Outfitr

Thanks so much for the feedback, much appreciated.

Looks real nice, I think the strap is backwards though.

So I've done a little research and it looks like these 2 machine would most likely fit the bill for me. Belts, holsters, sheaths, occasionally a wallet. I actually like hand sewing but belts are a little much. Anyway I'd appreciate any insight as I can't seem to see where these 2 machines differ significantly.

This. 5 times and a bit.

I've been using super sheen for a resist with good results. However on this belt project I wanted something a little different as far as color and dyed it a nice light saddle tan. It dyed very nice and even and I let it dry for several hours. I wanted to antique it because it was basket stamped, bordered, and carved initials. Anyway, I applied my super sheen and it immediately turned extremely dark, it lightened some as it dried but still way darker than before the resist. I went ahead with the antique paste and it turned out OK but darker than I liked. I've been using it on bare leather mostly with brushed on dyed areas like borders and backgrounds and then antiquing and having great results, it never darkens the plain leather so I was surprised at how much it darkened the light dyed leather.?? Anyone else experience this?

I hear ya on the slots. The punches are pretty expensive too. I've been using a sharpened carpenters chisel to cut between the punched holes. Really cleaned up the slots.....until I can buy some punches.

Also I thought I saw pictures of the back of the cases and now I don't see them??

I just finished sharpening 2 new blades, one Tandy and one Barry king. Neither capable of cutting anything especially the Tandy one. About a half hour or more on each one. Started with 400 grit paper on my piece of quartz then to 1500 or 2000 then leather strop. Nice and shiny and polished, they cut nicely now. I pity anyone that thinks these balde would cut because they're new.

I really like those. Love the colors, great workmanship. Mind if I ask how much you sell them for?

I occasionally have that issue with the snaps too, maybe striking too hard? Nice design and workmanship, they're beautiful. What weights of leather do you use?

Modeling spoon use.....on the beveled side or the other? Can you explain the 'cam' tool a little more please? Thanks

A little off topic but I've found that 1" hole spacing regardless of belt width is way too far apart. I switched to 3/4'' and now do 5/8". Myself and customers much prefer more adjustability.

I think they look real good. Only thing I'd add and it's more of a personal preference, I'm not a fan of a slot cut for a belt loop I prefer a sewn on strap. And maybe a welt in front of the sheath if there isn't one already. Anyway, very nice job!

I feel for you guys that go through tons of leather. I'm a hobbiest mostly and see quite a variation in the leather I order even though I don't use near as much as some of you. I just received an economy side skirting leather from my nearby Tandy store. I've used them before and for smaller sheaths and holsters they work pretty well. Suppose to be 10-12 oz. Good lord the smallest I could find on the side was 16 oz. and it went up from there. If it was thinner than advertised, no problem, I can always use it somewhere but this stuff I have no use for. You could use it for a skid plate on your off road truck maybe. They said oh well don't know if we can refund it. So if I can ever get it rolled back up I'll return it and trade it for something else. I can't believe they didn't know it wasn't 10-12 oz. ?

Well that just confirms it..... I suck!

Could be just a pear shader.

Thanks for the pics.

Those are very nice! Machine stitched? Would you mind showing the back to see how you did the strap?

I like this color combination but I can't figure out how to get the lighter color on the A and the leaf. At first I thought it was just the natural veg tan with a resist or the dye painted to avoid those areas but it's not any color veg tan leather I've had. Mine are all darker and a different shade. I figure it can't be a dye because it's a lighter shade than the veg tan is. It looks like more of an ivory or cream color. Is it an acrylic paint with an antique over the top?

You can be proud of that, looks awesome!

I've been using Barge for some time but tried Weldwood recently and while it seems to work fine I don't think it's any stronger or better than Barge.

Could just be the type of leather, too soft.

I had some tandy leather sides that had some real thick and hard areas near the ends. It helped to start the cut at desired width with a knife then insert the strap cutter.

I like tan kote on the belt back after dye and firmly burnish it in with a wood hand tool.

I just posted this on a different thread... no pun intended: I've watched Armitage youtubes and stitch exactly how he shows but alway get a very pronounced zig zag on the back and a less pronounced almost straight on the front.....and, I'm over it! I guess that' just the way it's going to be. It's neat I can live with it. I used to use a drill press but have switched to chisels to mark the front and an awl to poke through and it looks whole lot neater. I just don' get a real pronounced zig zag on the front.