Chief31794

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

The 3" strap template doesn't have a buckle set up, it has the adjustment strap, I didn't read Laban's post quite well enough, it also has two radiused ends and a different end (only one slot), I believe these are for custom configurations where you make the strap to size and don't use an adjustment strap. There is no buckle set up in the template set. You could use their regular buckle and belt end tempates to make a buckle if that's what you want on the strap. Ken

Laban, The strap is attached at the adjustment holes in the back of the strap. I have a video on You Tube that will show it being put together in Part VII. Just search for Chief31794 and my videos will pop up, select the one on Guitar Straps. The whole series uses the Black River Template to make a guitar strap from inception to completion. The direct links are: Part 1 - http://youtu.be/fdOjBsBGJoE Part 2 - http://youtu.be/aMiDe912XBI Part 3 - http://youtu.be/piWmpioRyq4 Part 4 - http://youtu.be/g0GJdkODl_4 Part 5 - http://youtu.be/FTaVhFFNzGo Part 6 - http://youtu.be/hZfvEKjlWO4 Part 7 - http://youtu.be/TZsP65I3j-U Additionally, I'll attach a picture of the strap with the back installed Ken

Iron Pounder, Thanks for the compliments. When I see them, I see the mistakes and things I should have said and done. If they help Joyce and Jerry get the word out about their products and if it helps someone a little, maybe a trick or two I've picked up over the years, then it's worth it. Black River Laser makes some excellent products and I wouldn't promote them if I didn't use them and like them. Ken

Cowboy Bowhunter, Are you looking for a pattern to make a bible cover or for carvings to put on one. I don't use a pattern to make them, when I started making them I discovered that there is a multitude of differnt sized Bibles. I measure the hight, width and thickness then add 3/4" to the height, double the width and add the thickness to determine the width, then I add 1" to that measurement. For the inside flaps I make them the same height, and 1/3 the width make two of them. Carve the panels and tool the flaps then line the cover and flaps with pigskin. Punch them with a 1/8" thonging chisel and lace them together. As for carvings that is a matter of personal taste. I put praying hands, crosses, crown of thorns, etc and surround them with roses for womens Bibles or Basket Weave for Mens. I also stamp "HOLY BIBLE" centered down the spine. As for carving patterns, I use graphics from books, internet, etc. Hope this helps, Ken

Thanks Jason, They'll treat you right, I really enjoy using their products. Ken

I have to agree, they are great people to do business with and they make outstanding products. Joyce asked me if I would do a tutorial video on how to use their guitar strap template so I did, it is out on you tube and covers several of their templates in Part I then I use the Guitar Strap Template in Parts 2-7 to make a guitar strap. The videos are at: Part 1 - http://youtu.be/fdOjBsBGJoE Part 2 - http://youtu.be/aMiDe912XBI Part 3 - http://youtu.be/piWmpioRyq4 Part 4 - http://youtu.be/g0GJdkODl_4 Part 5 - http://youtu.be/FTaVhFFNzGo Part 6 - http://youtu.be/hZfvEKjlWO4 Part 7 - http://youtu.be/TZsP65I3j-U Ken

One thing to think about, Bibles are available from $5.99 to about $60.00 for the most expensive Bible in General. Anyone can charge any price they like, that doesn't set a price point. The Price Point is set by what people in the market place will pay for an item. $50.00 for a cover for an item that costs an average of $25.00 seems to indicate that the cover would be more important than what it's protecting. I don't think so, but that's just me. I could ask for $150.00 for the cover and I estimate I may sell one someday which would net me $125.00 in profit at some point in the future maybe. I have sold about 10 of these (not on ETSY, I just started there, but at craft fairs and people visiting the shop) which has netted me $250.00 in profit to date and I suspect I will sell many more, in fact I had another order today at the craft fair so that will make 11 and $275.00 profit. The way I look at it, I'm guaranteed $125 more profit than estimated sales at the higher price and perhaps $275.00 because I may never sell one at $150.00. If someone else makes one that is worth $150 or $300 then people will buy it and I haven't affected their sales. I don't think the people who are concerned about paying $50.00 would opt for paying $150-$300 for a Bible cover if they had never seen mine. I love making leather items and would do so if no one ever bought them, this just gives me a way of getting rid of items I have or will make and provides me a string of income to buy more leather, dyes, finishes, and tools and make more leather which is what I love to do. I'm happy and so are my customers. Ken

Thanks, Ken Thanks Cheryl, I appreciate the nice comments. Ken

I'm confused, you say I'm not doubling my material cost, my material cost is $25.29. By my arithmatic 25.29 doubled is 50.58, I'm rounding down and charging $50. How am I not doubling my Material cost. Shipping is paid separate. Please enlighten me. Ken

Kevin, Sorry, I don't have a tutorial. I don't do braiding myself other than lacing purses, wallets, etc. There is a Braiding forum further down the forum list in Leatherworker.net, I would pose that question there, I'm sure there are lots of folks that frequent that forum that would be glad to point you in the right direction. Good luck, Ken

Thanks, I wasn't sure about it when she requested it but I kind of like it too. I carved a sample on scrap and sent her pictures, she approved, said she loved it, so this was the 2nd time I carved the design, I think if I continue to do them, they will get better and more detailed. Ken

For that length, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to get some split rings (for keys) and then braid the the lace onto the key ring and sell them as key rings. Ken

Thanks, I'm retired and love to carve leather so I decided early on that I wouldn't be able to recover the cost of the labor. I want to be able to make leather projects and have the hobby pay for itself so I set my prices reasonable thinking that they would; 1) Sell Better, 2) Provide a quicker turn on investment, and 3) Provide me a reason to be in my shop and not bothering my wife. My thinking is that on this Bible Cover the actual cost is: Hermann Oak 5 Oz (Springfield splits it to exact weights on request, what a great place to do business): 1.3 sq ft at $7.69 per sq ft = $9.97 (Includes 10% waste factor) Inside flaps from 2/3 oz Oak Leaf tooling leather: .84 sq ft at $5.35 per sq ft = $4.50 Pigskin Lining: 2 sq ft at $2.29 per sq ft = $4.58 Leather Lace: 14 yds at $.36 per yd = $5.04 Materials Cost = $24.09 Incidentals (knife blade wear, dye, finish, rags, sheep's wool, etc) = 5% of Material Costs = $1.20 Total Cost = $25.29 To set my selling price, I double the cost and round so my selling price is $50.00 (prices are reduced for July on the ETSY shop sort of a grand opening sale) that allows me to recover my cost and sustain cash flow, it also increases sales in that I will sell more Bible Covers at this price point than I would at an actual cost price point. If I were to recover labor it would be: Layout, Cutting, and Leather Preparation: 1 hour Carving and Tooling: 4 hours Dying and Finishing (Not including drying time): 1 hour Assembly (Lacing): 2 hours Packaging and Shiping: 1 hour Total: 9 hours So even if I set my pay rate at $10.00 an hour, which is a steal the Bible Cover would price at $115.00 If I were to set it at $30.0 an hour which is a modest wage for a craftsman the Bible Cover price would be $295.00 I don't think I would sell many at those prices so I made a decision that I could probably sell 10 at $50 and would probably not be able to sell 2 at $295. If the orders get to flowing too much, I'll raise my prices and try to keep my hobby going while maintaining my retired life style. Thanks, Ken

Sure, Thanks for asking. I had it in my profile, but probably good to post it here as well. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ChiefsLeatherWorks?ref=si_shop Ken Thanks Serena. Ken

I opened an ETSY site with just a few (9 I think) of the kinds of things I make and I've been getting quite a bit of traffic and sold two items already, hopefully those customers will give positive feedback and that will make other buyers more comfortable with my shop and buying from me. I had never carved a crown of thorns with three nails, but the lady who bought this Bible Cover asked for it so I got two separate line drawings together, combined them and created this graphic on the front cover. I kind of like it, I normally carve a cross on the back of these with the praying hands on the front. I think these crown of thorns carvings may sell as well. Let me know what you think. Ken

Excellent Work! I like the way you have the pattern running under the oval. Nice touch. Ken

I have used self sticking shelf paper for years and it works really well. The other thing I do is if the project is really critical and I want to ensure It doesn't stretch I line it with Shelf Paper then Glue the shelf paper to poster board with rubber cement. I hate rubber cement on the back of my leather and when I do it this way it sticks really well and when I pull the shelf paper off the leather there is no rubber cement on the back of the leather. Ken

You can find holster making videos on youtube, just search for leather holster. There is a book by Al Stohlman you can get from Tandy, Springfield Leather, and other places on How to Make Holsters. Tandy has a tutorial in the Leathercraft Library, however, you have to pay for a subscription (about $12.00 a month I think) on a month to month or quarterly basis. I am pretty sure the book is for sale as an Ebook from Tandy as well. Hope this helps, welcome to the wonderful world of Leather Craft. Ken

Thanks Bluesman, I appreciate the encouragement. Ken

A couple of folks asked if I would do a video on Round Braid AKA Mexican Basket Weave. I created the videos and posted them on YouTube. Part 1-4. This concentrates on: Starting the lacing. Going around Corners Splicing in new Lace Closing the lace The videos themselves are pretty bad, spent too much time between the project and the camera but I think it's better than last time and as I said, I got a couple of PMs and some folks on Youtube that wanted me to produce this set as I said I would in the first series on Double Loop Stitch. the four videos are: Round Braid Part I Round Braid Part II Round Braid Part III Round Braid Part IV Thanks, Ken

Jeff, The leather industry jargon for the leather thickness would be very close to 10 oz leather, that measures out at .15625". That is very thick leather about the size you would use for a very stiff holster. Jeans Belts are normally 8-9 oz and would be .125 - .140". Leather thickness is measured in inches and 1/64" = 1 Oz. That doesn't help in your search but it may help you in ordering leather if you have to go internet or phone. A great place to call would be Springfield Leather Co, they are a sponsor on this site and sell leather by the square foot, split to the exact thickness you want. They are great to deal with and very knowledgeable and will probably work through this for you very easily. Ken

Stitching a belt by hand is quite time consuming, you have to judge as to whether or not it is "Too Much" work. If it is lined then it should be sewn however for Belts there are alternatives to lining and sewing that still look quite appealing. You could burnish a bead along the edge and make sure that the back is protected (I use painter's tape) while dying. That provides a belt that is dyed on the front but has a natural look on the back. One thing that is important is that the edges should be finished well, there are several posts here and a pinned topic on finishing belt edges. But all of these decisions are up to you, have fun. Ken

Dave, Welcome to the Dark Side, leather working is addictive and sounds like you're infected. Welcome to the forum. Ken