stelmackr

Oh ya, and I bind books with it ;-)

I have a side of the Hide House Royal Blue Croco. What is the size of the small amount you want? Bob Stelmack

I use a book press to do all my clicking and embossing. If you google "book press for sale" and look at the images, you will see what I'm talking about. I remember calculating the force that my book press exerts. It was number of threads per inch, the length of the handle, and the force of the operator. I think I came up with 7-tonnes. The one I have is so nice looking that my wife lets me keep it in the house as part of our furniture decorations. For embossing I place my cased leather on a piece of matte board on top of a hardboard. For clicking I use a cutting board from Harbor Freight. In either case, positioning the leather is critical to a good embossing or clicking. I usually wind up pressing several times, moving the object fore and aft--left and right. Bob Stelmack

hidehouse.com Search for "croco"

When I use garment weight chrome dyed leather (approx. 1.5mm thick), I pull, but at the same time I use my thumb to push and guide the leather. There is an unavoidable small stretch on the edge. I minimize the stretch by using a new blade for each project. Bob Stelmack

http://www.tandyleather.com/en-usd/search/searchresults/3010-00.aspx

This is just my, non-expertise, thoughts: I have three sewing machines Consew 206RB (FERDCO), Pfaff 1245 (FERDCO), and Juki 441 (FERDCO) and those with the pin have the thread going over it as Mariel's pictures show, all the machines have a hole to go through at the very top of the needle. It is located right where the needle enters the needle bar. When I am in a hurry, I always forget this one. If you have one, use it. If not ignore me. Any time I change thread, I tie the new thread to the old thread and pull it through leaving only the hole at the top of the needle and the eye of the needle (L to R) to thread. And if it was sewing good to start with I ask myself what did I just change when the sew errors started . Nine times out of ten I threaded it wrong. I do not adjust any tension until looked at the bobbin, cleaning the bobbin area and making sure the tread is feeding cleanly of the spool.

PM sent Bob Stelmack

I sent you a PM (private message) with the details from Horween for the football leather. Bob Stelmack

The Leathercraftsman by W. E. Snyder © 1936 hard cover book (no dust cover) in good condition. No marks corners show some wear and small water spot on front cover. On offer for $25 with $5 shipping to the US only. Bob Stelmack

Sorry about the joke. I have a request to Horween to ask for price quotes. I can use some for make products. Let me know what size you will need and I'll let you know the price when I know. Bob Stelmack

No suggestions, just call around and ask. I would do that, but I don't need the leather ;-) Bob Stelmack

Boy, that sure looks like some chrome tanned embossed leather I have had that I call "football" leather. see: https://www.google.com/search?q=football+leather&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=e9gaVc_dIYHcoATFvIDABg&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1711&bih=858 Bob Stelmack

This is what I use: http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm/pid/8677/Leather-Tape-1-4-x-60-yds/ http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm/pid/8678/Leather-Tape-1-2-x-60-yds/ Bob Stelmack

I played with all the setting, but perhaps without enough time I didn't get it to do what I needed. Could have been operator error ;-) Since beveling or matting is the biggest time element for me, I thought that the Power Mallet would be the key. I have solved the beveling issue with some custom made Delrin bevelers that fit into a swivel knife in various widths and angles. Sort of like the old Tandy nylon swivel knife molding tool. Norm Lynds make my custom tools. As for matting, I've settled on Bob Beards pebble grain and they seem to work the best for me to eliminate that repeat pattern that seems to plague my use of other matters. Bob Stelmack

At one of the Pendleton Leather Shows I was able to sit down for about 30-minutes to try the Power Mallet. It does have a learning curve. I tried on different weights of leather and found it worked best for me on heavier leather. Saddle weight leather. Since my work is around 3/4/5 ounce I found it a little too robust. Maybe with more time and experience I could have mastered the lighter weight leather. There was a one-armed man who was looking at the mallet and I think those with physical impairments or muscle limits might benefit from the unit. You wanted thoughts--you have mine. Bob Stelmack

I did find that the vinyl, from the fabric stores, can lift text from some items especially printed papers made with a laser printer that uses toner. Other forms of polyvinyl are clearer and don't lift the text. Bob Stelmack

I prefer the Chevy 441 to the Ford 441. ;-)

Test the bearing by using a few drops of oil on the space between the pulley and the mounting shaft. If the noise stops ten the bearing is going dry. Bob Stelmack

Good questions. I have bound many books in leather and in book cloth. Some were paperback books. I use several techniques that I learn from several books. Here are two simple ones: http://store.doverpublications.com/0486201694.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiA99qnBRDnrYCkt4ClzZABEiQAvqPaLCYn0TvjV2HKsw0Bwv4s3wJpAE8HsTazi8YJF4yC3VsaAlWX8P8HAQ http://store.doverpublications.com/048626307x.html To answer your questions would require would be easier if you just get the books and follow the examples. Experiment on a junk book to start with.

I cut thousands of corners every year and use this: http://www.amazon.com/Lassco-Radius-Corner-Rounder-Desktop/dp/B006OEG3JS It is expensive, but cuts leather consistently the same.... Bob Stelmack

Perhaps this can help: http://www.brettunsvillage.com/leather/piece_form.php Bob Stelmack

Would this help? http://www.walrusshoe.com/lasts_home.htm http://bootlast.com/ Bob Stelmack

Was the shipping insured?

Since you have contemplated raising your own cattle, on your own land and tanning your own leather and making products from the venture, I guess you already have your own answer. You can set up a machine shop on your cattle ranch and make your own tools and make the sewing machine of your dreams. You can mine your own minerals and forge the special metals you would need, but those ball bearing are going to be tough. JUST KIDDING Dave! Your questions are entertaining and I thought I could make an entertaining (maybe) answer. Keep up the interesting questions. Bob Stelmack