SouthernCross

Thanks, gentlemen.

Does anyone know where I can get a smooth steep angle beveler?

Is anyone aware of some sort of tutorial or instructions on carving/stamping pine cones?

Thanks, Mike.

Does anyone know where the above page from Stohlman came from? I'd like to get a clearer picture of it. When I try to enlarge it, it becomes too blurry for me to read it.

Thanks, Mike.

Do I want a "stitching" blade, a "harness" blade, etc.? How do the Osborne blades compare in size to the highly-recommended Douglas blade? I'll be stitching holsters and belts, mainly.

Thanks for the recommendations, y'all.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Well, the ones from Tandy "are what they are", no adjusting. This is the one I've been using:http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/31218-01.aspx

What kind of awl do you use? I need a new new one for hand-stitching 6-7 oz. (doubled) leather for holsters and such.

Yes. It just seems that if I get ever-so-slightly out of alignment it ends up breaking.

Is there anything I can do? I've been using the Tandy stitching awl and every time I mistakenly twist it or the leather gives a bit as I'm punching through, it ends up breaking. I just trashed my third one in the past couple of months. Any suggestions as to perhaps another brand or type of awl I can try that won't break so easily. I'm using the Tandy one with the non-replaceable tip.

What's the recommended way(s) to stain/antique/finish a stamped basketweave pattern?

Thanks, guys. Josh, the finish on the top holster was kinda what I was aiming for. I'll try cutting it with alcohol next time and see how that works out.

I'm in the process of making a shoulder holster using the Tandy plans and have really made a mess of it with my dyeing job. I used Fiebings British Tan straight out of the bottle, applied with a wool dauber on completely dry leather. Well, my holster is now a very dark burgundy and my stamping job doesn't show up very well. I was having to keep rubbing with the dauber in order to blend in the various spots, which only made my creating darker and darker. It now looks like crap! So, can anyone please give me some guidance as to how I should approach my staining and finishing operation for my (next) holster?

Can anyone tell me the difference between Tandy's regular edge beveler and the "keen" edge beveler...and which one I need to get for general leatherwork? Holsters, belts, knife sheaths, etc....

Thanks, y'all.

Thanks, gentlemen. Tex,can you provide me a link to such a beveler, please - I don't find anything on Tandy's site.

In Mosby's tutorial, the outer border lines appear to have a bevel....what tool do I use to do that? http://www.greyghostgraphics.com/images/Bweave%20for%20web.pdf

Next week I'll be driving from N.C. to Camp Perry, OH for the national rifle matches. Is there anywhere on my way that a leatherworker should not miss? I'll be taking I-74 out of NC to I-64 in southwestern VA, then I-77 up through WV and on through OH, the rest of the way to Port Clinton/Camp Perry. If there's anything that's not too far off the beaten path that I should not miss, please let me know.

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen.

I already have all the tools I'll need - sewing, stamping, cutting, etc.. I've tinkered some making a little bit of everything over the past couple of years, but now want to try making a OWB and shoulder holsters for guns ranging from a 337-1 revolver, Sig .380, to a Berettta 92. The only reason I mentioned Tandy is that it's just off the highway on my way to/from work. If I can get better leather at the same price by having it shipped from somewhere like Springfield, I'll certainly do it. BTW, what's the difference between a side and a shoulder? The shoulder is just the front part? Then what's the rear part called?

So, when I go to my local Tandy store to get leather to start making holsters what should I be shopping for? Tooling sides? tooling shoulders? etc. ,etc.? I'm thinking probably about 7 oz. as a general weight.

Heavy nylon waxed when sewing, pre-waxed artificial sinew, etc.? What do you prefer when stitching up your holsters?