battlemunky

Yeah, the only snake I tried was stretched out and salt cured and it was like scaly rawhide. I tried to work it to get it soft and gave up and tossed it. I'd ruined it.

Cool. Is it pliable like leather?

I rarely use this word, but man, that is CUTE!

Really nice work!

That belly leather stretches quite a bit too so try and keep that in mind.

Looks super useful.

Pics will help us help you. I'm guessing it is dull or the leather.

All three look great. I love the gold on the anchor, the frogskin background on the floral, and all of the measure board. Well done all the way around!

Looks great @bikermutt07, I love that leather. Good to see you!

I've had inconsistency among the same hide as well. If there is a guaranteed way, I don't know it. All you can really do is try and remain consistent in your method and control what you can on your end.

Beautiful work SIr!

If you are going to make anymore of the "thin blue line" motif, go with blue thread on the black leather. My brother is a Corrections Deputy and when I made him a badge wallet with the blue thread on black leather, he and his cadre really liked it. Its just another piece of sizzle for the steak. Your stuff looks good, keep it up!

I usually buy sides or shoulders but I've never seen leather that looks like what you posted @TestTube. You will at least get the feel of vegtan and be able to make a few small projects. I don't know if I'd even try tooling that because it'll be really hard to tell if you are doing it right with that odd texture. In all honesty though, chances of you making a sellable item right out of the gate is low so you may as well beat up some less than awesome leather. Even poking holes teaches you something so you have a viable medium to learn from. As soon as the COVID madness leaves I'd recommend hitting a Tandy or some other brick and mortar store so you can touch some stuff until you learn enough to buy a nice piece online. I'm gonna be honest though, I'd have thought Springfield would've done better on a remnant box than that.

Yeah man, it helps. The good news is that I "see" what you are talking about. Every one I do becomes easier to recognize. I can spot background pretty easily now. #babysteps

I'm still working on determining my depths, foreground vs. background, from the templates I've used. I haven't made my own design yet. Hell, I can't even consistently figure out which line to bevel correctly. I get better with every project though, so I keep at it. My hands are finally getting toughened up enough to not cramp or have my fingertips go numb from holding on too hard to the tool.

I like the overall concept and think aside from what you pointed out that its a solid and high quality build. Nice. I've thought about doing the buckle end like that on a belt but always end up folding it back over onto itself. I think I'm going to try that clamped setup in the future.

Looks pretty good. My carving looks pretty crappy so my criticism isn't saying too much

Really cool!

Agreed, it looks great!

Timber rattlers are really beautiful snakes and it should make a nice project. I've seen some videos on YT about tanning snake but I have yet to try it. I'm really interested in hearing how it turns out.

First, it looks great. I really like your background contrast from the foreground and that contrast with the rest of the framing. Nice and clean work. Now, to answer your question I'd go with black if it were me. Seems like it'd tie into the background nicely. Hide dirt and wear a bit better too, maybe.

Ha ha ha, sucker! I stepped in this trap about 6 years ago and only find myself deeper and deeper. There was just no way I was gonna pay $150 for that sheath...

First sheath but not first thing you ever made out of leather, correct? If not, I believe you've found your purpose in life.

That isn't the wrong leather per se, but it is the wrong leather for trying to do with it what you are trying to do with it. It appears to be chrome tanned and thin. Use scissors to cut it or a roller blade or round knife. You can still use it for your first projects but you aren't going to get it to burnish or carve. A small pouch, perhaps a few other bits and baubles depending on how thick it is. I'd avoid eBay leather until you can identify leather. 27 bucks for that is a bit steep IMO when you could've gotten some veg tan shipped for not too much more. Keep playing around with it though, you will learn some stuff with it still so it isn't a waste or anything.

Them horses are gonna feel all gussied up! Another great lot of work!