SouthernCross

Thanks a bunch for the suggestions, gentlemen.

I've been playing around with making some minimalist wallets and I've been trying to dye them with Fiebings cut with denatured alchohol. Of course, when I come back the next day the pieces are stiff as heck and I can't really bend them into shape without cracking the leather. Should I case the leather and bend it into the shape I want first, then dye it?

Thanks, snubby.

I've been playing around with making some minimalist wallets and would like to make them out of a leather that is less likely to want to slide out of your pants. My first prototype I sprayed with Fiebing's Leather Sheen, which obviously made it slicker than owl snot, so I won't be doing that again. I've thought about making them with the rough side out, and that may be the best way to go, but I was hoping to do some stamping and carving on the wallets to personalize them to give to friends and such and the rough side certainly won't accommodate that. I guess any leather that is smooth enough to carve and stamp is going to be slick. What are my options? How about sharkskin - is it rough like a natural shark is? Any ideas?

So what I'm doing is tracing a pattern onto my leather, cutting along the lines with a swivel knife, and then stamping along the edges with a smooth beveler. The result is lots of sharp, cut edges showing all along the pattern. It looks like a leather "carving" rather than a stamping. Am I supposed to tilt the beveler one way or the other? Am I cutting too deeply with my swivel knife? Am I supposed to stamp directly over the cut line instead of trying to follow the outside edge with the beveler? Etc., etc.... Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the replies, y`all.

What kind of material do you use to make patterns or templates that you will be using over and over again? I mean, for holsters, sheaths, and such things, not for tracing designs.

That's neat. Did you mask the non-painted area off with tape or something?

Thanks, Jason. My HL has a leather section about the size of a refrigerator door. I'll check and see if I can find the thread.

Thanks, y'all. Jason, what section in Hobby Lobby did you find the thread you speak of?

Thanks, electrathon.

Mike, you make some really purty stuff for an old grump. ;-)Do you hand stitch all that?

What "good leather" would you recommend if I'm ordering it online?

What sizes would you recommend for something like a holster?

Nice! What did you use for the blue?

Very nice! Is that rig your own design?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/157719140/handmade-wallet-cowhide-carving-genuine?ref=sr_gallery_34&ga_search_type=all&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=leather+carving&ga_page=2&ga_view_type=gallery

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen. I'm just looking for something classy and appealing without looking so "western". I'm just tired of the western look because it reminds me totally of horses, tack, and ......well, western.

Are there any styles of decorative carving that don't look like the traditional floral or Sheridan styles? I'm just looking for something "different" than the same ol' style that you typically see on almost every piece if leather.

Red, what thread did you use on that project?

Thanks, Bruce.

Other than Barry King, what are some other manufacturers of quality stamping tools? Bevelers, basketweave, shaders, camo, etc....

Thanks, lily.

Thanks, Tom.

Benlily, would you share what antiquing technique you used?