fredk

Its very hard to judge the right amount That is definitely too much. Too much can surely ruin a pair of boots To limit how much NFO I'm putting on I have a NFO/bees wax/carnauba wax mix that I apply all over. I let that sit a while then I buff the waxes to a semi-glossy shine. I've never had anything so dry that it needs more than one NFO/wax application. Perhaps in your case, another coating in a weeks time, then another after another week should see it getting enough feed

The blade is blunt. A good sharp blade will skive off a very thin amount By edge; I mean the surface, to thin an edge for sewing of gluing The second one takes the same blades as the first. A sharp blade will take of a very small amount. Change blades every time you start a new project. It makes life easier and blades are fairly cheap

This?

I just retired* a 20 year old belt. Thinner than Dwight's, about 3.5mm. Not used every day but often. The resolene finish coat was still alright * retired cos I wanted a change in pattern on the belt imo, leather items should show some wear and change in colouring over time. Its what makes leather so unique

Good point about the bags. I forgot about that. I use white paper bags with handles on them. They cost a fraction more than than plain brown bags but look so much better. Sometime in the future I'm going to get sticky labels with my brand printed on so I can stick them on to the bags

I presume you have one of these; Get one of these; Get a couple of these; for tidy skiving of edges I have several in 6mm, 8mm and 10mm widths Avoid this like the plague, sold as a 'skiver'. You'll waste your money

In medieval times leatherworkers who traveled about had rails to hang belts, scabbards, gloves and pouches and other items from. A clothes rail will work too but one made of wood suits leather better. I'm not a wood worker by any means but I made myself a wood one which could be knocked down into its parts for carrying in my car. Mine was an A frame spanned with two 4ft pieces each side, at different levels, between the end A's Have you got camp chairs? a couple spare for weary customers. A flask of hot water, to make coffee? This may be very different but you'll get some ideas; when I published a few magazines we bought an old caravan and converted it to a hospitality caravan. At shows we were after subscriptions and selling odd car related items. (like books) We had seats in the caravan and a kettle for tea & coffee on all the time. We always came away with plenty of paid up subs and far fewer books and such. You need to push yourselves to the front, far beyond your competitors. Then people will remember you; maybe not your name exactly but 'those nice people who had candy/coffee/a seat for us' Actually thats how most of the car enthusiast ppl remember me; 'didn't you have that blue caravan with tea and a seat?'. And it was 30 years ago!

You'll be doing a lot of talking. Take some confectionery and keep a large bowl-full on the table. That attracts ppl like flies to horse manure. Then when they're over talk to them, about anything, their coat, the weather, anything. Ppl will find you very friendly. Don't be shy or reticent, thats for losers Find out what ppl like in leather. Talk leather. Talk their hind legs off. When they're ready to talk Something I saw done once but I've never tried it: have a sign with a price on it $(hundred dollars) and put that on something small like a wallet or purse. Ppl will ask 'is that right?!' then you say 'oops, that sign shouldn't be there . . . ' gets their attention so it does Have plenty of freebies for the trainee grups. A happy trainee is a happy and interested grup

That looks nice but I don't think it would be a good burner. No holes for airflow to the charcoal

I've made a few simple baccy pouches. I used material called 'rip stop'. Its sort of a nylon fabric, very thin, available in many colours. I glued it to the leather than sewed the pouch up

If the shooter is so particular about things I'd go the extra distance and use cow horn

I forgot about the expanded aluminium; I placed that on to stop my sausages falling thru the bars. The bars hinge up to put wood or charcoal under them for burning

At the size needed I'd go for one to use with a press

A real incident happened here about 15 years ago. At certain places we have automatic speed radar cameras. Anyone exceeding the limit is automatically caught. Sometimes the radar units are remotely monitored On one road a camera started to measure somebody doing 100mph, then 125, then 150, this triggered a call to a police car unit to catch this speedster. Turned out it was a light aeroplane making an emergency landing on the road. The police arrived after it had landed and gave the pilot a speeding ticket!

I'm just remembering that Tandy used to sell a plastic sort-of sheet that could be formed with the heat of a hair dryer. Some ppl used to make holster shapes out of it and use it as a stiffener in the holster I got conned into buying a sheet of it in 2017. I wonder where its at? Somebody more intelligent than me might remember what its called edit; Kydex? or something, maybe

This is my portable bbq cooker. Its supposed to be a copy of a real medieval camp stove - yeah, right. I saw a similar one in Anne Hathaway's* cottage about 7 years ago. I thought it was real but it turned out to be one of these repros The box is about a foot cube and stands on four legs. Below the box is the ash pan. It can be placed on picnic benches whilst cooking and it won't harm the table. It has a big loop handle so it can be carried with charcoal burning in it. It's a good and efficient burner but a devil to clean out the ashes. I used to make the lunches on it for my medieval team. It used to get lots of attention. Now I just get it out occasionally to cook me a burger or two I think I might take to a company and get it grit blasted to clean off that rust before it gets too bad * Will Shakespeare's wife

On the UK market the pattern packs go for between £25 and £40 depending on the subject

Looks very nice Is it comfy?

If it has stench I'd not use it at all, Something in it is 'off' and could affect the leather. Just dispose of it properly and write off its cost to experience

All the Tandy pattern packs. They've discontinued many of them. Not enough value to retire on but worth several $$$ each Any old leather how-to-do books, especially ones on carving

I bought an air-soft 1911A1. Compared to the real gun it looks identical. Cost was about £25 several years ago but they still sell for that or even less

There was discussion recently which included talk about large oval punches for holsters I can't remember where it was or by whom, but if I find it I'll post a link edit; check this thread out

Cow horn can be re-formed by boiling water, a constant rolling boil. But water boils at different temperatures according to how high you are above MSL

A polythene measuring cup, with the bottom cut off. The polythene will be flexible enuf to deform but re-take its shape

Wizzard, Roy Woods et al