Tom Katzke

Anyone out there keep the instructions or know how to recoat the grit wheel? Mine is in need of attention. Thanks, Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Holly, 2 suggestions. Grey Ghost Graphics. Look in LCSJ for add. If you do not get it let me know and I can look it up. Try a local shop that does laser engraving. We had a plate made for embossing letters in a project. Not cheep at about a buck a letter. Sure beat doing them all by hand. The big thing is it was just a flat plate so you need to find a way to use it. If you go that way I can tell you what we did. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

We went to a draft horse show this weekend. It has only taken us 16 years to get to it. Do not know why as it was very interesting. Never knew there were so many different ways to put together harness. The best part of the show was the entertainment they had between classes so the competitors could set up there hitches for the next class. If you like to see 8 horse hitches in full action go to this web site. http://www.crazy8ponies.com/ It is for The Crazy Eights. They have five 8 horse teams running full tilt in the arena all going different directions. OK so they use ponies (how else are you going to get 5 teams to do this in an arena?) but the little buggers are running full out and can get the wagons in a 4 wheel slide. They have a video that shows it better then I could describe it. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Well I found one searching the net for images. I will use it as inspiration not copy exactly. I will take pictures and post a set with progress from start to finish. Not exactly a sniffing pig but he will look cute with a rose in his mouth. Not as good as with an apple and spinning on a slow fire, but that is a different use for the little guy. http://www.lindapicken.com/country/pages/B...20Fence_jpg.htm Tom Katzke Cemtral Oregon

Yippee I get to be the first to post to this section. I am making a hunting holster for a friend. The gun is a Ruger Super Redhawk with a 7 1/2 inch barrel (I think that is right). No not much of a barrel for hunting but that is a different subject. He originally wanted a low slung space blaster type rig. I was able to talk him into a shoulder rig by using some of your arguments. Now the holster will not be that hard but the straps are a mystery to me. They need to be adjustable for practice during warm weather and also for over heavy hunting clothes (it rains during hunting season there). I have been sent some pictures but I can not figure out the details from them. I am not going to go into production so you do not have to worry about giving away any of your secrets to the competition. Any help in designing a hunting rig for an old friend (not that he is old, just known him for a big part of my life) is much appreciated. He lives a few hours away so I would like to be able to get any measurements by email. Final fitting and hole punching will be done in person. Thanks, Tom Katzke Central Oregon (the dry part of Oregon)

Anyone of you take up Siegels offer to try out Sedgwick Conditioner? I did and just tried it. To early to tell how it works but I did notice a distinctive smell. Send me a PM if you do not want to make a public comment. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Depends on how many laps you run, then factor in pit stops. You have to turn right to get out of the pits you know. Me I watch for the wrecks. Used to like figure 8 races but do not even think they have them any more. Then there were the jalopy races, the ones were you could not pass clean you had to spin the guy out, kind of like Jeff did to win this week. No local track to go to so I am stuck with what is on network TV. Know how much leather and how many tools you can buy for the price of cable? Ok so I dug deep and paid the 6 bucks for 3 months of TNT on my trusty C-Band dish so I could watch the race this last weekend. How's that for taxing you tech-heads? Ever hear of C-Band? Yes it is old but I get to watch Mystery (for free) on PBS, a real convenience as it is not on till bedtime on our local station. Now look for a leather related post from me tonight. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Thanks Johanna, I use Irfanview as well as Picasa. They work fine for quick fixes of about half of my images. I am not happy with the way the other half come out. I find that my requirements are getting above the capabilities of these programs. I just found out that PhotoShop has a way to change the perspective of an object. No more needing to get the lighting just right to cut glare and no more need to accept pictures of reflective objects that have the camera reflected like a mirror. I have resisted getting PhotoShop for all this time and now have been talked into it. It unfortunately seems to be the industry standard for fixing images. I find that most people willing to give advice are using it. Best way to put that advice to work is use the same program they are. I have no intention of using the pirated copy. It is going to Adobe after I swear out a complaint with the Postal Inspector for Mail Fraud. I am looking at other ways to get my pound of flesh from the pirate. Any suggestions on other software that will do advanced photo fixing are welcome. I am not excited at the prospect of learning the intricate details of PhotoShop. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

I finally decided to get PhotoShop. I can only run up to Windows version 7.0 as my system would need to be upgraded to run anything newer. It works fine otherwise so that is out till it quits. I took the chance and got a copy off of eBay. It is pirated so I am fighting with the seller to refund my $. That is a story in its self. I have searched to try and find a good source for software on-line. Could not find any that sold older versions. Any suggestions on where I can get a legal copy of PhotoShop 7.0 for Windows? I would really like a printed book and a copy I can register so when the system gets upgraded I can upgrade the software. Oh and cheep too. I am not asking for much am I ? Tom Katzke Central Oregon

My wife Sheryl is the braider but we just had this conversation. I will take some pictures and post them in the next day of some of her work. She has done an applique S and a snake that we still have. She adjusted the spacing of the holes. Think of the spokes on a wagon wheel. The closer in to the hub the closer the spokes are to each other. The farther out from the hub the farther apart they are. There is a point that you would have such a tight corner that you would have to double up on the inside holes but if you are talking curves then changing the spacing will work and look nice. In fact it looks better then doubling up lace in the inside holes does. I think this is what you were asking about. If you are asking about an edge braid like the double loop (cordovan) then there are only one line of holes. With the braid on the inside you would not need to drop any holes. You would want to space the holes out more then you would if you were braiding on the outside. The same reason as with an applique. You have less room on the inside and the lace would get squeezed together. I do not think there is a formula, just have to do a short test to work it out. Tom Katzke & Sheryl Central Oregon

OK now that you are curious. Our fair has a theme this year of pigs and roses. I am thinking of doing an embossed wall hanging of a pig smelling some roses. The roses are easy even though I think roses are about the hardest thing to do. I am not well enough along in my drawing ability to do the pig. So what I need is a profile of a pig that looks like it is sniffing anything. A dead on profile would not be as interesting as one looking just a bit ahead. Thanks to anyone that can come up with one. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Bruce, What a great idea, a guest book. Not all people needing to go to homes have poor memories but many do. A guest book so when the family visits they can check to see if anyone else has been there. There is usually a table or dresser available to put one on. Tom Katzke Central Oregon

Holly, I have seen places where you can order just one side. I think I have even seen the parts listed separate. You might try some of the suppliers to see if they can help you out. Hope this helps. Other then that the only other suggestion would be to do some the other way and have more of the snap tops, maybe combine them with other decorations like spots. Tom Katzke

Though question. We are mostly buying leather at this point so I went with other. We buy most of our supplies and tools from Hide Crafter. A few from others. We try to get what we need at the trade shows. Like to touch, look, and feel. Tom Katzke