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This is how I’ll be doing it in future, thanks. I was a bit scared of using too much at first.

Dipped it again, not too bad in the end. I think I wasn’t sponging enough on. I did something else today and went pretty heavy and got much better results. Thanks for the replies.

Oh, cool. I hadn’t realised that happened. Wish I’d just dipped it straight off. Lesson learned.

Yes, erm, that my new patented process.... pdf ten quid etc...

So I sponged on the first coat of Fiebings Pro, then when it was really blotchy I dipped it. What would my best approach be, to try and even this out? I have to have it finished tomorrow!

So much better than my carving efforts. Your bevelling is so much smoother. Great design too.

That’s a lovely wallet *drool*

Cool, I’ll check out Abbey. I just registered with them.

I bought a side recently, which is mainly going into notebooks. Already paid for itself. Next few things I have pencilled in are a strap cutter, a pony and a riveting set.

Wow, thanks for all the great replies. I’m just starting out, and money is a bit tight so I’m getting a couple of bits each month. I’m already selling a few pieces so that’s going back into tools, leather and dyes. I’ll check out all of those sites, thanks. I completely forgot about Leprovo, having bought a couple of things from them a few months ago.

Trying to see if there’s anywhere in the UK with prices close to Germany’s Rickert Werkzeuge, for tools and dyes. Been looking at Tandy an thinking about the value of a gold membership... Any ideas, or favourites gladly received.

Ah brilliant, cheers.

Yeah I have the same set I saw some of the Tandy ones seem a fair bit more defined. But I have a dremel so maybe I’ll hit some of those stamps and see what I can do. At the mo I’m just after background, I doubt my ability to do anything with basketweave... I also need to get a brand name stamp done some time soon. ill have a look at the Czech guy, thanks. edit - wow, just looked at his stamps.

I went with contact rubber, after dyeing. Looked fine. by the way, Fred, can you recommend somewhere with decent stamps? Just the basics. I bought cheap, and think I need to spend a bit on some decent shaders and beveler.

Equally off-topic, I see you work with military canvas.... do you know if it’s possible to dye a haversack? The old type, I think it’s canvas webbing, but I don’t know the lingo.

Also, on a scale of things I’m likely to have in my tool cupboard, wood glue is winning... Sounds intriguing though.

Ah, Ok. Yes I was intended on burnishing. I’ll give the wood glue a go, thanks.

Great advice, thanks. I could sew a pocket into the back, as it’s a travelling journal and, hey, pockets... Yeah the guy will be cool about it, he’s a friend. No way I could not use it as it’s currently the best bit of carving I’ve done to date, somewhat typically. And Rodney, don’t know how I double posted! My iPad does random stuff whenever it feels like it!

Hi all, I got to the stage of having cut out, and carved, a notebook cover before I spotted this half inch split. Note to self - check the bloody leather before you start! Anyway, am planning on gluing it with rubber cement. Should I do this before or after dyeing? Or should I use something else altogether? I’m going to dye with Fiebings pro, and use a leather conditioner afterwards. As always, all advic gratefully received.

Just been researching balms, and came across Kocholine, which apparently is a pinkish colour and can stain yarn. It’s made with various oil and waxes. Might be the culprit?

Cool, thanks. I’ll try this with my next piece. What do you cut your oil dye with? Hope it isn’t something you can only get on the States!

That makes sense. I tried a REALLY cheap sponge a while back and it disintegrated, so I’ll level up and get something with a brand name Aside from the patchiness this stuff had a weird, almost metallic, sheen to it after the third coat, caught the light funny. I guess it’s all a learning curve eh.

Yeah I’m finding the daubering (!) a bit of a chore. I need to investigate other methods. I’m going to try dipping next. It’s a notebook. I made one for my wife and put it on Facebook, and have quite a few orders. The design was from a guy who wanted three runes put together. I don’t actually like it! But he was made up with it, so I’m happy.

So two more coats, and a lot of conditioner, and it turned out ok, phew. Just sold it for £40.

Thanks. I thought I’d gone wrong somewhere, but that’s reassuring. I’ll give it a couple more coats and see if I can rescue it!