jsangl

Hey all, been having that little itch that’s been gnawing at me for a while that finally can’t be ignored any longer and needs scratched. I’ve been looking into handmade shoes and boots for a while, but can’t seem to find any real direction when it comes to finding and obtaining lasts and types/sizes. Anyone able to point me in the right direction?

What are thoughts on not using Resolene and just using a finish such as Fiebing’s Leather Balm with Atom Wax? I’ve buffed and buffed and I’m not really getting any residual dye on my cloth at this time. Will the dye still bleed, or should it be stable enough to not need Resolene?

Thanks guys! I usually work with veg tan that I just oil and allow to acquire a natural patina or with pre-dyed stuff. I haven’t worked much with self dying, and it’s my first experience with Fiebing’s Pro and Resolene, so any insight was definitely appreciated!

Quick question guys.. I’m dying some veg tan with Fiebing’s Pro dye and I have put some neetsfoot oil on, but now I’m looking for some clarification.. Should my next step be resolene (50/50 mix) and then a conditioner (such as leather balm w/ atom wax) or should it be the other way around? I’m not looking for a high gloss, just something to give my dye a bit more of a richness and not rub off on clothes or furniture (making a messenger bag/briefcase). Also, may be a dumb question.. After application of resolene, how well do you find that your leather takes conditioners down the road? My mind tells me the acrylic would inhibit it, but I don’t have the experience of working with it to know. So.... edjamuhcate me, fellas! Thanks for the help!

Hey all, would appreciate some input on some chinks I tried. Tooling could be a bit more refined, but for my second set, I was pleased with how they turned out. Any constructive criticism is welcome. Also, for whatever reason, I can’t upload multiple pictures, so I’ll have to add more pics in the replies.

Hi all, my name is Jason and I'm a bit addicted to leather working (sounds like our version of an AA introduction..ha). I'm a fairly newb to the field, having picked up the hobby/addiction in the past couple of years. I've always enjoyed high quality leather goods and examples of true craftsmanship, no matter the field. However, from a retail perspective, these goods aren't 'cheap', and rightfully so. I've always had a need to 'create' and have fueled that need by drawing, painting, etc. throughout the years, but something about leatherwork has always appealed to me, as not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it's highly functional as well. So, like many others, Tandy and copious amounts of YouTube videos became my introduction to leatherwork. My mindset with any of my products has always been to enhance my level of craftsmanship and avoid taking shortcuts, especially after hearing a phrase, "Compromise elsewhere, quality doesn't take shortcuts." I have attempted to slowly increase my skills with each project, with each project adding a new challenge. So far, I've made numerous wallets, belts, card holders, Dopp kits, spur straps, saddle bags, messenger bags and other assorted goods, trying to improve with each one. I've also taken in quite a few saddles to clean up, restore and do minor fixes on, just to become even more familiar with the in's and outs of their construction. All that being said, I knew from early on that my ultimate goal would be progressing to the point of being able to produce a high quality, handmade saddle. While my personal saddles are fine to ride in, there's just something about making your OWN product and it actually being usable!! I've scoured these forums off and on for the past couple of years (but just now having become a member), trying to pick up as much knowledge as possible. I have also acquired the Al Stohlman saddle making encyclopedia and have been reading that quite a bit. I have come to the point where that little 'itch' I have to make a saddle won't go away and just needs to be scratched. While I've always learned by just 'doing' and kinda figuring it out on my own, I'm also smart enough to know what I don't know. And, I know that a QUALITY saddle isn't a project to be taken lightly, and a little instruction/advice/'Do it like this' goes a long way. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to attend a saddle building workshop or school at the moment as I have a full time job. However, seeing as how I'm an RN in the ER, I have long days, but it consequently does allow me to be able to have several free days. So, with all the extra information I've thrown out there, the point of this entire post is this: I'm from a little town called St Paul, Indiana, which is about halfway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati, but isn't exactly a mecca for saddle making. Is anyone on this forum familiar with a true craftsman in the general area that may be open to allowing me to come and spend a day or two or three, so that I could pick their brain/bounce ideas off and try to educate myself more before just stumbling through the process alone? I would be perfectly willing to try and compensate said maker for their time and expertise. Any other advise/constructive criticism is always welcome as well. Thanks in advance all!