fredk

No answers for you eh? What ever you do will be a compromise, to ether weight or handiness. Here's what I might do. 2 soft wood frames, each maybe 2 ft x 1.5 ft. Hinge the frames together, book form. Panel over each with 3mm MDF, or even 6mm. Paint it all undercoat/primer white. Attach pieces of various leathers, patches no less than 4 inch square. Attach the leather using two ready-rivets or chicago screws, one in each top corner, allowing the leather to hang free. Attach in neat rows across and columns down. Print and attach description labels for each leather. The panels should each take about 20 to 24 pieces, less if you make the pieces larger. The book form panels can be folded for carrying, opened up to set on a table top. The loose ends of the leather lets people touch and feel the leather. Add more double panels to your display when needed.

Yes, they did. About 1 week after I paid a load of butterflies for 'Elite'. Say laa vee

I think it would be more use as a press for 3D figure and letter stamps

They are indeedy very nice but. . . .but. . . . but. . . . . we need details!! Leather thickness, dyes used, finish used, plain back or other material on the back side???

I would imagine; starting at the left most stitching, across, round the knife, across the back, around the spike sheath and back to the left line of stitching and then carrying on to the right line of stitching. One piece of leather. This would give 3 layers of leather at the stitching area. Skive the two ends and the place where they meet on the back piece and you can get it down to just over 2 thickness worth

First reckoning is what you want to make with it. Shoulder is fairly stiff but not as stiff as back bone part of a butt, a shoulder is not very wide, not wide enough nor thick enough for a man's belt but you can usually get a woman sized belt out of its width This chart done by Tandy is handy. It is a guide only, you don't need to stick to it absolutely For a first leather I would, and did, select a 2 to 2.5mm leather. Its a good all rounder and you can thin it if necessary. So that would be the 026 I've dealt with Le Prevo for about 20 years. I've not dealt with any others mainly as none would send to me in N.I. Email or phone Jan or Stu at Le Prevo. Tell them what you want to make ask for their advice & suggestion. They will help you choose ** be aware that Le Prevo prices need 20% VAT added plus a delivery charge & 20% VAT on that too PS. Look in Le Prevo's Clearance Offers. There might be some cheap-ish leather there.

copied from some sellers lists; Size 1 54.5mm length x 1.0mm diameterSize 2 54mm length x 1.05mm diameterSize 3 53.5mm length x 1.02mm diameterSize 4 48mm length x 0.9mm diameter 1/0 (18) 57mm long x 1.09mm diameter 2/0 (17) 60mm long x 1.42mm diameter 3/0 (16) 62mm long x 1.63mm diameter ***Size 4***: 50mm length x 0.86mm diameter***Size 001***: 55mm length x 1.02mm diameter***Size 002***: 55mm length x 1.02mm diameter***Size 003***: 55mm length x 1.02mm diameter***Size 1/0***: 57mm length x 1.09mm diameter***Size 2/0***: 60mm length x 1.42mm diameter***Size 3/0***: 62mm length x 1.63mm diameter

try old fashioned shoe polish - the wax based stuff in a tin

Try sealing what you have done with two coats of 'Pledge with Future Shine'** polish which is actually a thin acrylic varnish. No more than three coats as it will start to be thick and become inflexible ** or what ever it is currently called - they keep changing the name!!

Can you tell us where you are located? then we might be able to advise you of a source near to you

I'd use pigskin suede, glued to the main leather

N I C E

Not always so lucky. I'm now waiting 54 days for thirty special Chicago screws I want to use on a project. Estimated last delivery date, June 24th

yeah, I noticed that after but cudnae edit my post. Have had stuff from both places, its fine Its ok, these Chinese bods have warehouses in Eire and UK now. Same-ish situ, bought some oval hole punches last week. Sent from warehouse in London, 3 day delivery. We will see when I get these, thats the pudding

Time to add something Whilst browsing ebay I came across these: 20 stamping tools for under £9. Quality? I'll know when I get my set. As the Tandy tools are made in Taiwan same as these are I see no big problem. I reckon they are cheap enough for a beginner to use to try out the art of stamping or in my case to take a grinder in my mini-drill to reshape some of them https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20pcs-Carving-Working-Saddle-Making-Tools-Leather-Craft-Tools/273593838549

Most excellent What size is it? what is it on? eg, a book cover, a box. . .

Not recommended at all

Here's how I would tackle this; Veg tan leather, use a swivel knife or even a very sharp craft knife to cut into the grain side the pattern required - just a very shallow cut. Apply main colour dye in areas not to be painted. Thin the paint, to milk like. Apply paint in several thin coats, allow the first, second and even the third coats of thinned paint to soak into the leather, let them dry a bit, about a 1/2 hour between coats. Further coats just to get the colour density, not too many more coats. Let everything dry for at least 24 hours in a warm environment. Then apply thinned Resolene or Super Sheene. Let first couple of coats dry as per the paint. A couple more coats [4 in total] should have it all sealed. Allow to dry for at least 24 hours in a warm environment, then let it cure for at least another 24 hours - there is a difference between 'dry' and 'cured'. Resolene is an acrylic finish which needs time to cure. Thats just the painting bit. Hardware attached and edges bevelled and slicked before painting and after pattern cut. My old favourite; this painted knife sheath. Painted with modellers acrylic paints. Lasted about 8 years in and out of a box full of chainmaille armour and other stuff. Never looked after. Still a little bit presentable but needs a repaint - when I find it again in my 'to do' boxes! New; Later:

I reckon you'd need to PM a moderator or Joanna

you need to use sewing machine oil. Try a local knitting/sewing shop.

I can't access that picture

First questions; do you thin the paint before application? allowing the first two or three coats to soak into the leather then building up the colour with more applications of the thinned paint?

I have some basic starter kits left over from some classes. They have most of that kit but at 1/10 the price I don't want to put them up here but if you PM me I'll send you the list of items and price

oopsy

Nice tute. Is that an oil can you use as a glue pot & applicator?