Sheilajeanne

That's exactly what I've done, Plinkercase. It's given me some good ideas! My workbench is fairly high off the floor, which is good for tooling, but not so good for stitching, where I prefer to have my arms at waist level or slightly above. So, even a table top stitching horse that's only 8 inches tall is too tall for me. Going to try to make something where the height can be adjusted.

It might work to use a hole punch instead of a lacing chisel. I am not familiar with applique braiding, but when I looked it up out of curiosity, some pictures showed round holes rather than the diamond shaped holes punched by a chisel.

I have just taken apart the Tandy stitching horse, and am figuring out how I can alter it to suit my needs. I REALLY like some ponies I've seen where you can change the angle of the clam - have it either vertical or horizontal, depending on the height of your table and the size of the project. Am going to try to do something like that! All you need to adjust the angle would be a wingnut and a bolt and a couple of washers.

Looks a lot like my workbench when I have a project on the go!

Speaking of pad folios, I have one that I am quite fond of, and am planning to use it as a guide when I do one for myself. I've had it for quite a few years, and don't remember where it came from, except it was a gift. I just took a closer look at the way it's made and spotted something that really gave me a surprise. I'd assumed all this time it was made of plastic. NICE plastic, but plastic nonetheless. Then for the first time, I noticed the maker's stamp. It's LEATHER!! And someone must be a master craftsman, because the way this is made is NOT something I'm prepared to tackle! The edge binding and folded edges are beyond my skill set right now, though I do plan to copy the basic layout, and may choose to line it with fabric rather than leather, which is what Geoffrey Allen has done with this pad folio.

How wide a piece of leather will it handle?

Many moons ago, when I was in High School, I had a summer job working for a company that made school supplies. My job was making binders using a hot glue machine. The first thing you did after you glued the cover was put three pieces of cardboard on it. Plastic binders were made exactly the same way, only with a different machine that sealed the plastic using an electric current. So, yeah, my pad folio, when I get around to doing it, will have cardboard stiffener. Rossr, the leather on the spine looks a bit puffy, as though there's an extra layer there. How was it done? Was the whole pad one piece of leather, with a second layer added to the spine?

Wish there were more shows... There's NOTHING here in Canada!

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!