Rockoboy

Looks all good to me, working as required.

The leads I have seen made with bleed knots, use the bleed knots to form a loop for the hand and also to attach the lobster clip/dog clip or whatever you like to call the hardware. I do like the idea of having no/less hardware at the business end of the lead.

Everything you make is exceptional! This is no different. Very nicely done.

They look professionally made. Good job Can you share any details about the leather, finish used, tools used or hardware and soles?

It does look pretty good. As for burnishing or finishing edges of oil tanned or chrome tanned leather ... I use edge paint. Apply the paint and let it dry, then sand it smooth and apply again. Keep applying and sanding with finer and finer sand paper until you get the finish you want.

I hope you mean "intimidated" ... don't want to see folks getting intimated with/by their sewing machines!

Maybe he missed his train ... be home in a couple of days ...and eight years!

Have you tried Abbey England? They seem pretty good to deal with, but as far as I remember, I have only made a purchase from them that was delivered to a UK address, then brought to Australia in the luggage of a tourist.

Abbey England? Depending, of course, where you are located which would influence delivery costs.

Hmmmm might have to make a purchase if they work that well! My Ryobi is just ok at best, so something that is that much "more betterer" would be an asset to have.

From my experience, antique is made to stay in the tooled areas which would make them darker, so that is the opposite of what you want. If you used thinned paint (on a test piece, not your actual job), it would hopefully stay in the lower stamped areas, and be polished off the high spots. Maybe you need to polish with a cloth wrapped around a hard flat piece of glass-timber-bone folder etc (so it is only reaching the paint on the high spots) with some solvent on the cloth.

I have never used this model, but after 7+ years working for the Big B I have a lower opinion of Spear and Jackson. I have had their shovels break, their knives and screwdrivers and allen keys bend, but that might be my fault. I might serve you well, but not work well enough for the next bloke, or vice versa. At the end of the day, it depends on your expectations and use of the tool. (I am pretty hard on tools). I broke 2 of the Ozito electric staple guns on canvas and pine frames, then I bought a Ryobi, no problem so far.

Looks great. The inlay is pretty good, but I like the croc foot, teeth and tassels even more. What's the stick for?

Good job. I like the concept. A nice leather lead with bleed knots might be a good way to proceed.

I can tell what I am looking at, leaves look like leaves, so it ain't the worst thing I've seen today! (I saw that worst thing be in my "bunky projects box" earlier today).

I have never tried bleach on leather, but I have noticed after using denatured alcohol (methylated spirits), a coat of neatsfoot oil can help put some of the oils back into the leather and increase flexibility. Don't go overboard with the NFO or you could end up with a soggy mess that will not be any good for anything.

If you take your time to design, cut out and pre-assemble the components with light duty tack welds, that could assist the welder, and reduce your cost.

Never seen a holster, never built one, no chance of ever building one, no real opinion of what is required to make a good holster, so I don't think you need my input.

Fiddler crabs ... ok. In my mind, I saw a bucket with some small fish they had caught, that's where my thought of 'tiddlers' came from.

A hard hat for the restroom? How can you swim in a hard hat? You need water-wings for the restroom, just in case you fall in!

Fiddlers? or tiddlers? Very nice work whatever you call them.

It can be very difficult to burnish edges of thin leather, so some/most people leave them unbevelled and either edge coat them or leave them raw AFAIK.

I am pretty sure Abbey England also do some pre-cut items, such as the circles you are looking for. I have found them very easy to deal with, and I am about 12,000kms away.

No other suggestions coming through, so I will give an uneducated opinion. 2 thoughts come to mind. First, see if you can get some information from pics on here. Second, the cheap kids toy set of chaps that my son plays with, has got a belt with the chaps hanging off it and small straps to go around the leg below the knee. Not really difficult to imagine.