FatSmitty

Awesome work!!! I wish that I were that good with a swivel knife!

The edgeing looks to light to me as well-could be a Screwy Louis.

My dad had a basic seven set and tooled a little in the late 70's and thru the 80's, and when me and my brother would go to visit we would make belts and stuff. I have always loved leather stuff, just the smell of leather alone, and growing up in Arizona with western art and style all around. I have always enjoyed arts and crafts, especially drawing, leatherwork just seems like a natural creative outlet. I enjoy anything custom made or handcrafted. A few years ago a friend wanted a nice western floral belt, and didn't like any of the embossed/china made junk they sell at most western wear stores these days, and I said that we used to do those when I was a kid, so I asked my dad about the tools and stuff and he let me borrow it all. Well it ended up being alot harder than I remember, (my dad did most the workback then) but I stuck with it and kept adding to the tools/books I had. I am a avid hobbiest and enjoy making gifts for friends and family. When my dad saw that I stuck with it and really enjoyed it, he gave me the leather stuff.

Thank you Terry! I'll give that a try, I'm glad that I don't have to buy a new mallet. Nevada

I have a Garland rawhide mallet that I've had for 5 or 6 years now, but it has only been used maybe 25 to 30 hours. The striking surface is starting to "flake off" or crush up and come off in tiney specks that get in my work. Is this normal wear and tear? What is the expected life span of rawhide mallets? Is there something that I can do to reface or surface the mallet to get more service out of it? I've considered oiling the faces of the mallet, but I am concerened that it would ruin the mallet-i.e. make it mushey, or not be firm enough to strike a good impression. Any thoughts or advice is welcome. Thank you, Nevada

I have searched here and read thru the forums and haven't found much on this. I'm looking to buy a sewing machine when tax returns come in and am doing reserch now to make the best decision that is possible. I am a hobbiest looking to do belts, wallets, purses and in the future chaps. I have carpal tunnel syndrome and when I only get short amounts of time here and there to work on leather so I would like to be able to get maximum production from my time and hand sticthing is rough for me. I know brand loyalty is what it is, but here is what I am looking for in a machine: $2000 or less, reliability, and ease of use for beginer. I live several hundred miles from a large metro city, so I'd like to get a machine that will allow me to do the maintenance myself, within reason. Any thoughts or opinions are welcome. Thanks, Nevada

Hello! I'm interested on learing how to lace with stainless steel lacing, I have searched the forum with the search feature on stainless steel lacing and I have only come up with posts on suppliers. Is this called something other than stainless still lacing? I want to learn how to lace with the metal lace such as you see on saddle cantles and on belts. Any info on books or how to posts would be greatly appreaciated. Or if I need to look for another term other than stainless steal lacing. Thanks in advance, Nevada