying out? Right then I figured I was going to encounter problems the next day. I recall when I case Herman Oak or Wickett & Craig, this didn't happen. It would turn a rich slightly darker color as it sat. Anyways, sure enough last night, that thing would not cut well, even stopped like every stroke. My hand/fingers were worn out. I decided to put a little water like Bob Dellis did with a slight wet rag and it would ease up, but it soon dried out. Finally, early this morning I was done, but the family reported what sound like construction going on with the hammering and pinging. I think I might have cracked my poor granite. The rest of that leather is going in the trash. Okay, I said enough. Thanks for sharing Mr. Bob.

Very nice and to the point, but this East Los Angeles native has to ask. What is a Buckroll and what are they used for?

Roo: Great write up. Please share some tips when you get a chance to write them up. Thanks for sharing.

I took a tip from Rawhide here and Peter Main. I don't know how many other people are doing it but I like it so far. I went to bed bat and beyond and purchased two glass cutting boards (different sizes). I went my leather projects and place them on my granite (grain up) and place the glass on top. I allow it to sit like that over night. About 10 mins ago, I took off the glass and now I am letting it sit. I will go up there after dinner and start my pattern transfer. I will cut it with the swivel knife and then tape it up before I start my tooling. Oh yea, I will try out my new "TimDidIt" slicker. Thanks TimD. The slicker, from what I read will cause the grain fibers to tighten up and compress. We'll see. I am always open to trying something new. Well, gotta eat because I have a long night. If I don't get it done, I will place the glass back on top and start again tomorrow after putting some water on the ends all around. Good luck

My experience only. Your cut rigids will curl or push up. There might be some what appears to be white. I believe what it is is the water being pushed to the side as you cut. Look down into the cut (depth) and check the color. If it is white, that might also be an indicator. Try a hair dryer. Next time place a small piece of leather with your casing leather. You can use that as your practice piece for the swivel knife practice. That should give you a good indicator as to what status your leather is in. Good luck

Very nice. Now, I know where that snot rag went to. Very cool color.

Bonjour and welcome to the forum. Sit back and enjoy yourself. We have a few other members from France. Hopefully, they will introduce themselves.

Welcome to the forum and please extend an invitation to the rest of the members. Enjoy and congrats on your new position.

wow. Amazing.

C.S. Osborne & Co 973-483-3232 cso@csoborne.com Wickett & Craig 800-826-6379 info@wickett-craig.com Weaver Leather 800-932-8371 Gore Tools 800-859-8338 Smith & Company (Chuck Smith ~ Ol' Smoothie Swivel knife) 818-222-5757 Standard Rivet Company 800-367-4838 Chaylor ~ Fenneli Australia (lace & insides) 800-620-2760 Try this one above, this is what the Hitching post was carrying. I know that a few have mentioned it. Kevin at Springfield sells some cost effective insides that I have seen. I have used the old ones that Hidecrafter used to carry, I don't know if they change carriers? Good luck and I hope this helps.

Wow, I must be in the minority here. I actually don't have a problem thinking about what I am going to do. I cannot draw worth a darn, but my wife says that I vision things done. Like my attach case that I just finished. I envisioned the final product and what I wanted where. All I had to do was search my 1000 patterns to find exactly what I needed. In that case, the biggest part was the corners, so I went to my corners book that holds all of my corner patterns and I searched and played with different one until I like what I saw. Use your instinct more if you can, it usually will not let you down or most of would be dead from all of those dares that we eventually took as kids. The ones where your instincts say you better not were the one that would have hurt you bad. Anyways, back to the topic. I don't take commissions often, but I do make a lot of stuff and give it to friends and family. I just love working with leather. Okay, I often either know what the person likes and needs that I can build or I sit and talk with them. General conversation like what they like and what they don't, but the ones that are really cool are the ones that say surprise me! Those are the best. I would encourage you to look at something and see how you can change it around to different views and designs. I mean I saw a design of Master Sansei Parks a lot time before we met here for a briefcase and just envision how I could do it because I could not do what Master Sansei Parks did then or now. I know my limitations and I do my best to work with what I have. Constantly, go through your patterns/books and other design inspirations and look at a pattern and tweak it in your head an see how it would look if you omitted something or changed a flower or line. For instance, I am making a portfolio right now for my wife who will be attending a big sewing show in Houston next month. She want this to take to collect varies patterns, cards and flyers. She wanted something special (duh) but she wanted to be sewing related. I starting putting my old mind to work and for about one day, I did nothing but think about different ideas. I finally told her that I was going to take a very nice Sheridan pattern, but instead of flowers, I was going to silouette a female sewing on a chair in the middle and instead of flowers, I was going to input different symbols related to sewing. I completed the design tonight and it met to her satisfaction. So, in all of these mess of words, just envision your project and work within your limitations keeping in mind what your customer likes and dislikes. Okay, my .10cents worth.....No change requested.

Check your messages. On their way soon. You are most welcome. I am glad to finally help someone out. I usually am asking for help, but thanks.

I agree with Rawhide. I have since moved from Tandy to Hidecrafter/Craft Japan and now to Barry King for Sheridan work and Ellis Barnes for old western floral (Basically Tandy's replacement). At my current status, Barry King for me is pushing it although more affordable than Bob Beard, for me. I have just about completed (my) BK set. I am not getting every single tool he makes. I paying more attention to my collection of Ellis Barnes tools. Their pearshaders, camo's, veiners and seeders are 10 times better than Tandy and Hidecrafter's. But you are looking at $25-$40 each. A set of 4 cross check bevelers (standard degree not sheridan degree) will run you $125 delivered straight from Lonnie at the plant. Segel of California carries a limited amount of Ellis Barnes tools. To give you an idea of EB tools, you can almost cut your finger tip with his camo's. I know that most members here know that Jeremy Watt is making tools and I ready somewhere that Chuck Smith (maker of the Ol'Smoothie) was making tools as well. But for their quality, I can almost bet you will pay prices leading up to the other top names here. As for Bob Beard, I heard that his tools are very good, but I only know one saddle maker that owns any. I heard that they are expensive, but I will probably find out how much at the Boot and Saddle show this year. Eventually, I will probably pass my Tandy tools to my son and daughter but I have considered selling all 219 of them. Probably not, but they most sit in a box next to my bench just in case I need something special. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Or you can just use "Two Oaks in my Front Yard." Oh wait, someone will come up with that one too. I am sure others have two oak trees. Sorry, I cannot help with the name issue, but I could offer some comic relief. I like the response you got already. I say go for it. I mean, my name is also used by an alternative rock band, but I don't think anyone is going to confuse music with custom leather or hand tooled by design? Good luck.

Thank you Ms. Crystal. That's it. I am designing a wall hanging tool cabinet that will close in the tool rack, but it will be separate from the cabinet. I thought this idea would be great, but I am look at 30" long. I apprecaite the help.

JBird: It does sound like anyone answered you so, I will chime in. I have two patterns. Let me find them and I will loan them to you. One is Tandy and the other one is ? I still have your addy in my inbox. PM if you get this solved.

Finally, your own testament. The word according to Bob "Hidepounder" Parks! Bow to the master! Bring on the rest of the chapters!

Wow, those mauls look AWESOME~ Thanks for sharing. Oh yea, the wine bottle carrier looks pretty *itching too! (just kidding on the mauls)