Chief31794

I dilute all feibings dyes at least 1:1 some even more except Pro Oil Black, that I leave undiluted. I have cut Medium Brown 10:1 with the 10 being the alcohol, but that was for a particular look. Most of them work and look really nice at 1:1 or 2:1 and it makes the dye more economical. I think that diluting them at least 1:1 makes them penetrate the leather better, but I have no scientific proof of that. Chief

I don't know much about saddles, but when I have basket weave to clean (crud in the grooves), I use Leather Balm with Atom Wax, dip an old soft toothbrush in it and then use it on the grooves, takes a little work to get to it but it will clean them. Hope that helps, Chief

I do it as well, particularly if the seam is curved, hard to back up into the same holes if the stitch line isn't straight. Chief

Here is one I make from time to time. Pretty Simple. I am attaching a .svg (Inkscape file) and a PDF. The system won't let me upload the .svg vector graphic file, so PM me with your email address if you want it. I designed it to use lace however, you can easily use the same pattern if you want to stitch it. Chief Business Card Case.pdf

I've used both in the past (25 years or so ago, Tandy had some pretty decent leather). I won't use Tandy leather, I use Hermann Oak exclusively. Never tried Wicket & Craig, because I have no reason to leave HO, I'm sure it's good leather, I'm also sure that you may get by using Tandy leather but eventually you will be very disappointed using it as compared to using Hermann Oak. I also tried some RJF leather but while it was okay I just didn't like it nearly as much as Hermann Oak. Just my $.02 worth. Chief

Thanks, had done that, I buy all my leather from Kevin, however, $5.00 a sq ft (on average some smaller) seems a little high for remnants. I have a wool supplier where I buy bags of wool for bugging (large garbage bag size at a time) however, the pieces are great for buffing but not quite big enough for use. I'll probably go with SLC just hadn't hadn't had a real need till now, was just wondering if there was a better place to get it. Thanks, Chief

Nice, I like the design of this strap. I have a new template for one very similar from BlackRiverLaser.Com, I'll be making a video on it for them this week or early next week. It is a 2" wide strap with a 12" X 3" pad that can be lined with shearling or such. Where do you get your shearling? I don't use it often but once in a while I need a piece about this size and it's not economical to buy a whole hide. I've been looking for a source for smaller pieces. Chief

In spite of the fact I tried to cut the end of my thumb off with my utility knife, I received orders for 6 rifle slings between Friday night and this morning, got em all out and ready for shipment tomorrow. I think it's a mistake for hunting season and Christmas to be so close together!!!! I'm tired, going to bed. Chief

Today I just relearned that your thumb does not make an effective stop for your knife blade, I tried to take the end of my left thumb off this afternoon, and I have 4 rifle slings to carve and finish. Gotta love Christmas but I hope this thing doesn't act up tomorrow when I'm trying to hold stamps. Chief

Thank you sir, Chief

The stitch in that video produces a braided effect, if that's what you want then that video may help. If you want a simple cross stitch then go through the first hole then come over and go through it again, then stitch down the length of the tomahawk sheath by going through each hole in succession from the front, when you get to the last hole go through, come over and go through again when you come out stitch back along the edge crossing all the stitches you made before, at the end go in midway and push the needle up through the leathers and stitches to lock it, trim it off and that will give you a "cross stitch". Hope that helps, Chief

Ditto, that's exactly how I do it, clean, oil, then clear lac, used to use Neat Lac, but that's been replaced, Clear lac is the same thing. I use it on almost everything. Chief

Thanks Wild Bill, How are things up in Northwest Georgia? I didn't realize you were from Georgia, I new Monica was, we need to start our own Georgia Clique!! I get up around Atlanta (Powder Springs actually) pretty often, my grandchildren live there. Chief

You put the lines on the square on the line so that the edge of the square is where you want to cut, then you can use a rotary cutter or any kind of knife to cut along the edge. I have them in 12.5" X 12.5", 8.5" X 8.5" and 6.5" X 6.5" the cover just about every thing. Chief

I use T-sqares a lot, but when I want excellent accuracy I use a clear acrylic quilting square, friskars makes good ones, I have several of different sizes. They work great. The problem I have with T-sqares and Tri-Squares, etc, is that they only work well if the edge you are putting it against is perfectly straight. Leather, even when cut very carefully might not be exactly straight. I use the T-sqares to line up borders across straps, etc. Chief

Musical Instruments, I have what's referred to as GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome), DAS (Dobro Acquisition Syndrome), BAS (Bass.. oh you get the idea), that and leather working tools. Chief

My main cutting tool is a utility knife, I use a high quality knife, high quality blades and I strop them as well. I also use a round knife, rotary knife (on thin goods), and xacto type knives from time-to-time but 95% of my cutting is done with a utility knife. What ever you cut with, make sure it's sharp and keep your fingers out of the path of the blade. That being said, my most important tool in a leather shop is my first aid kit. My hands show the signs of 45 years of leather cutting and a good first aid kit with disinfectant and good bandages keeps small nicks and cuts from becoming infected. Chief

I would try it on some scrap before I tried it on a project, most people just add the oil later to replace what has been lost in the dying process. Chief

I've never heard of anyone thinning neatsfoot oil, i apply thin coats and it is what it is. As for oil dyes, feibings pro oil dyes can be diluted with denatured alcohol, yes. I do it all the time, I normally thin any pro oil dye (except black) at 2:1 dye to alcohol and 1:1 on some dyes depending on the color I'm trying to achieve. I have diluted as far as 10:1 alcohol (particularly Browns), but recently I've been buying different (lighter) shades as opposed to thinning that much, I think it works better, just my opinion not backed up by any facts that I know of. Chief

Everything I've ever gotten from him has been perfect and excellent quality. Lovin' the Sledge Hammer, has made my life so much easier. Chief

Thought I'd take an opportunity to brag on one of our suppliers and supporter or Leatherworker.net. Barry King makes awesome tools, I've used his stamps for years and still absolutely love them. I just made a new acquisition from Barry. I'm getting older, I know, it's hard to believe, but I've been having to hit bag punches and cutoff punches harder and harder to get them through the leather, to the point I am flailing at them. I do sharpen them, it's just I don't swing as hard as I used to, so I tried dead blow hammers, but the faces of them maul up badly pretty quickly. So after pondering this for a while I decided to take my old daddy's advice, "Don't force it, get a bigger hammer", I ordered the 48 oz mallet from Barry and this thing lets me punch leather like I did when I was 20. Beautiful tool as you'd expect from Barry. While ordering I bought his edger sharpener as well, very very nice tool, it is a tapered diamond hone that will sharpen your edgers in a New York minute. Thought I'd post some pictures of some of my BK tools past and present. The mallet is displayed with my carving mallet to demonstrate the size of this thing. Thanks Barry for the great tools you provide the leather workers of the world. Chief

Really nice looking strap, great work. Chief

It's Eco Flo Chestnut Highlighter, I have been looking for a good tan without the orange tint you get with Saddle Tan, bought a small bottle of this, love the color, so I've written on my order board to get more of it. It makes a nice mellow tan, my opinion. I tried it on scrap to see how close it would be to the belt the guy brought, it was just about dead on. Thanks Chief

Thanks, yeah I was pretty happy with it. Rohn, these are hand stitched. I love my CB 3200 but still hand stitch a lot of stuff. I use it mostly on belts and instrument straps. Thank you sir, Chief

Here are some things I put out this week, on the holster for the Judge .45 Long Colt, the customer had the belt a friend who had passed away had made for them and they wanted a holster to match the color. I don't promise anything on matching colors with leather stains and dyes, but I think I got it pretty close. These since November 3, so a little over a week. Chief