Sheilajeanne

Dun, I've never actually used the stuff, so can't answer that question. Going to make a trip to Tandy soon, so I may look into it while I'm there!

Billin, they would most likely be referring to the sticky threads posted at the top of that forum by master leather craft people like Hidepounder (Bob Parks).

LMAO at this thread, and the comments! We REALLY need a 'like' button for posts! Greetings from frigid Canada, Rocky Aussie, though I hear parts of Oz are having a really cool summer. Tandy sells a bag stiffener in sheets: https://www.tandyleather.ca/en/product/bag-stiffener?ip_lookup_country_id=CA&loadedFromCookie=1&session_id_token=154aa076e69dcb57e061d096e623b6ec29e3ade3 There's even a video out there, showing how to insert it (NOT done by Tandy) Oh, heck, here's the whole page of Google links when I did a search for 'bag stiffener! Ya never know which ones might be useful! Be aware there are different kinds and weights: https://www.google.ca/search?q=tandy+bag+stiffener&rlz=1C1GGGE_enCA377&oq=Tandy+bag+stiffen&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0.4647j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Heh, heh, we all have things we're not willing to try...I feel the same way about basket weave as some of you. I have 2 stamps, and don't think I've ever used them. I love to carve leather, while others on this board don't... Very nice! I want to do a padfolio (never heard that term before, but it's a very accurate description!) for myself at some point, so this is an inspiration to me. I want to try one of the Tandy catalogue designs. Hope I'm not being too ambitious, but ya never know until you try something! :D Tandy-Leather-Buyers-Guide-186-2012.pdf

Would anyone happen to have a pattern for this Tandy tote they'd be willing to share? I always wanted to have one of these, but was put off by how many new tools I'd have to buy to do the tooling design! And by the time I gradually accumulated the tools, they'd taken it out of production! If someone is able to give me the finished dimensions of the bag, or the size of the pieces, plus the tooling patterns for the centre panel, I am sure I can cut the leather and make it on my own. If someone has one they are willing to sell, that would work, too! https://www.ebay.com/itm/292280540589

MjolnIr, can that stitching clam of yours be used lying flat on the table, the way it is in the photo? I am still having a really hard time using my clam. I've shortened it as much as I can, but I still have to hold it between my knees when stitching, and that means backing away from my work table enough that I don't get sufficient light and am struggling to see what I'm doing. The other lights in the room are about 10 feet over my head, so finding another spot with enough light is impossible. What I need is a REALLY short clam that sits on my bench. I saw another poster's clam improvised out of two wood clamps and went 'hmmmm....."

Awww, that's just about the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me about my leatherwork! Thank you! And please don't leave this board - we need people like you!

So, just as I was finishing applying dye to my latest project, I accidentally flicked the brush while wiping off dye, and a drop landed on the area of the design I didn't want to dye! Despite two layers of resist, it had penetrated to the leather by the time I noticed, and pretty much ruined all my hard work. I scrubbed at it with a cloth, and with some water, but it did nothing to fix it. Then, as a last resort, I decided to try some Fiebing's Deglazer. It's not looking perfect, but you'd have to look very, very closely to see it. And hopefully, after I re-apply the resist, and the antique I used, it will be even less noticeable! WHEW!!

Uwe, my thoughts exactly! If the owner is thinking they are going to sell this machine using such a TERRIBLE photo, they are seriously in need of a reality check!

A closer look at my work space, with my current project on the table. The chargers are for my electric drill and weedeater. The work surface is a formica kitchen countertop. I salvaged it from a cupboard I rescued from my previous home in Bradford. The most amazing thing was it fitted the space available in front of the window with only a couple of millimeters gap on each side! You would have sworn it was cut to fit!

Battlemunky, in the first of the second set of photos, what's the 4x4 section with the two planks attached to it, and the pliers resting on top?

I'd worry about that, too! Most metallic objects eventually do get magnetized to some degree by being in contact with a strong magnet. I still have a knife I liberated from a local restaurant after I found it was able to lift another piece of cutlery up off the table because it was so strongly magnetized. I am guessing it must have fallen into the bottom of the dishwasher, and been magnetized by the electric motor!

Yes, I was told when I bought some deglazer to only use it outdoors or with the windows wide open!

LOL! I was kind of thinking the same thing!

Me! My cat likes to sit in the window, and between the cat hair, dust and cobwebs, it was pretty disgusting. Tonight is the first time in nearly a year I've done any serious leather work, so a big clean-up had to be the first thing on the agenda. My mom passed away a year ago last November, and I've been dealing with her estate, and I find dealing with grief really stifles creativity. Feeling pretty good about getting back into it again, even though my first project has been a major disaster so far! i expected it might be, so I chose something really small and simple to work on.

Indeed he is! :D

And yes, I need to dust. And sweep. The joys of dog ownership... Edited to add: this is what I started out with, about 2 years ago: https://www.tandyleather.ca/en/product/basic-leathercraft-set It all fitted in a box that was about 12" x 6"x 8" Before the 8 weeks of free lessons that came with the kit were finished, I had to graduate to using a Rubbermaid bin that was about 36" x 24" x 12" deep. Noobies, beware. You have been warned!

Okay, here goes. This is my tiny perfect work station. Underneath the work surface are two of my power tools that I haven't found another storage spot for, plus an old boot that I am planning to salvage the leather from. I may put the shelves up in my dining room one of these days soon. Second picture shows the cupboard next to the work station where I store projects in waiting, dyes and other solutions, and stuff I don't use very often. Third picture shows a kitchen cupboard that has been mostly taken over for storage of leather work items. It contains rolls of leather, books and patterns and some of the larger kits I'm planning to work on.

Okay, just thought I'd share this here... Not me, but I'm sure some of you can relate! I finally got my work space decluttered, and will post photos soon.

Okay, this is driving me nuts! I have a key chain kit from Tandy, and the leather strap is shaped exactly like a belt that narrows in where the holes are. I've tried several different methods of drawing a nice, straight border around the edge of the belt, but things go sideways when I have to do the curved bits. I've been using a stitch groover to draw the line, but have it angled so it won't actually remove any leather, just leave an indentation in it. The darn thing tends to skid out of position on the corners. Suggestions for other tools I could try to do this same task? Between mucking up the border, and not doing a good job on the curves for the Celtic knotwork design I decided to decorate it with, it's really starting to look pretty dreadful!

This site is indeed a gold mine of information! I never would have thought of that!

You can use a leather burning kit: https://www.tandyleather.ca/en/product/leather-burning-tool-set?ip_lookup_country_id=CA&loadedFromCookie=1&session_id_token=fdc3c12121a068a8fecbea6d2e1e622923d2d311 I have a wood burning kit which I inherited from my late husband. I haven't tried it on leather yet, but I think it would probably work just fine, if you'd prefer not to give Tandy any of your money! P.S. - chuckling at your signature! Yes, we do make a mess sometimes, especially when dyes are involved, and scraps certainly come in VERY handy, especially when testing out something new! :D

My SIL made a Roman blind for their living room. She pieced together 3 swathes of upholstery fabric which were left over from recovering one of their couches. The first time I saw it, I told her how beautiful it was and what a wonderful addition to the room it was with the way it matched the couch. She told me I had NO IDEA of the struggles she went through making that blind, and how awful she thought it was. The main problem was the fabric stretched as she was trying to sew it. so the blind turned out uneven. I had to look at it VERY closely to be able to see what she was talking about.

Jayker, please see the video in my post above, which shows a man using this splitter. Hope that helps!