battlemunky

Looks quite fine @Woodshed!

Both Hide House and Maverick run some pretty killer specials as well. You have to sign up for their newsletter and wait for the right one to hit though. Small price to pay to save a hundo or more depending on your qty. I think right now they are doing HO craft sides with free shipping, IIRC. Rocky Mountain Leather Supply and District Leather Supply have some really nice high end options as well.

Not on dyed leather. Not sure about stained. If it is acrylic paint, you have to worry about it messing up the painted parts. On plain veg tan or dyed veg tan though, it works like a charm, however, bubbles aren't your friend. Need to use a bubble free application method. Going slow usually works.

I'm no expert but I've been at it for a few years now and can help with most things and know what good looks like. Still working on refining my own work so that I can nail good 100% of the time and work on perfecting some things.

Nice and clean. Turned out beautiful!

After COVID gets figured out we may have to get a guild together...

I use Mop & Glo more than anything else. Cut it 50/50 with water and either spray on a few coats or use a dauber. Its acrylic based and is probably very similar to @fredk's Pledge floor stuff and both are similar to resolene.

Mine is rolled up and under my bench as well. It'll hold about 6 or 8 whole sides depending on weight.

This is super cool, man.

I have used all sorts and honestly haven't paid too much attention to it. Some rubs off a lot and some doesn't but I find it all rubs off to some extent. I'll have to pay more attention and see.

Cheers!

I made a wallet from shell cordovan and it is amazing. Holding up well after a year and developing some great character. If you are skilled enough to do the leather justice, I say hand sew it. Same with cutting by hand. If you can't do it well enough the first time to satisfy yourself then it'll get awfully expensive. I think with labor and materials I probably have about $120 into mine, not counting the process of making wallets that led up to the one I made out of shell. As far as working with shell, its a damn dream. It is nice and firm but still pliable, smells amazing, and will burnish with hardly any effort. I'd recommend watching Little King Goods' video on YouTube where he makes a wallet out of shell just so you can see it before you do it. The stuff is almost magic but it is soooo expensive. Please keep us updated. It is a lovely material.

I think two-toned is a great look on a wallet. Hell, as many tones as you can make make sense is plenty. As long as it has flow, go with it.

I'm lucky enough to get away with a set of bifocal safety glasses with the secondary lens being the magnifier. I think one day I'll end up needing something stronger though.

I think that sheath looks about perfect for that old machete!

Beautiful as usual!

Buffing is a workout for me too. Backgrounding as well. I'll do both until my arm/hand is a cramped mess.

Another excellent bit of work @WyattEarp!

If you are on Instagram checkout a user named lesbianedc and their edges are as close to mirror as I've seen. I think they said they use alcohol dye and tokonole after a ton of sanding. Great point @Tugadude, about it being dependent on which edge you are working on. It matters.

Welcome back and glad you made it through, sounds like quite the ordeal. Hope you can remain healthy and pick up on everything where you left off.

That looks great!

Yep, good clean work with a special flare due to the brand.

What I've found best is stepping up in grit through sandpaper and then slicking with your favorite slicking agent. Lately I've pretty much been using 120 grit to get the general shape up to 600 grit to polish then wet the edge and slicking with Fiebings glycerin saddle soap bar as an agent. Gets pretty good results for me. If I'm going to dye I do so before I wet and use the glycerin bar.

Yeah, I think I'd toss them or keep them for some day when an obscure thing decides it needs them. There are too many other good fastening options to force those on yourself. Maybe you could punch a hole the size of the shaft and then soak the leather and force the mushroom bit through the hole and then let it dry and sew on a backing plate or liner for it? It wouldn't immobilize it but at least it wouldn't be wasted. It sounds like you tried something similar to that already though. Aside from that, toss them or wait.

Works like a charm. We use a mix of marker and treating with our dogs so there is opportunity for abuse by them hitting the bells just for treats, but I'll treat them anyhow. Beats pee in the house. Not to mention it is a good use for the rough edges of leather too, unless you are going to sell them.