Grumpymann

Ok. Good point. Words have definitive meanings. I retract my statement.

Not going to very popular here but I do call myself a craftsman. In leather work what I do I think of as a craft, craft requires skills and skills anyone can learn. I tell people that all the time. What I am not is an artist... art is singular and a creator graced talent. Until I can do something no one else can in a way no one else dose I will use the skills I have learned (all the while trying to improve them and gain more.) and call it a craft. When you combine the skills of a craftsman and the talent of an artist you can call yourself an artisan. I grew up around a lot of tradesmen I would NEVER give myself a title like journeyman, apprentice or master craftsman. If I were a part of a guild or professional organization they can bestow on me what I had earned or what they feel I deserved. What I do is a craft ( in my case it's closer to macaroni on a paper plate) and l think to call it less than that is an insult not to me but the few people who spent their time trying to pound some skill in my fumbling sausage fingers.

L and L Wing or leather and lace wing.

Good ruler I use a see through grid one.I have several. Use them on every project at sometime. Because it helps me find the center. Rivit setters and rivits. Though Chicago screws or burns rivets work as well.Also don't forget about GOOD LIGHTING! You can't cut a line if you can't see a line.

Are you gluing before you stitch? And are you relishing the glue after with a bone folder afterwards?

Wonderful! Would love a tutorial on how it's done.

Your practice is better than what I sell. I'm just embarrassed. Great work.

I use some cast offs from a conveyor belt. The one I have now is 1/4th inch thick I got it for free from a company that repairs them. The last one lasted years and wasn't this thick. I'm new to a round knife, been using it maybe 2 years.

I used Google, search for conveyor belt.

I got a run of 1/4 inch thick conveyor belt 9×3 for free at a place that makes and installs conveyor systems free. I use it as a pound and cutting board. The last piece was more than half as thick and lasted a decade and more. I know you were asking about granite and I get mine free from the same place others mentioned so... But cutting boards wasn't asked about and you are looking for things on the cheap, what's cheaper than free?

Just picked up some new conveyor belt the last one I had lasted me a good decade. If there is a company that makes equipment drop in ask for some cast offs, keep a few bucks in hand but it's rarely needed.

Still trying to get that one down. For now I just leave a little ... “slop space” and pray. With MOST of my stuff 1/4 inch is not too much to club into behaving. If you have a better option PLEASE share it!

Nice. Try using a wing divider to set the distance from the edge of the piece in for a stitching line. Use some rubber cement to stick the inner and rear outer leather together then sew. But most of all have fun.

When I started out. I didn’t have a cent. So I made a drawing,expanded it, used a ruler and did a “measured” drawing. And cut. Now I put a different step in before I cut. I make a pattern make sure it all fits together THEN I cut leather. I have a few bucks now bet I still make my own patterns. Wallets, card wallets, purses, messenger bags, keychains, you name it. Try it, see what you did that you don’t like and try again. But what ever you do... have fun.

I just (last week) went to a place that makes and repairs conveyer belt equptment and asked for a piece of cast off. As the piece I had been using for a decade was getting worn. That gave me a piece 2xs the size I asked for and cut it to size for me. It’s reinforced rubber.

Just wondering about the letter set? And the skiveing knives.

What you thinking on the letter sets? And the rougher?

Now I know why you sold meeting the one you did! Looking good!

Yeah trains are real big here.

Allentown pa here. Hello, welcome!

Mutt I'm jealous keep making my wife stuff and sh keeps giving it back and saying "meh". Looking good! 70's reference pop achieved.

Use a separator and attach the pockets to the separator. Believe it or not the easiest way I have found is to use a double gusset and so the separator in between the gussets.

I kind of had a similar story. Every time I reach for one of the tools I remember what his wife said to me when I tried to return them. "Make something grate and honor him." I try... I fail...I try again. Enjoy his legacy Now I have to clean the dust in my eyes.

Are you wetting the leather before you bend it? Looks like that may be the issue.

Can you do a deal on all your alphabet ones?