budd4766

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do just yet. Now that the initial "shock" has worn off, I'm not sure I'm going to do anything just yet. I do not think there was any malicious intent on the other guy's part...just a lack of doing a search before naming his own. He's in Oregon, I'm in TN, so the only real problem I have with him is, when I tell someone do look for my business (Lazy K Leather) on Facebook, they find his personal page of the same name and, if they don't look a little harder, they think he's me. But, everybody that knows me or I've given a card too, knows they don't see my logo on there, and hopefully know to keep looking. I don't care to get into the legal stuff with anybody, I don't make the money for that, and I'm sure he doesn't either...and it's not worth it to start a "fight" with a fellow leatherworker over it anyway at this point. I may just let it slide for now and see if it does become a problem later. Might contact him and see where that goes...maybe. Thanks again, Donnie

Ok...what do you do when you create a business name and have cards and stuff printed, stamps made, etc., and then years later, you find somebody else just started using the same name for their own (similar) business? No trademarks or copy writes or anything...yet....was trying to avoid all that....unless that's what it takes. I have no idea what's involved in getting all that done anyway. Any thoughts?

Tandy is in New Orleans LA, Hoover AL, Memphis TN, and Little Rock AR, but, not in MS. Any one of those will ship to ya, if needed.

I'm making a sporran for a friend of mine and he asked that I incorporate part of a copperhead skin that he had tanned himself. I have no idea how he tanned it, or what he used on it, but it's oily now....not to the touch, but it does leave residue wherever it's been sitting. I've never worked with snakeskin before. 1. What do I need to do to the skin to prep it? 2. I'm thinking I need to back it with some veg tan to make it stiffer, should I stain the veg tan first (I'm thinking saddle tan color right now)? 3. Any other tips/tricks you care to pass along that might help? I don't have a lot of skin to play with, it wasn't a large snake, so trial and error is out. And I'm certainly not going to go hunting for a new skin if you know what I mean! Thanks for any advice!

Welcome to the club! I'm not far from you...during the week...I'm in Ft. Payne!

A friend of mine uses a 1 to 3 mixture of ammonia and water to make her leather roses and vases stay rigid after forming. Not sure if that would give you the detail you want, but it does give the stiffness.

Cool. Rich is a good guy...he's the one that got me started in all this! Good luck, and have fun!

If you don't mind the drive down to Columbia, Call Rich at the Tandy store there...he'd be glad to get you going. Or, if Char. NC is a better option, Jimmy at the Tandy store there would be happy to show you the ropes. Give 'em a call and maybe they can set up a class or two for ya.

Oh heck yeah! I WANT to show 'em my personal stuff and make SURE they know I made it. That's just good "free" advertising. But, when I make a piece to sell, I keep my marks more subdued...but still on it somewhere.

Wow...simple..but a great idea!

This is just the way I look at things, but I always put mine in back, or at least some out of the way spot that won't distract from the piece. If someone wants to know about something I've made, the owner then can turn it around and send them to me. I don't think my brand should be front and center, but let the work be the focal point. Think of the emblems/names on your truck or car. They're usually small and out of the way, or on the back of the vehicle....not painted in big letters across the hood or doors. You see the styling first, rather than the brand....just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks, Kevin. I'm starting to think this may be a bit more than I want to tackle right now....though I'd LOVE to do it...just don't have the time to sink into a project that big. Maybe someday. I know somebody posted pics of a car they did on here once, but I can't find the post.

I recently purchased a new truck, and am tossing around the idea of doing a tooled leather interior. I'm not real sure I want to tackle anything this big at the moment, but, then again, I might. I've seen cars done on here before by a few people, but I can't seem to find the posts. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Tips & Tricks? I have a gray interior, but all the accents I'm putting on are black, so I think black leather would look best....but, like I said, I'm just at the concept stage right now, so that might change.

You can buy the book, "So You're Going to Wear the Kilt!" by Charles J. Thompson...there are several sporran patterns in the back. I think I've posted a sporran pattern here before, but I don't have the file on my work 'puter right now.

I'm a big fan of Tan Kote. If you call most any Tandy store, they'd be happy to ship to you.

George Hurst has made several videos for Tandy that you can view for free on their site as well. Tandy

tat2, that's a sweet lookin' sporran! Love the idea of using the tartan swatch in the construction....looks great!

Welcome...from a Scottish descendant.. You've picked a great spot for brain pickin'... Good folks on this forum to learn from. Enjoy!

That's probably the best "diet" I've seen in a while...

I like it! Wouldn't mind learning that braid myself...

Some managers can ask for transfers...if they're interested in moving to a different area. If Tandy decides to "let one go", their boss will show up one day and take their keys and that's that. No warning at all.

My wife uses that hydroma board as a light-weight replacement for the granite slab so she can tool with it in her lap while watching TV. I haven't tried it myself, but it seems to work for her. For cutting stamps, I usually just put an old magazine or junk mail catalog under the leather and pound away....soft on the tools, and I don't scar up anything I care about.

Nice! I've been on that train!

I use a rotary cutter and a steel ruler for long cuts.

I've started using a good heavy dead-blow hammer when I have stamps that normally tend to bounce. I found the dead blow cuts way down on my double impressions with stamps like this, and some of my bigger, stamps, maker's mark, or 3D stamps.