stelmackr

A friend of mine show me how to place some low tack shelf lining paper over the leather and the paper prevented the black dust from landing on the surface. This was demonstrated to me with a veg tanned piece, but I assume it would work for chrome tanned. Bob Stelmack

A1) Do you ship outside the United States? No. There are lessons learned from experience. There is a very high cost to the customer both for the basic shipping cost and the insurance. Last time I sent (USPS) a book cover to Canada it was almost $40 just for the shipping of a Basic Big Book cover. There is also an additional cost to the customer for duties imposed by their country. I've been asked to ship as a gift to avoid some countries duties, but that goes against my choice to be honest in my actions. When covers were lost there was additional time and effort to recover the insurance money--time lost away from making covers. There may be alternatives to get custom made leather AA literature covers. If you have a friend in the US, I would be happy to receive the payment from them, make the cover and send send to them allowing them to ship overseas. Or, there are other custom leather book cover makers that may ship overseas. Here are some samples (links may not be up to date): ....links deleted for this message....

Greetings, Just thought I would show some of the stuff I make. I'm showing for a couple of reasons. (1) People are occasionally asking about putting lettering on leather (vegetable tanned) in circles and (2) Some design features of medallion holders and pen/pencil holders and closures. The following four pictures show a book cover that I had obtain to permission from Cocaine Anonymous to make since their CA logo is a registered trademark. After I received the "one-time, single use" permission I used some moveable lead printing type to form the logo. The "CA" was formed with the Baskerville printing type font and the HOPE, FAITH and COURAGE were formed with the Stymie printing type fonts. The circles were sections of PVC pipe and metal pipe cut to the same height as the printing type. A book press was used to emboss the logo into the cased vegetable tanned leather. I wish I had a good clicker, but the book press works OK for me. The little ® registered trademark symbol was formed with a small letter "R" and the circle around it was just the light impress of a small hole punch The prayer in the center was produced by http://www.greyghostgraphics.com/stamps.html and was pressed into the leather with the same book press. The Grey Ghost graphic stamp was a stamp without a handle. The pen/pencil snap/strap is just a simple way to add to any completed slip-on book cover. The medallion holder is a little more complex. The applique sewing channel was formed like the circles in the logo and then a hole was cut out with a 1-1/2" punch. The leather was dyed with antique dye. Then a clear .020 vinyl section was glued to the back side of the applique patch with contact cement. The applique was temporarily placed on the front and the location for the second hole was marked on the cover. That marked hole was punched out with the same 1-1/2" punch. Then the applique was place in the cover, aligning the two holes, with double back leather tape from http://www.wawak.com/products/product.cfm?pID=8677. The applique was sewn on and the medallion was adhered to the piece the was punched out of the cover. The medallion/leather circle is placed in the hole a taped in with Gorilla tape. The medallion is easily changed by pealing back the Gorilla tape and replacing the medallion. If you would like more details on lettering on leather, please see: http://aaleatherbigbookcovers.com/download/Typography%20in%20Leather%20Article.pdf Hope this helps someone. Bob Stelmack.

Looks like a marlin spike used for maritime braiding.

Well, looking at the article showing the letters that are clamped together. Take the letters; place on the cased leather, place a piece of matte board (cardboard) under the letters; then make a sandwich out of the letters/leather/cardboard and add a hardwood board on the top and bottom and use a large "C" clamp and the squeeze the sandwich together. Presto-changeo the letters are embossed in the cased leather. You only need one set of lead type and you can make any name. I would suggest 36pt font in serif or sans serif. Bob Stelmack

I did find a process to emboss letters in leather. You can use a simple "C"clamp to do the embossing, which would make it portable. You can find large fancy script letters on eBay or from M&H Type Foundry. Here is a link to see what I used: http://aaleatherbigb...her Article.pdf Bob Stelmack

I make quite a few leather slip-on book covers and I agree that that style of cover can ruin a book. The suggestion I make to people that receive my covers is to make a dust cover out of a paper grocery bag and put that dust cover on the book before inserting the book into the slip-on leather cover. The smooth paper allows the book's covers to slide as the book is open and closed. That prevents putting strain on the spine of the book. Bob Stelmack

If you are not very familiar with your sewing machine, my I suggest you hold off until you have a better idea where the problem is. When my machine stops sewing correctly I stop and think about what was the last thing I adjusted or touch on the machine (i.e. changed thread, replaced needle, etc. That is where the problem lies. If the machine is new to you then go slowly and refrain from multiple changes. Don't ask me why I know this ;-) Good luck with your research... Bob Stelmack

Have seen this in some leather magazines and tested at Sheridan. Might be more portable, but I don't know how it compairs to the machine in question: http://www.artisansew.com/pdf/TORO3200BT_Brochure06_2014.pdf Bob Stelmack

Interesting read.

BDAZ, Well said and I love the reference to cognitive dissonance in regards to leather machine preferences. Bob Stelmack

You might try the following: http://www.pslac.org/extras/extras.htm The access information is" User: guest Password: guest Hope this helps. Bob Stelmack

http://www.dharmatrading.com/chemicals/reduran-hand-cleaner.html

http://www.leathercraft.jp/ct_c.jsp?id=5

Sure, make an offer...

Leather Books http://kpr.craigslist.org/art/4463155679.html Bob Stelmack

Tandy Craftaids http://kpr.craigslist.org/art/4463147910.html Bob Stelmack

Tandy Leather Patterns http://kpr.craigslist.org/bks/4463141993.html Bob Stelmack

Make It With Leather Magazines http://kpr.craigslist.org/bks/4463133655.html Bob Stelmack

Some leathercraft related catalogs, flyers and calendars from the 1970's. http://kpr.craigslist.org/bks/4463123336.html Bob Stelmack

This many be off the track of what you are asking, but I assume that you are anticipating figuring the COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) for the Schedule C of the IRS 1040. Each side of leather I receive, I record the cost (including shipping), the square footage and I actually weigh the leather (in ounces, not the thickness in ounces). Then at the end of the year I weigh the what is left from the side and a simple spread sheet yields the leather used and takes into account whatever waste occurred. Hope that helps. Bob Stelmack

Here is a place for ideas: http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=leather%20scrap%20crafts&rs=ac&len=10 Bob Stelmack

Craftools removed from offer. Please lock this thread. Bob Stelmack

Cost reduced to $400 for 62 stamps. That is $6.45 per stamp. Just trying to help out a lady whose leathercraft husband passed away earlier this year. If you have a fair offer for the 1970/1980 Craftool Leather Stamps, let me know.. The tools are marked "CRAFTOOL CO USA". http://kpr.craigslist.org/for/4435207557.html Bob Stelmack

I found them at Ace Hardware.