rickybobby

Welcome to LW.net and to your newest nightmare, Just kidding!!!! We all love working with leather and the folks on the forum here are more then happy to make a suggestion or help with a problem. Post photos of what you are doing and ask for help. You will get all the answers you need. Find some used books for beginning leather tooling. A great one is Al Stohlmans "Figure 8" belt book. In it you will find the basics to learn tooling, caseing leather (moisture content), finishing, ect. Are all there and not overwhelming. Use the "SEARCH" button in the right upper corner of the LW.net page to look for "threads" on subjects you may have questions on, we have all had them before so chances are there is something here from previous discussions that might help. Check with your local Tandy store to see when they have beginning tooling classes . They are a great help for beginners!! Take care, and welcome, Rick J.

Steve, I have the set (there are 3) rt, lt, and a center (straight). I don't want to give them up, I do use them, but if you want to use them to have them duplicated I can send them to you for a little while. They would be pretty easy to duplicate, pretty straight forward design. Let me know, be glad to help if I can. Rick

This is the coolest gym I have ever seen!!! I would be there everyday!!! I guess its a good thing there isn't one in Arizona, but if there was, at least my wife would know where I was!! Rick J.

David, I remember how I felt after my first saddle!! It is a great feeling!! I still get it after finishing one, I guess thats why I keep doing it. Nice job!! I am not going to add any critique because it is not in that forum. You might post there so some saddle makers may make suggestions and give some tips!! Rick J.

Love the bear Tom!!! He looks like he has had a few beers? lol !!!! Nice job on him Tom!!! Rick J.

Justme, Nice piece!! I took a lapidary class in high scholl and learned working with different stones, polishing ect. what I really enjoyed and used a lot after high school was to silver solder. Jewlery and leather! To find something use the "search" button up in the right hand corner of the forum page. It is a great help. Nice work, Please post a pic of the piece when you are done!! Rick J.

Bree, Thanks for sharing those!! These are true pieces or western art! I have been to the Gene Autry Meusem in L.A. and spent hours looking at all the early leather cowboys used. Rick J.

Aloha Curt, I wish we could of got together, when I was going to trade school (auto body & paint) in Orange Co. Ca. I worked with "Big Daddy" Ed Roth. He worked a Knotts Berry Farm as a sign painter then, at night, when I was out of school and he was off work, I would go with him on stripping & lettering jobs. I was getting pretty good at lettering but could never practice enough to stripe. He was a great guy and taught me alot. I was going to display some things in the Hilo Art Museum, down town Hilo. I spoke with someone there and was lining it up to display some pieces but I did not get them there before I left, sometimes life gets in the way. I would like to see some of your work. I have done some Bike stuff, saddlebags, tool bags, chaps. My property was about 7 miles south of Pahoa going towards Kalapana on the mauka side. I really loved it there, it was quiet and peacefull. I miss poke on Friday nights!!! Pau Hana (after work) I would stop and get a couple containers and a 6 pack and we would get together and enjoy Island tunes, Island food, Island friends. Yea, I miss Hawaii!! I will get back there!!! If only for a visit, I still have friends and a cousin there. Rick

I have always loved Hawaii (the Big Island) I bought this house in 2006, 3 acres on the East side of the Island (Pahoa). From my bedroom window you could see the "glow" from the volcano, and from the front porch at night you could see the cruise ships go by. They would circle the area south of my house to show visitors the lava pouring into the ocean. I was there for 2 years. The cost of living was very high. I worked for Big Island Honda as a service writer and it was still hard to earn a decent living. I went to ropings and rodeos in the north part of the Island (where all the ranches are) testing the waters for repair work or seeing if there was a need for tack. Everyone I talked to ordered equipment online and paid shipping. Everyone just "got by" with what they had. The years I was there, I did a few pieces of work for friends on the mainland and shipped it to them. I have had to move from Hawaii to Arizona, I am now at least doing leather work for customers and looking to expand my leather business. I miss the Island but don't miss the financial stress of just living day to day. Living in Hawaii was a wonderful expierience but also made me realize how much I liked working with leather, I missed it !!! I can now focus on my work with leather and not need 2 jobs just to pay for living expenses. Rick J.

Nice job! Very smooth flowing lines. I like the belt loop, curved to match the shape of the sheath. It makes a very good custom look.

Bree, Thanks for the onfo, I have run this up and down and really come up with "a lot of money, labor, exposure $, for not much return" Ray, I agree with you and K-man, slowing down your regular pay customers while shuffling rental orders is not a way to keep people happy. I am going to stick to what I know and do what I do best (not rental guns!!). Thanks for looking at the idea! Rick J.

I have one of the alum. frame Boss'. It was not smooth right out of the box but after using some grease on large moving parts and oil on some smaller ones it started working very smooth. Learn how to adjust upper and lower tension, Tippmans book is very clear on what to look for, and run a bunch of test pieces!!!! Over tighten one, under tighten the other and learn what to look for! I really like mine and have had good service when buying accessories/parts (I broke a cable) I was able to install it myself just looking at the parts diagram! It has been a great starter machine and I still use it most every day, I even stitch heavy canvas tent material with it. I have not tried webbing, someone said they were not good for that but you must switch needles (round point) for webbing or you will just cut the material with a chisel point (used for leather). Rick J.

Monica, Local would be great but now with all of us being "connected" we are doing business "world wide" and have geared our business' for shipping products, materials, ect. So to get a volume one is going to at least ship within the U.S. and try to be as prompt as possable and up front with realistic delivery times! Did I say REALISTIC DELIVERY TIMES to leather workers??? lol!!!! Great thought! Rick J.

Thanks, Some good info. K-man, I see your point. This could be more hassle than anything. No need to upset anyone by not getting their rental to them fast enough. Pro's would buy their own anyway, I am working on my collection a little at a time. Rayban, that would be the number to start with. Dennis, Most of the time Tandy's can't get you what you need that they advertise, them handling rental guns would be a nightmare!! Thanks for the info, a fair range would need to be found for price vs. return. If there is a need and it is a service that can be made available to hobbyists, I think it could be a help for some that could bring their work to the "next level". Having the right tools is a huge help!! I can see the ad on LW now!!!! lol !!!

Corey, You could try Southern Leather in Co. 1800 525-9302 or Tucson Leather 520 624-7981 Both are suppliers of shoe repair supplies. Boot vamps (leather around your foot) are held in by the "foot bed" which is stitched to the welt then that is stitched to the vamp and the sole. Some boots have a "midsole" between the foot bed and sole. Crepe sole is usually only glued on but can be stitched as well. Crepe comes in diff. colors and thickness' 24 iron is about 1/2 inch, it comes in 12 and 30 iron as well (1/4 in and 5/8 in). Try taking some boots apart at the sole to see how they are put together. My business partner is working on a DIY video for resoling & rubber heels for your boots that is "down the road" from now. If you have some pictures of what you are doing that may help us help you. Rick J.

I also posted this question on another thread, but thought it needs its own. QUOTE (Lobo @ Apr 30 2009, 09:08 AM) Someone needs a forming piece, they send you $50 (enough to cover replacement, if necessary, plus postage to get it there). When finished with it, he returns it to you (postage at his expense), then you refund $40. Your risk is covered. You make a few bucks (about $5 after postage expense). The forming piece pays for itself in about 7 or 8 rentals. The rental user gets to fill his order(s) for about $15 net cost (including return postage) rather than $45 to $50 to buy a dummy gun. I Have been thinking about this rental thread (because I need a blue gun I don't have right now!) and want some input from some of you on what would be a fair "RENTAL" price for 7 days? Ray (Lobo) had a great idea but like he said "Not much return for the effort" But maybe there could be? I know I need one sometimes and would use something like this. I am "small time" so I can't afford all the dummy's I want in one order so I pay a greater price buying one at a time. 1. Do enough people have PayPal to use that for payment and refund ? 2. Is there enough need for this service (Rental Blue Guns?) 3. How many hobby holster (or Pro's) makers would use this service? 4. If the Rental Co. paid postage both ways (supplied pre paid envelope) do you think you would have a greater chance of getting your Blue Gun back on time? 5. What would a fair "late fee" per day be? 6. I am open to suggestions, this maybe something I take on for a second business I am looking for positive and negative information. Some of you may have a better idea for all or part. Thanks, Rick Jorgenson

I Have been thinking about this rental thread (because I need a blue gun I don't have right now!) and want some input from some of you on what would be a fair "RENTAL" price for 7 days? Ray (Lobo) had a great idea but like he said "Not much return for the effort" But maybe there could be? I know I need one sometimes and would use something like this. I am "small time" so I can't afford all the dummy's I want in one order so I pay a greater price buying one at a time. 1. Do enough people have PayPal to use that for payment and refund ? 2. Is there enough need for this service (Rental Blue Guns?) 3. How many hobby holster (or Pro's) makers would use this service? 4. If the Rental Co. paid postage both ways (supplied pre paid envelope) do you think you would have a greater chance of getting your Blue Gun back on time? 5. What would a fair "late fee" per day be? 6. I am open to suggestions, this maybe something I take on for a second business I am looking for positive and negative information. Some of you may have a better idea for all or part. Thanks, Rick Jorgenson

Cover the gullett. It will get you going and primed for the next step! Rick J.

Thanks Bob, I will take a look! Rick J.

Hi all, I need a machine that has a compound feed (foot and needle) and reverse. Should be an upholstry type machine (piping foot). I am located in Arizona, would like it to be close but will consider pick up elsewhere. Of course I want it to be in great condition, near to me, and a great price! Thanks, Rick Jorgenson azsaddledoc (at) yahoo (.) com

Johanna, I just heard on NPR today that Google was getting ready to launch a new book app. I did not get all the info but the jest of it was, no need to down load books, they stay on Google and you read from there. Amazon is having a fit because it will appeal to a larger audience (those with computers & laptops already) Look into it before you jump for the Kindle Rick Jorgenson

Check last months Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal. Jeff Mosby has a tutorial on coloring flames that is really good! The flames are well proportioned for the size of the piece and have a nice flow to them. I was in the auto body trade for 25 years and painted a lot of flames. It takes practice and a "good eye" to get the size, shape and proportion correct and that is before you ever get any color on them! Check it out! Rick Jorgenson

I have had good luck sanding some pretty "ratty" leather with "crocus cloth" sand paper. I buy it at the hardware store so it must be a common product. It seems to work well because it has a cloth backing. It is brown in color and does not stain the leather. Like Darc said in prev. post, I start with #180 or #200 grit. I use 1/2 a sheet wrapped around a sanding block. The 3m brand block work best for me but I think you can use any. Sand with straight lines with the #180 or #200 grit, when finish looks even on whole hide (side) change to finer grit #240 or #320 grit and use "cross sanding " technique. Cross sanding is done by sanding back and forth 2 or 3 strokes then 2 or 3 at a 45 degree angle. This helps keep the surface "flat" and helps "loose" any sanding lines. Do this across the whole side and everything should look even. Keep your shop vac handy, it gets pretty messy!!! Good luck, post some pictures!! Rick Jorgenson

Sam, Great Idea to show some of your ideas, paterns, skill level on your sign! Customers will get some ideas right away when they walk in. Welcome to the Forum, this is a great place to gather ideas and inspiration. There are many outstanding artist's here that openly share their knowledge!! Thanks for posting the photo, we love PHOTOS!!!!! Rick J.

Nice Work!! The figure carving of your friend is really good, figures are tough even for folks that have been tooling leather for a long time. You have a talent for it right off!!