Chief31794

Thanks everyone, I put on light, but I still don't like the shine, I'll try taking some off while it's wet or working it as some of you said. Thanks, Ken

Do everyone use neatlac, clearlac, etc full strength or do you cut it with something and if so what and at what ratio? Thanks, Ken

Great looking sheath. Excellent work. Ken

The Chaylor Fenelli inners from Springfield can be laced, I lay out the lacing slits with a thonging chisel. They can be laced or sewn by hand, below are pictures of one I made with a Chaylor Fenelli inner. Ken

Is this an existing wallet or does he want one made with his initials on it. If it's an existing wallet, I'm not interested, if he wants a wallet with his initials PM me. Ken

Denatured alcohol is carried at Walmart, Kmart, Lowes, Home Depot, local hardware stores, it is in the painting section where you would find paint thinner, etc. Ken

I use them to test sewing machine for stitch length, tension, etc. I also sometimes use small pieces to test dyes for color before I dye the final project. I use them to test leaf liners to make sure I've got the diagonal lines going in the right direction, I use them for quite a few things. Ken

Great Job! I'm pretty sure my second wallet wasn't even usable. You did a nice job on the edges and the stitching. Ken

Another thought, you could hand stitch the money clip to the wallet back and the money clip lining at the same time continuing the stitching around the loose side of the money clip and finishing it inside the wallet back, then stitch the wallet back to the interior hiding the stitches under the inner/liner. It would be hard for me to set the rivets with the magnet setting over the rivet. Might work, interesting looking project. Ken

Very Nice! Ken

I think it's pretty much a concensus. I do custom work so I expect some questions like, can I have this carved or that, can I have a different color, could you do this to it, can you stitch it instead of lacing or vice versa. You have to tolerate that to some extent but I won't agree to do anything I'm not comfortable with and then once the design is set, that's it and always get your money up front. Pretty much agree, leave streaks in the parking lot on this one. Ken

Nice, looks great. Ken

Laban, Beautiful work, you are very kind in your remarks about the videos. I appreciate your watching them and if they helped as you say, then I am absoulutely glad I did them. Black River Laser is designing another 3" and 2-1/2" strap set with a little different slant, it is a strap with a padded slip on area, Jerry is making a prototype, then they are sending the set to me and want me to make a video using this new template. It will offer an alternative to the traditional style. I've seen pictures of the prototype. I'll post when that's done, please mention the videos when you talk to Jerry or Joyce over at Black River Laser. They are great folks. Ken

Pete, I know you know that this is exactly what USMC Black was made for. Bless Fiebings for saving many (Black) projects over the years. Was the chili dog good?? Ken

Looks good, keep up the good work. I wouldn't worry too much about "flaws", all art has flaws, I tell my customers that it gives the piece character. Most of the flaws we see in our own work is really not discernable by other people, they look at the overall beauty, usefulness, etc. Ken

Tandy sells granite slabs in several sizes. They are used for tooling, setting snaps, setting rivets, etc. The poundo board cushions the slab and reduces noise it more or less supports the granite slab. You can find them on Tandy at: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/site+search+results.aspx?sectionpath=3&processor=content&p_keyword=granite The safety beveler (it's actually a skiver) is a great tool for skiving straps for belts, watch bands, etc. Does the same job as the super skiver. Practice with it, it's easy to use. Ken

Couple of suggestions: I would opt for the safety beveler as opposed to the Super Skiver, the super skiver is a nasty tool that is hard to control, while it works the safety beveler is a lot cheaper and works better to do the same job. Didn't see any stitch awls or needles. If you're going to hand stitch you will need needles and either a stitch awl (difficult to use and the preferred method for hand stitch purists, or a couple of stitching chisels for creating diamond shapes stitch holes at the proper spacing.) I didn't see a marble or granite slab, I would buy the largest one I could afford and buy the poundo board the same size so that it supports the slab. Last note: You might want to start with a 4oz bottle of neatsfoot oil, you use it very sparingly and a little goes a very long way. Welcome aboard, Ken

Another source for the money clip is Ohio Travel Bag Co., they are a wholesaler and you need a business or tax ID. I'm not sure about the lift the dot. Ken

I use bellies at 4/5 oz for checkbook covers, wallets, money clips (Magnetic), Bible Covers, etc. I only use Hermann Oak but it gives the item a better hand and feel than stiffer leather (My Opinion). with 5/6 oz I make guitar, banjo, dobro and mandolin straps same reason, they really drape well feel good on the shoulder, etc. Can also use them for knife sheaths, phone cases, ipad covers, etc. You can use either one for belts by laminating them back to back to make them into 8/10 oz or 10/12 oz pieces then stripping them out to 1-1/2" if they're long enough. Try some it's better than just leaving it around and throwing it away. The list is pretty long of what you can do with them. Ken

Tandy does not carry Clear Lac, Clear Lac is the replacement for Neat Lac, it has been around for a long time, it is used by most saddle shops and leather carvers particularly sheridan carvers. It does make a nice finish and the gloss can be controlled by your applcation (light or heavy, recommend 1 or 2 light coats as opposed to a heavy coat). Saddle Lac may work, I've never tried it, maybe someone else has experience with it. Springfield leather sells Clear Lac for sure, that's where I get mine. Ken

I don't particularly like really gloss finishes, but Clear Lac will do that if you put it on with a dauber and let it dry and it will not rub off. Ken

Mike, Welcome to the wonderful obsession of leathercraft. This site has great folks with lots of knowledge, feel free to ask any question you want, there is always someone on here that has experience in that particular area. Wish there had been a site like this when I started but alas there wasn't an internet nor even a personal computer at that time. Ken

I make sure she dosen't have access to this site!!! She stays on pinterest and I frequent here. Ken

Jason, Thanks for the nice comments. I enjoy working on leather and I like to have fun. My philosophy is that I never get aggravated while working on leather, I got married 43 years ago for aggravation, I do leather work for fun! Ken

I did a little more research, this template can be used in more than one configuration, it can be used as I said to put a buckle end on the strap as well, but for the buckle and end you would use it in conjunction with the buckle and belt end templates to make that part of the strap. They are great tools, very sturdy and as I said can be used in more than one configuration. I have attached a picture of a strap with buckle option that Joyce at Black River Laser sent me. Hope this helps, Ken