battlemunky

This^^^ You could have the boys do some stamping or carving to personalize it.

I really appreciate your work @WyattEarp, super clean stuff!

These are great @Silverd!

Well thank you very much! It took about 6 hrs to lay out the basketweave pattern and then to tool it all. While it still isn't perfect, it did turn out good but I really wish it had the pop that it had with the yellow. Lots and lots of teensy swivel knife cuts.

I use scrap saddle bark for applying and paper towel for removal. I can use it for both and see. I basically follow Don Gonzalez's approach. He seems to have zero issues and his resisting works great. I'm going to get pro resist too. Maybe try some mop & glo as well. Luckily it wasn't ruined, just a bit darker that I wanted.

Yeah, I need to do some experiments...

Also, if you searched it on YT you could find several builds and just lean on them to make your own.

I rubbed it in for maybe 30 seconds and then turned to grab paper towels to wipe it off, so maybe a minute in total.

This may look ok but its several shades darker than I wanted. The basket weave is supposed to be yellow... I dyed it to my satisfaction and then gave it a few hrs to dry and added a coat of TanKote, let it dry for a about an hour to where it wasn't tacky or showing any signs of not being wet and applied another coat and gave IT another hour. I applied dark brown Fiebings paste antique and got what you see in the photo. I don't think it's anywhere close to ruined but I really liked how the yellow popped and couldn't wait to see it with the antique in the streaks I made on the weave. All dyes used are Fiebings Pro. That's the back story. The only thing I can really think of having done anything different would be to wait overnight or something. Maybe add another coat and let it dry more? I see some folks with ridiculously good resists and I want that but how. Any ideas are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks! It looks great as well. I have to find some beaver tail leather now. I gotta touch it. It looks like it is a soft lizard skin or something, is that correct? You definitely retained what you learned from a few decades ago sir, thanks for sharing

Those are wonderful!

Beaver are strange animals to me. That tail is just odd. Looks amazing though and welcome! Any pics of the wallet by any chance?

This^^^ it should tuck 'em right back in and you won't really notice.

Yeah, I'm in the "used a piece of leather between the work and the poly board" camp too. Also partially in the "not sharp enough" camp. Once I polished up the teeth on my one set, which sucks and is quite tedious, it worked far better...then I ended up getting Sinabroks and now I just don't worry ! @Frodo, do you mean they used too many teeth on the corner, say, the 4 tooth instead of the 2? If not, I don't know what you mean they used the incorrect chisel so please elaborate on that if you could.

Congrats! That is a great little niche you've filled.

Yeah, like @gary said, it should remain pretty consistent across the hide aside from the edges. There will be some variation but it'll be within the range of the hide sold. Some folks consider range marks valuable but for me, I try and keep them out of the piece. If I could get them consistently I'd find a way to work them in though.

I've only done some test cuts and skiving so far so I'll have to get back to you on edge retention. For the little I've done it's cutting pretty well. Thanks @DaveP! Thanks @Frodo!

Thanks @RockyAussie and @dikman. I think I may have to score a new used saw blade and make a few different things. It isn't easy, but it isn't hard either. Above all, it was fun.

More high quality work @WyattEarp! Beautiful color and buckle pairing too.

How comfy is it? I made several and they get a bit heavy compared to a cloth mask.

That's exactly how I do it too.

I think this is a done as I'm going to make it. It's scary sharp now so working on it is a little nerve racking. It isn't beautiful but it isn't ugly either. Skives like it was made to.

Thanks @RockyAussie. I used my belt sander with sort of like a stropping motion to get the initial grind. I have a rag wheel I'll mainly use at this point. I'm already running into a few issues with the design so I may just cut off the half I'm fighting with and go with a half head knife.

I'm gonna go and get some ice for that burn.

Outstanding report @Ferg! I'm super glad it worked out so well. As you continue to heal it'll likely improve more. You'll have to take up tennis or jackhammering random stuff just to feel alive!