King's X

It is how I shipped your alphabet. Had it been a big package, I could have ordered the flat rate boxes off of their site, had them delivered to my home and click and ship. The plus is that they would come and pick it up off my porch.

I don't know what happen, but back when this thread started, I was never able to get the link to work. I read all of the responses on here and it sounds like the man is awesome. I was glad to help him in his time of need.

Yea. I've got a member in our leather guild that works with wallets mainly, but is now getting into belts. He has been looking for a machine. Can you give me an email address I can forward to him and that way you two can talk? Thanks.

Deno: I just finished the pattern from the "Beer Stein" project found in the Make it with leather magazine (Crafttool Corner). Nice pattern. BTW, can I ask you what your father's pattern of tooling was? After the swivel knife for a simple foral pattern, belt or wallet? I tried F.O. way and found it really hard to do it. I was just wondering. Thanks for sharing.

I have used Super Sheen, but stay away from Neat-lac or anyting similar since it will erase the paint. I found out the hard way. I hope this helps.

How thick of leather will it sew? Belts, wallets, liners and such? Less than 1/2" thick?

By hand Shorts, by hand! Just kidding, good luck

Very nice checkbook BearMan. I was wondering what you used for the interior? Thanks

Very nice! Great job.

I found this article in an old Make it with Leather magazine from our guild library. Apparently, there are a few other articles that follow this one. I was wondering if anyone had this entire article and wouldn't mind send me a copy. I will pay the costs of copies and shipping. I appreciate it.

Beautiful belts. I am going to send you a PM regarding another issue, but your work is inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

I was just thinking about putting some on ebay. Most are crafttool usa or crafttool company stamping tools. I have some other hand tools. Let me get my list together and I will let you know. Paypal will be good for me.

Are you stamping before or after you complete the belt? or project? I do like D-Bar and stamp before my project starts, so I can go around with my carving pattern. I forgot to mentioned this in my earlier post, you need to hold the stamp firmly down onto the leather especially when you strike it, as well as the maul, hammer, deadblow, or whatever you use. But moisture at whatever level you feel comfortable is key. Striking your stamp on dry leather is not going to provide you any good results. I would piggyback on the suggestion that you practice on pieces of scrap at different levels of mositure. Please keep us informed.

Please accept my condolences. Take care and be at peace.

I have two stamps, one from Brenda and another from a source found here. Both operate the same for me. I found it best to wet my leather and as soon as I see the moisture disappear, I position my stamp and give it a good whack with my Stohlman 3lb maul. It usually give me a good imprint (98%). If I need to give it another whack it will come later when my leather turn almost back to its natural color, but still cool. This time I will whack it with my 18oz BK maul, but this doesn't happen often. It is my belief from my messing around to get the best impression that the letter has to be moist or very moist when you attempt this. If you try (and I have) to make an impression with either my stamps when the leather is at the stage to bevel or background; I usually get a back impression and sometimes a double impression with a slight move. Muy (very) bad. And, sometimes, it has to be rocked to get a really crisp impression. I have studied a lot of impressions on work that I found here before I made a stamp and I found them to be good, but not as crisp as most describe what they want to achieve or expect? My impressions have been very good and there have been very few occasions when I have had to hit it twice. Just my observations.

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Damn TK, I thought you were telling my story. That is exactly what happened to me and I was unable to return to work. I was not a mechanic, but it was a tough time. Hang in there bro. This is what I did. I was able to use my experience and training to take a job (lower paying, unfortunately) as a consultant in my field. It worked out because it gave me another reason to put my life back together. This is the reason why I took up leather work because I could not play golf anymore. After the reconstruction of both shoulders, I was unable to reach above my head and to date, my left hand is still asleep most of the day with constant pain. No more golf. But I am glad to be alive and just plain having a reason to get up every morning. So, look at teaching or consulting in your field. You just have to change course in your mind. If they are willing to pay for school, do it. I wish I would have done it instead of sitting at Starbucks everyday, all day. Yea, I know....TMI! I'm done.....good luck and if you need to talk, just let me know. I don't have a problem telling other going through your situation how to stay on track and learn from my lessons. Good luck friend and may the lord provide you peace.

I recently changed to HO and I just fill the tub with cold water and throw my piece in until all of the bubble have stopped coming out of the leather. I remove the leather and sit it on my granite. I wait until it returns to it's original color and then crave away. I know that another member here, places a piece of smooth glass on top of the leather piece and let's it sit overnight. The next day they remove the glass and let the color settle back in and then carves away. I hope this helps.

From my duty days, I had a rig like you just described Shorts. The 'strap' that extended down from the pouches/holster was a expandible strap (can't think of the name right now, old timers disease). Anyways, you want something that is flexible for when they bend over, or reach for something. This way it gives a little, but it doesn't allow it to 'flop' around. I.....don't believe......I have it any more. I know that I have my last one I wore before they were no longer 'cool' to wear if you need a model. it looks a lot like the one displayed by a previous responder, but the 'flexible' or elastic strap joins the two shoulder pieces behind the shoulder blades, again to allow it to give a bit. Anyways, you know you are always welcome to have anything I have here. I may even have a 'Make It With Leather' pattern around somewhere. Just drop me a email. you have the address. Good luck.

Thanks for the comments, I hope it helps you.

The same thing happened to me with aerosol Neat-Lac on two small photo book covers. It look really great until I bent the covers and closed them. Cracks everywhere. I tried to clean it up and respray, but it didn't work. I just didn't have to time to redo since they were for my daughter's teachers at the end of school or I would have deglazed it all! I feel your pain. I also do not like to use super sheen unless I use eco-flo products and in liquid form only. I kinda stay away from the spray stuff. I haven't tried saddle lac or Fiebings flexiable sheen spray, but still a little leary. Good luck.

Pictures, pictures...please

I might have to try one. Thanks. I hope all is well "Rawhide?"

"I love you man!"; I mean "woman" XOXO

No apology necessary. Your answer would be better than mine. You are more than welcome to join and answer. Please don't think twice about it. I do appreciate the response though.