Striker1

I recently priced sewing machines for leather and they are completely out of my price range. Are there any standard machines that will do an acceptable job on purses and other, thicker leathers? Holsters and the like? thanks.

A Marine? My Father was a Marine. Took a head wound from a Burp Gun and had a steel plate in his head since the Korean War. Was an iron worker and died of heart failure 5 years ago. He was the most fearless man I've ever known. I miss him. Any finishing supplies, dyes or tools for cutting or splitting are my biggest need right now as far as I can tell. At any rate, the members of the board have been so generous I won't be asking for any further help as my pride is beginning to make me feel as if I'm taking advantage of some great people. Don't mean to. If you'd like to send something you don't need that would be great but I won't be asking the members for anything else. Thanks so much for your response and help. Drive on!

Can I get personal and ask your hourly rate for carving, etc? If you'd like to keep it private, you can PM me. Thanks Curt. I'm not trying to pry but it looks like I'll have an order via Craigs List shortly.

To everyone who took the time and showed me the generocity to help me get started I just want to say Thank-you from the bottom of my heart. If I can help anyone on the forum in any way please let me know. I owe you all. After looking at some of the talent I've seen on this forum, I'm humbly grateful to be in this community of craftsmen(ladies.) Thank-you so much. Curt.

I know this has been asked alot of times and alot of different ways but could someone give me a rough idea of the framework you all use to charge for your work? Using guitar straps as an example, what should I charge for what? Tooling, design, lacing etc? I don't want to underrcut everyone else but I don't want to give the stuff away either. I'm out of practice but I DO do good work. Any rough ideas?

Thanx for your service as well. Tragically, I just seen on the news that an FA/18 went down in a neighborhood near San Diego. The Pilot ejected but join me in prayers for those on the ground. Thanks for your help. By and by, I just got an inquiry from a gal whose boyfriend is in a band and she wants three custom guitar straps for the bands guitarists. Anybody wanna chime in on what I should charge? I know it varies per intricacy but how 'bout a hint or two? I have great hopes for this. I love to create.

1'' to 4" wide/ from 3/8" thickness down to 1/8" I'm making guitar straps. I imagine I'll have to have it split or buy it in the right thickness.

Thanks, I didn't know. I'll give them a call.

Is there a way to split leather (thickness) w/o a splitter? Hope so cause they cost a BUNCH!

Just 'bout anything would be a great help but scrap leather and dyes, finishing chemicals and such would be great. thanks for your help! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas.Your's truly Curt. U.S. Army '73-'75 Thanks a bunch.

Hi. My name is Curt and I am a Disabled Veteran, happily married to a great gal named Kitty. We celebrated our 11th. Anniversary yesterday. We live in Newton, Iowa. I learned leathercraft in 1984 at the V.A. Hospital and loved it but gave it up for many years to drive a truck OTR. My best piece was a wildlife portrait of a mountain lion crouching to pouce on a deer from a bluff. My Mother still has it displayed on the wall and people marvel at it still. I'm really proud of that piece. I hope to learn a lot from the other craftsman on this board and hope to make some friends in the process even though I am going to take a chance of offending some members by possibly coming accross as a mooch. I find myself in a situation where my health has taken a turn south rather quickly. In the past three months I have been in a cardiac intensive care unit, contracted pnuemonia, bronchitus and two weeks ago was hospitalized for emergency removal of a kidney stone the size of Plymouth Rock. Needless to say it was all very expensive and the cost of medication has led to us choosing between meds and other neccessities. In order to bring in some x-tra income I've taken up leathercraft again with an eye toward making custom guitar straps. (I'm a Blues Guitarist(not working). I have been able to put together a minimal set of hand tools but I need much more in the way of dyes, finishes and other tools and accessories. If anyone has some x-tra items a craftsman needs and wouldn't leave themselves short, I would be grateful if you could see yourself clear to pass them to me. I may be able to pay for some items but anything would be a stretch right now. I will try though. Please PM me for a phone #. Please understand that I have always payed my bills and would NEVER consider placing such a request like this under normal circumstances. In any case I hope this introduction doesn't cause any members to think less of me as I will need tips and advice from time to time and don't want to poison relationships before I even attempt to make some friends. Anyway, I'm looking forward to joining the community and learning what I can. Thanks.