MendellLeatherOK

You are so welcome! I'll be doing another one soon about inlaying beads! As far as the deer hide goes, It may be a bit thin but use your own judgement. Since the liner wraps around the adapters, you dont want something so thin that it will stretch or something that will wear out easily. There will be a bit of tension on it all the time because people like to cinch down their watchbands, and then to really pull at them when they are trying to buckle it on.

Hey Everyone! Since Apple Watch Bands are the new big thing, I had quote a few people asking me how I was making them. So I went ahead and made a pattern pack and a video to go with it! One thing I forgot to include is punching holes. I usually use my rotary punch, and using my smallest punch, I start 1/2" from the bottom of the band and punch 5 holes, each being 1/2" apart. Video is below as well as a PDF of the pattern pack below the video! Please feel free to message me any questions you may have and I'd love to see the bands you guys make! Hope this helps! -Hannah AppleWatchBands.pdf

I grew up riding and working with horses and I got tired of either sending gear off when it would break or dealing with poorly made stuff to begin with.So around the age of 18, I acquired a few tools from my grandpa (who did leatherwork while in the Navy in the 60's) and started tinkering. I was absolutely hooked! I now make anything from tack to belts, portfolios, fire gear and the list goes on. Working on a portfoilo now to send to Canada which is my first international order, as well as, partnering with a lady who beads belt strips. Its such a fun ride and I love meeting new people who either ask about my work or who are fellow leatherworkers.

Thank You! He seriously has the best patterns! I've bought all I can from him! One reason I put the border on like I did was to accommodate all the extra space, kinda a fluke deal with that! I had to put something there cause of all the space it had. it came together pretty well! I actually used Word on the letters. I found a font I liked and fit it to the size I needed then traced it on and carved like regular beveling the outside like I would anything else. I usually paint letters but I used my dye on these.

Hey! Glad you decided to join!

I need to find some plexi glass pieces to use with my smaller stuff!

Thank you very much. I use packing tape on the back of everything as I'm tooling. It keeps the leather from stretching especially on belts, K Adam Tanner even glues his with rubber cement (easy to peel off) down onto plexi glass as he is tooling. Surprisingly this is the first time the left to right has happened to me!

Funny story on the opening, didnt even realize it did that until I was finished. Was certainly NOT going for that, ha. If it was for a customer, I probably would have re-done it. The tooling on each panel took me around 8 hours each excluding the knife work. I would say in total, I have probably 60 or so hours in it. That is from very beginning to very end. I work in the shop after my regular 8-5.

Firefighter kid, wife and niece here...I think the plait is a great idea, you don't see many that are "out of the box" design wise. As for the plait braid itself, I do think it will be okay as long as you get it tight and flat enough, otherwise, you will have a lump in the strap that no one will want to wear because its not comfortable. It may make it a bit thick, but you can always think about lining the back or just lining over where the strap will be sitting on the shoulder. I think the reason no one has done this is the time consumption, but it would be a great project to lace on between calls, depending how busy you guys are. I say go for it, if anything, you have a cool strap that hangs for decoration, or you might get lucky and everyone wants one.

I am the same as above. Tool in the left and mallet in the right. At times, such as stamping a border, I actually find it easier to stamp from left to right instead of the usual right to left. Its easier to align my stams and I feel like I can go quicker.

Hello all! Latest project to come out of the shop. Wedding gift for my sister, as well as, entering it in the Tulsa State Fair come Saturday. First time I've entered any of my work. This is a Don Gonzales pattern. Made from 8/9oz vegtan with a stiffener in the panels, lined with 3/4oz veg tan. Background dyed with Fiebings Chocolate Oil Dye, soaked up some Neatsfoot oil overnight and antiqued with Fiebings Antique Finish in Dark Brown then sealed with Tan Kote. Critique Welcome.

Honestly, I really like it and you dont get as tired as you would think. Always makes a consistent stitch and I havnt had any problems with it whatsoever. This is what my budget allowed at the time but Ill eventually upgrade machines.

Thank You. I stitch everything on a Tippmann Boss.

Slick work!

Thanks. No, its a 3.5oz turquoise chap side from Springfield Leather. I bought it to do some inlay and had a ton leftover so I used it on the bag. I did it just like my belts. I carved my strap on a 8/9oz strap and then I line with latigo.

They for sure give me a pretty surprised look! Haha! The leather is a slick type chap leather, I found a random roll in the shop that I forgot about. Its around 3/4oz. So I put 2 pieces back to back on all the gussets and the sides so its thicker. Because I did that, I didnt line it. I would have if I had the rough side of the leather in the interior.

Finally got around to making myself a purse! I made it a bit big, but oh well. It measures 14x14 with 4in gussets. Zipper in the top. Strap pattern is from Don Gonzales and skull pattern is from Ride Hard Leather.

Thanks!

Oklahoma here also, VERY NE corner!

How do you guys tend to finish them then? Same process as with your veg tan? I havn't used latigo before, Ive been lining belts with horse butt and they tend to finish pretty nicely. What do you guys line your belts with?

I don't have any latigo on hand at the moment so Ill have too order, they are a thin barrel racing breast collar, not really much to them. Thanks, I have a feeling Ill end up with veg tan for the halters but will do latigo on the collars. Glad to hear from a fellow Okie! Pistols Firing!

I did! I was actually just reading through that!

Thats what I was thinking, I just wanted to make sure it would hold up with sweat and all. It'll be glued and stitched with 277 so it should be fine!

Hello All, I am making 2 breastcollars and 2 halters for a barrel series. I need to know what types of liners can be used. I know latigo, but I am looking at other options as well and would like to just generally know more. I buy tack blanks and they are clicked out of 9/10oz Hermann Oak. They will have small inlay panels as well. Thanks!