Stetson912

Hey @bikermutt07, if you need a tip for your knife then... Well I don't think sharpening will help... Oh... You meant tips on sheath making.... My mistake hehehe. Isn't @Sanch knives and sheaths awesome though!

I think ive seen some of times videos too. They are pretty good.

Oh wow, I hadn't heard that. That's so sad.

No problem. If anything cut just past that angle line on the outside to keep it a little longer. That way you don't run the risk of it being too short and having a gap showing or something. Just something to consider when binding book board or something like that

Oh, check this out too. Just heard about it.https://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Shoes-Men-László-Vass/dp/3848003686

It's under her name. Lisa Sorrell. The series is called "it's a boots life". It's not instructional but you still learn a lot. It's about her life and things she does but most always has a tip or trick related to boot making. And from there there are other resources she mentions. She also has a DVD instructional guide she sells if you have the coin for it. It is a bit pricey though. I've had the same ishoe...about finding information. It's really hard to find someone who knows it and is willing to part with the information. Haha.

Oh boy, that's quite the project. I don't make shoes but this interests me. Have you heard of Lisa Sorrell? She is a boot maker and she sells a few tools on her site. I'm not sure what all you will need. I recommend looking at her YouTube series, she gives little tips and tricks and shows a lot of tools she uses. She does use a sewing machine and I think she even sells lasts or mentions where to get them. There is leather called some bend leather. It's veg tan but is super stiff. That's what most use for soles. I imagine you will want a sharp curved awl as well as a straight one. I have seen people not use needles when sewing as well. Instead they use what is called a waxed end. Lisa shows how this is done I believe. A waxed end is flexible and will follow the holes a curved awl makes a lot easier than anything else I imagine. As far as leather recommendations, I can't really help. I imagine anything that is strong enough to get through lasting is ok to use. But I'm not real sure. I don't think stretch is a shoemakers friend thogu. I would think that when you last the shoe if it stretches you'll have to re last and keep stretching it till the stretch is gone. It may effect the wear of the shoe too. Just my thoughts. I hope someone chimes in here, I'm curious to see what others think too.

@northmount I didn't think of that. I am using one of the basic wooden strap cutters and it does seem to wedge in there sometimes. I'll have to invest in a better tool. @YinTx that isn't a bad idea. It would be great for a cutting punching board kinda thing. Thanks for the idea

Cool.looking forward to seeing how it works out

Awesome

Yup I think so. It isn't part rawhide though it appears fully tanned. I wonder if it was old stock or something.. or if age even matters. It took me 2 hrs to cut two blanks. I couldn't use a strap cutter because it wouldn't cut through it and the gauge moved so I had to use a straight edge. Just rediculous. And it had to be wet to split it. I may just toss it since it's so hard to work with. Idj

Leather would work ok. Paracord I think would be a bit flimsier? Idk. I'm not sure there is a rule how thick to make it. Do you have Stohlman's books on case making? There's a good section on handles in there that may help. Also, if you want a leather core, if you have how to make whips by Ron Edwards he shows how to make a leather core for a whip which could be adapted to your handle. Hope that gives an idea for you. I've never done it so, just spitballin here.

I have the Galaxy S7 and use it exclusively. I do have to resize my pictures I post. I use an app called photo and picture resizer. It's really easy to use. And it does batch resizing. A lot of times I have 4 or 5 pictures I want to upload and the app let's me resize them all at once as a batch. This let's it stay under the 1.4 mb your allowed to upload. It's good for a few pics. But if you have a lot then you'll probably have to use imgur or Photobucket or something like that to post them here. Just my thoughts, may be worth trying.

Well slap me on the bum and call me Judy... That's fantastic! How did you lace the hole for the bolt end?is it double loop? The stamping is nice too. I know which tools you used except for the depressions in the middle row. Is that a small pear shader or something else?

There is beauty in simplicity. Mine has a funny pointed shape at the bottom where the pliers are, so I have a flap on mine. But mines a Gerber and isn't square. If I get one though I may steal your design muahahahaha!

I always had trouble with making the 45 on bound edges. Then I saw a video of a saddlemaker on here do it and he just will nilly sliced the corner off like it was nothing. Haha. So in the hopes of saving someone some trouble and time I hope that helps you out.

Right! Haha. I'm jealous...

There a real simple trick to the corners. First mark where you will be folding the edge over to. Then mark a 45 angle across the corner where the lines meet. Skive the edges. Cut across the line. And fold over. Here are some pics I hope will help. I just threw em together so they're crude, just proof of concept.

It has to be this side then. I don't have thinner leather either so I have to cut two blanks then split one and the whole process is a pain. Even just getting a straight edge on it. Oh well. Win some and lose some. I just have to get better leather from now on. Haha I've noticed too I'd have to split it anyway because the center of the hide is like 9 oz and the ends are closer to 12. So I have to split it down to even the thickness. Such a pain.

I put a new blade in and still could hardly run the strap cutter through it. Maybe it's just this side?

I have some light weight saddle skirting (10-12oz) and I'm going to use it for a few belts. I made some gunbelts with it already and this stuff is stiff and near impossible to cut. I'm wonderin' if all saddle skirting is so dense and hard to cut or if it's just this particular shameful Tandy skirting. I've never had anything so tough from Tandy before and I can deal with it till it's gone.. but it's seriously like trying to saw through a board with a plastic spoon. I pretty much have to use a utility knife and wet it a bit to cut it. Then I have to soak it a minute to split it if I need too. Thanks for your thoughts!

Whoa! So you made everything? The roller knives and sheaths? That's awesome! I wish I had them skills! Great job. I've heard a similar story about the knife as a gift. The only one given to me came with a penny to give to my grandad (who gave me the knife) to buy it from him to not sever the relationship by the giving a sharp blade.

Ah I see. That's a good point you can tell I don't do much selling of things haha. That does make perfect sense though.

First I think it looks great. I have to make one for mine sometime. You don't really need a belt loop punch. It does make it easier but isn't necessary. What you did is fine. I would just try using a smaller knife like an exacto and a straight edge. It will loosen up too. Something I've seen a lot of people do is make a short belt blank. Like a strip of leather the width and thickness of the belt to be used and form the loops with that. Idk if that helps or not :/ I honk you did well. Wet molding gives me trouble too with them tool marks. I try and smooth them out with a modeling spoon. But it doesn't always work. I like it!

I think it's one of those things that depends on your individual situation. Like myself, I don't have a name out there and am just a hobbyist. But if I wanted to get started building 'myself' as a brand then it may not be a bad idea to do some consignment or wholesale things especially once people find out they could ultimately get it cheaper directly from me. However, there are those (like JLS) I'm sure who have brand recognition so to say. So it isn't much worth it to buy into these types of things. I see both sides here. I can see how it's beneficial to an up n comer trying to make a few bucks and may not have the volume that others do... and how it's annoying to someone already established having people trying to poach them for their product when they don't or can't fully understand just how much effort goes into making a professional looking product. I thought poaching was illegal? Hehehe I kid of course, just trying to get back to the light hearted side of this post