Frank

Hey All, I just thought I'd put this out there, simply because I need an outlet. I used to post on here a lot but only get on here every once in a while. Hopefully I'll be on here more often. Almost a year ago (last June 20th) I lost my Dad at age 54 from a stroke. In April 2012, my Mom started having major health issues. She was in and out of the hospital 7-8 times since then and every time, I would have to travel 2 hours to take care of my developmentally disabled Sister who lived with my Mom. I was out of the shop for a good portion of the year. 19 days ago, my Mom passed away, just after her 65th Birthday, 11 months after Dad. I haven't the words to describe these losses. Per Mom's wishes, I was appointed executor of the Will and legal guardian of my Sister. She is currently living here and my work has slowed a bit but soon I hope to be back on track. I will be posting a new tool up for sale here today as I need to get some sense of normalcy back. No matter how bad things seem, just take a look back at what my year has been. Thank God I have great Brothers and Sisters. I'd definitely be lost without them. Frank

No problem Jon....everyone needs a few of these stamps in their arsenal.

I looked at the "patent" and stating the obvious, he says that it includes bullet cartridge elements and a concho that you purchase from Tandy or any other place, was never a bullet, shell, or cartridge at any time. So, it does not contain cartridge elements. The other thing being, if anyone has a photo of a cartridge concho belt, band, collar, etc. that was added to their website prior to 2011, you can blow this guy completely out of the water as infringing on prior art. Tandy can do the same since they had these conchos to be used on leather "bands" prior to this guy. That being said, just do not use the same number of conchos that he has shown on the drawing.

I was going to say that it sounds like a scam as well, to get you to pay "royalties"

Thanks a lot. I really liked the way that it turned out....minus the flub.

Thanks guys, definitely not a problem. As far as the spacing between borders, it depends on what size tool you are using and also what you think looks good. It's a judgement thing....practice a few times on scrap.

Very nice rig. That's the first BBQ rig I've seen for a Blackhawk

Glad I could help out.

Once you oil and then add the finish coat, those areas darken and are hardly visible. The other thing you can do is pull a smooth beveler over it carefully by hand and it will smooth those out but the difference is really nill as far as I'm concerned. Frank

I'll try and explain this to the best of my ability. Lay out your first border. Make sure you cut deep with a swivel knife as this border needs to set deep in a cut, not a groove, so do not use a groover for this. From your first border cut, then scribe your inside line and cut that as well. Make sure you test on scrap as far as the distance to get the spacing you prefer. I always start on the inside corners and work my way to the middle. This way you can alter the tool distance to make sure you come out even on the intial spacing. I then go all of the way around the inside border and finish it up. Always slightly over lap the tool initially until you find the last few spacings that you need. Then alter to fit. Next I start on the outside border line. Start the first impression on the outside border between the first and second impression on the inside border. Line the lip of the tool up even with the border cut. You can tip the tool to see if you are in the middle of the "Wave". Once you see that you are in the middle and the lip is still flush with the groove, then go ahead and make your first impression. Go all the way around the project and stop in between the first and second impression of the corners. When finished, then go back to the outside corners and add one more impression to bring the corner out. Keep in mind the distance in between the other impressions. This is just an eyeball type thing. Once I am finished, then I add a stop or some other tool to the corners to add a little "pop" to them. Hopefully the pictures can show what I am talking about better then me trying to type it. Feel free to chime in if you have anything to add.

No worries Rory. I included a tutorial. You should be able to find it. If anyone has anything to add to it, feel free.

Knut, If you find it, make sure you buy two copies as I want one!! Best of luck Frank

Thanks for the compliments. I can be pretty patient when it comes to stamping and carving. It just takes time to get the hang of...keep at it. Getting frustrated with it will ruin the project since at that point, you don't care anymore. I have had a few projects that frustrated me but when I hit that point, I moved on to a different order and came back to the other one when I had calmed down. I have done this several times back and forth throughout the building process in order to keep my cool. It seems to work for me.

Thanks everyone. Rory, as far as starting that serpentine border, just measure the distance between the two that looks best to you and/or for the project size. I test out on scrap. Then always start on the inside corners and overlap the tool slightly. Run your entire line on the inside first, When you do the outside line, start the first impression between the 1st and 2nd impression on the inside line (in the middle) and then run your entire outside line. Afterward, go back and add one more impression to each of the outside corners. This will give that "wavy arrowhead" effect in the corners. See my mess up on the underside of the flap in the left corner of the photo. I wish I could explain it a bit better...maybe someone could help or I can post photos tomorrow. Those always seems self explanatory. Frank

I've been on a little hiatus with a sick family member and haven't had time to post. I just finished these up. I made a double shoulder rig for my Uncle. A big thanks goes out to Matt Alsaker for the thumb break stiffeners and Lobo for the over sized patterns. I was on a severe time constraint with this one as my Uncle did not like being without both of his CC pistols. This one was made out of horsehide. The second is a chest style hunting rig for my cousin. He's a big dude and I could not get his size prior to making the rig. It's a little big but I will fit it to him in a couple weeks. I also got a half saddlebag with holster pouch finished for a friend. The cantle piece was tapered on both sides and made longer. I attached a weighted pouch (counterweight) to it so it can be hung over a bench seat in the truck. The flap is also elongated to cover more of the holster pouch. The pouch will fit his single action revolvers and his 1911 style semi-autos. I messed up on one stamp in the left hand corner, under the flap. It bugged me to no end but he was tickled to death with the bag. The chestnut color leather really looks great with the copper toned hardware.

A friend of mine who is a tattoo artist, gave me a few of the tattoo gun grips (knurled metal) and they have a set screw drilled into them. I can screw them on a lot of my stamping tools to provide a larger grip

Nice unique and clean design

Thanks very much

It's great to see more and more people from Wisconsin in here. I'm in the Milwaukee area.

Thanks everyone. Just got word from the owner that he got it in the mail today and was extremely satisfied. He's sending more work my way next week.

Very nice rig...quit giving me ideas of what to do in the spare time that I don't have!

I don't think his patterns show double soled Mocs. but it can't be much different. You can go to Will Ghormley's site at http://www.willghormley-maker.com/Moccasin-Trace.html and download his tutorials on 3 different styles of Mocs.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Like I said, I'd prefer to do another one in veg tan to avoid doing the rolled edge but I was fairly happy with the way it turned out.

They do have a small show room. Give them a call in advance and set up an appt. or see if they have time for you to come in. They are usually very busy putting together and sending out orders (there are only 2 of them working). I call in my orders in advance since I know what they have and then pick them up. Frank

If you're looking for dyes, finishes, fasteners, and sewing supplies, you can go to Sew What Supplies in West Allis on Hwy 100 near Sams Club