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Hello friends, I picked up too much 2/3 oz and would like to trade 1/2 side for some 3/4 oz. The 2/3 is beautiful bone, clean and smooth, medium temper with nice flesh side. I am looking for the same in 3/4. Contact me if interested and to work out the details. Located in NY. Thanks!

Tugadude - Thanks for your insight. I was planning on keeping it natural but since the water stained the leather a bit when folding the top edge think I'll dye it. I'm going to try a few different methods on some interior prototypes. I'll let you know how it comes out.

Hello All - I just wanted to say that the buckram works perfectly. Spread contact cement on the flesh side and before it cures press in a piece of buckram that is cut slightly smaller. This coupled with a folded edge give a nice firm piece for my wallet interior. Thanks for everyone's help though. I learned a lot of new things to try out!

So doing some deep diving here and other websites and it seems that a material called buckram is used sometimes. Anyone have any experience with it? Tips on using it?

Thanks Rockoboy - I am almost finished with my deck so maybe I can kill two birds. I'll give it a shot. Great quote by Henry Ford! That's what I am trying to teach my son!

Thank you for the information. Mattsbagger - It seems that many people use 2/3 leather for wallet interiors and I have started to assemble the pieces (a pain because its so thin). As I assemble the pieces it is getting firmer but I would still like to find a way to make it even more so for future reference. Matt S - The back is beautiful and smooth. I have access to Arabic and Trac so I'll give it a try on a few scraps. Never heard of "jacking" (at least not in this context, lol) and I happen to have a hand crank pasta maker so I'll give that a try too. I was also looking around for a iron-on material to back it with or something to paste on. Maybe just some non-woven material. Any other thoughts would be appreciated!

Hello All - I am trying to make a very thin wallet with about 4 card slots on each side. I would like to use 2/3 oz veg tan leather for this project but the side that I have is too floppy. I understand that a good soak and dry would stiffen it up a bit but I am wondering if there is a liquid type hardener (other than the one from Japan) that I can easily procure off the shelf. I was thinking some type of glue (Modge Poge/Elmers/etc) but I am afraid that it would act as a resist when dying or drastically change the color if done afterwards. Any thoughts or experience with this?

Thanks Bikermutt - will do!

Hello All - Hoping that someone can clear this up for me: I understand that when stabbing the leather with an awl you twist the awl at a slight angle (45 degrees or so). When running a stitch line down the right side of a belt I would stab through at 45 degrees. When running a stitch line on the left side, should I stab through at -45 degrees to mirror the right? When I tried this out what I got was an nice stitch (up/down) on the right side but a perfectly strait stitch on the left side. Either one would have been fine but not mixed up like that! Advice would be greatly appreciated or if this had been asked before please link me to that thread. Much appreciated!

Thanks Mattsbagger - Thanks for your response. Do you think that the equipment used impacts the way the finished product looks? I would think that the awl would give a thinner or smaller look to the threads on the finished product while the punches would make the stitching look more pronounced? What do you think?

Thank you all for your insights. TheFanninator - I wish you didn't send me that link to the Tsuyoshi Yamashita Instagram account - Those are just too beautiful. Daunting for a novice like me. Alot to learn and practice! Tugodude - Thanks for the information - I have watched alot of Nigel's videos and also of Ian Atkinson's videos. They are very helpful and I have learned alot so far. Is the stitching chisel in the photo the Tandy version? I am currently looking at two different types of chisels; one that is described as European and the other described as Japanese. I am just trying to imagine what "Japanese stitching" looks like.

[Mod please feel free to move to most appropriate section] I have been told (and read) that there is a difference between European style vs. Japanese style stitching. When I searched the forums I found that it was discussed more when talking about stitching chisels. It seemed that the Japanese type stitching chisels were described more as a diamond shape where the european style chisels were described more as diagonal slices (or that's what I saw). I am assuming that the difference described is more of a slight visual difference in the finished product rather than any difference in actual technique or one better than the other. European style was referred to as "Hermes-like". What company would best represent the Japanese style? Can anyone speak to this and highlight to the differences? Visuals would be much appreciated.

Thanks for the warm welcome BikerMutt - Solid recommendation. I have been trying to do just that; repeating the same design until I get it right. I am currently trying to improve my stitching, figuring out how the thread sizes impact the look, trying different dyeing techniques, etc. I am doing this on pretty much the same general design. I am a process guy so I can appreciate practice, practice, practice philosophy. Hell, it took me a year to get TIG welding right. It's almost daunting how much there is to learn and practice but I am committed to getting the basics down little by little. It's great to know that the board is friendly and I feel comfortable enough to ask stupid questions.

Just joined the forum and recently started to learn the craft (little over a month). I'm really enjoying the process and I find that it helps me unwind after a crappy day at work. Since joining I have truly learned a great deal from just lurking around. As I post things, please feel free to comment one way or another. I have thick skin and believe that the best way to learn is to make mistakes and take criticism as constructive and not destructive though I appreciate a little leniency as I learn to crawl. My interests are in watch strap making, journal covers and small odds and ends but this may change as my skills improve (would be cool to make myself a pair of shoes one day). Other hobbies include metal working, fabrication and spending time with my kids. I really appreciate the forum, years of knowledge being passed down and looking forward to being a productive member myself one day.