alpha2

Now, that is an amazing relic, right there! Thanks for sharing!

Fantastic knife. I didn't know you could get your Damascus from a distributor! Makes sense, that's some seriously labor intensive work. Does the pic on the forum look like what your Fiebings Mahogany looks like? I ask because I just did some work with the same dye, and it doesn't look at all like that. I cut mine 50/50 with alcohol, but still yours looks black on the computer. Of course, my computer/monitor isn't yours. Unfortunately, that is something we have to live with.

Nice display, and a great idea.

Silk purse, out of a sow's ear...where have I heard that?

I just recently came into a motor for a motorized burnisher. I found almost immediately that too high a speed will actually lift leather bits as opposed to laying them down. I slowed down my burnishing and the edges got smoother. At this time, I wet the edge, burnish once. Only then do I sand and re-burnish with my secret sauce. Sometimes it takes three times or more to get the really nice edge that holds up. It depends on a lot, but a lot of it is the leather. My best result lately was with some new Edge Paint I got in Burgundy. I put it on, let it dry, then burnish it. I got some outstanding results with a wallet I just did for a neighbor. Much better than the same wallet I carry! Now I have to redo mine. Right, like that will happen. Edited to clarify, I didn't get the edge paint in Burgundy, I got it in Cheyenne, the color is Burgundy. We must be careful on this forum, there are probably people on here from Burgundy!

Wow, you are rockin' the Roland Ranch! Nice work. I believe this will get you some more work, and soon.

So, come up to the labAnd see what's on the slab,

"Clam 3 is already planned"...If I had a nickel for every time I've had occasion to say that!

You make a good point about trying to match hardware finishes at Tandy. I've given up. The buckle is this finish, the rivets are this one, the D ring is something close, but no cigar, and IF they do have the finish, they don't have the size. It was a good place to start in the leather bit, but I've been forced to move on...by Tandy.

Thanks for the replies Sanch, I'm not in such a hurry I can't wait a bit for glue to set up a bit. I also use a hair dryer to speed things along, so the Aquilim would work fine for me too. And it looks like there's a glue pot in my future. Jeff

True dat! Anything is better than basement spaces. I've had ENOUGH of that in my life. I've moved all my leatherwork stuff upstairs, with a BIG window, to get out of the basement. Life is good.

I'm no rouge expert by any means, I only have the Tandy white rouge that came with my beginners kit years ago. What is the advantage of the green, or any other color?

I think a Conway is a perfect solution. I've made a couple of slings, but I don't carry slinged rifles for the most part, so if there is someone that knows of a down-side, I'd like to hear it. I've pretty much decided to use one for the next purse strap.

Eons ago I was a Radioman in the U.S. Coast Guard. Morse code, radioteletype, various crypto gear. All of that is obsolete now, and for some time, so I had to find a new gig. Fell into dental equipment installation and repair. Mostly have done that since, with occasional excursions into commercial aviation and flight instruction. I'm retiring in 9 days from the dental business. I spent the last 15 years or so in the digital radiography/3D CT and intra-oral photography end of the business. Keeping dental equipment running was a breeze until they decided to hook it up to computers. BAD idea. I'm an FFL, (for those across the ponds, Federally licensed firearms dealer), and firearms instructor. More of that in my future for sure after retirement, in 9 days, did I mention that???

Good to know! Thanks.

Great tip! I've struggled with painting letters, also. I've only used CovaColor in yellow, not a good experience, had serious issues with brush marks. Looking for some Angelus paints now.

http://sorrellnotionsandfindings.com/product/t-s-boy-glue-pot/ This is where I found it. It's the first I'd heard of it, too. Maybe Sanch has some insight on this. Jeff

Sanch, what is the Aquilim like as far as instant "grabbing" power? I like that when I use Tanner's Bond, after letting it set a bit on the pieces, when it's put together, it's TOGETHER. I do hate the waste, though, when the last third of the can is a rock. I got some of their thinner, and it's still an uphill climb to get anywhere a full can's use out of a can. Rockler doesn't seem to have the T-S-Boy glue pot on their site anymore, a shame, because I get down to Denver regularly, but a lot of other place have it, and it's what I see all the time on professional leatherworkers pics. There is a different applicator brush for Aquilim as opposed to the solvent based stuff.

Hole smokes!!! Does that breaker bar turn that 2 ton press into a 2000 ton press!?!?!? I can hear it now, "yeah, I wanted to put a maker's mark in that thin piece of bridle leather, but it ended up in the basement, I don't know WHAT happened."

The puckered stitching could also be the leather, if it was belly leather, for instance. That tends to be rather soft. Excess neatsfoot oil will overly soften the leather also. Just some thoughts...

Bikermutt07 has a great point. He speaks from experience. It's getting a bit late for a present for the presently approaching holidays, but practice a bit before hand will save a TON of time later on. Guess how we know?

A machine is absolutely in my future. I can't do the multiple hours of handle stitching of belts and such. And that is my plan for my impending retirement. After hours today of saddle stitching a belt for a co-worker today, I realize that I must admit that I'm past the point of spending a day hand-stitching.

check this out. 40% off coupon on one item. Make that item the largest cutting board you can afford. Hobby Lobby rocks!

Sledzep, the melamine, Formica and MDF are all great ideas, but you have to fight the urge to cut something on the new surface, whatever it ends up being. Once you do that, it's a new surface, or major sanding to protect your veg tanned leather. Yes, you have a cutting surface, but will it suffice for a side, double shoulder or whatever? Long cuts are what damage your pristine surface down the road. Been there..done that! Jeff

Now THAT'S what I was looking for ! Thanks, Eric! Working on a retirement project of my own. (8 working days left...) Jeff