dikman

You can buy just the awl needle itself without a handle, I just happened to have a spare that I was given with a heap of leatherworking stuff. As long as you don't rotate the drill chuck it should punch the same alignment each time.

Yep - if I ever get motivated enough to learn to use the design software. Every time I start I lose interest......

Very neat. Every time I see something like this I get annoyed that my laser can't cut acrylic!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is to buy the narrow needle plate/feed dog, with that fitted you can use slightly thinner needles (i.e. smaller than a crowbar!) and comfortably sew with #138 thread if needed.

I use the same idea, and also for storing metal bars/rods under my lathe except I used 75mm/3" pvc stormwater pipe.

That should work but longevity is going to be the issue. It has the advantage that you can print spares to keep handy, failure during a project may be a concern. Worth a try.

I would say the chances of finding a pulley like that are pretty slim. Over the years I've bought several different (generic) servos and never had a shaft like that, they've all been straight and took generic pulleys. I'm assuming you can't return it for a different type so you have two options as I see it, either fit a speed reducer as kgg suggested or possibly replace the machine handwheel with a larger pulley.

I have a slightly bigger pair of those cable cutters and they are vicious things! They will cut up to 3/4" copper cable with no effort.

See? That wasn't so hard, was it. You would have regretted it if you didn't do it the right way.

I use the same process for hand stitching as it gives nice even spacing.

Gato, I had the same idea but given the amount of stitching on the loops I reckon it would be better to just open them up (probably less frustrating in the long run).

If you don't open them up to stitch on the loops then in the future every time you look at them you'll wish you had done it properly. You could use pins, needles, small brads or those thingy's fred showed - I bought some of those a while ago just in case I need them - to line up the holes. A lot of extra work but at least you'll know you did it the right way. I made a couple of western holsters based on Steve McQueen's from The Magnificent Seven, the end of the loop was attached using Chicago screws with the fixed part trapped between the two layers making up the holsters. Over time a slight bump developed on the inside of the holsters where the screws are and is a potential wear spot. I don't think I'll use this method again.

Very nice, given the circumstances you did well!

I made a pair of western holsters and just gave them a coat of neatsfoot oil then rubbed on a coat of wax (tallow/beeswax). That was years ago and other than a few scuffs they still look the same. As for dipping in melted beeswax, it's not something I would recommend for a holster as you could end up with a mess trying to clean off the excess! It's not necessary for holsters.

Leather strap for sure, even if it's left plain it will be more in keeping with the overall look. And watch your stitching, it all looks good except for the piece holding the tongue loop down. It was the first thing that hit me being highly visible. Other than that, what the others said.

SUP, I've always just used "smooth". Anyhow, it's an interesting idea you have there. I have plenty of paraffin wax that I bought to re-wax a jacket and don't have any other use for it, plus plenty of beeswax, plus some old hard leather from a very old saddle, might have to give this idea some thought.

"Smoothen"? I had to look that up and yes, it's a word. In all my 76 years I've never heard it before. I finally learned a new word.

I cleaned my glasses but I still can't see any problems with the wallet.

Not "art block" (although I'm not particularly artistic anyway) it's more a lack of motivation. I just can't seem to get going.......

Regarding pliers, I use a pair that that have flat smooth jaws but more importantly have a mechanism that keeps the jaws parallel at all times. They work very nicely for pulling needles through leather.

Nothing wrong with the bog-standard contact cement, and as a bonus it keeps you happy while you work!

Very effective. While "traditional carving" is always nice, in this case the laser lets you get fine detail on what are small items, and also lets you produce them quicker. The Hotel California is very whimsical but I daresay the subtlety will be lost on many due to them being too young!

What he said, remove the head and use plenty of padding to support it. I always removed everything from the table for transport. You may need a new belt for the servo as the existing one might be too long, other than that have fun.

I was going to watch it later but once I started........his work with just one knife was fascinating to watch and yes, I wondered about the glue. It seemed to dry pretty quick and yet he kept it in a dish that is open to the air. And it never occurred to me to use a hard grinding wheel to sand edges, I may just have found a use for all the grinding wheels that I've accumulated (plus they'll last forever!).

Very classy!