chuck123wapati

work on the very tip of your awl out to the widest part it should slide through that, and your thumb, without much pressure at all. Plus some wax beeswax is best on your chisels will help with pulling them out. i used to chisel all the way through, still do sometimes but i also just chisel the first layer before glueing and use my awl to finish if its to thick of a project. I also just use an awl sometimes. Another method i use is to chisel the first layer, glue the welt on then chisel through that. Then lay the third layer in place and mark the top chisel hole take it apart and chisel the whole stitchj line on the third layer use some small brads or nails about every inch to line up all the chiseled holes then glue the third layer down to the welt. I dont use this much anymore as its faster to just glue the third layer to the chiseled two layers and push through with the awl. Also get that cork the leather wont bend then makes it much easier!!

i understand your purchasing problems completly i live in Wyoming a state witha total population of just over 500,000. my town has a walmart and one grocery store. the next closest town is 100 miles away and has a walmart and maybe two grocery stores lol. the closest Tandy is 150 miles over two mountian passes that are not fun in winter.When i was young it was even more desolate so i learned at a young age to make, make do or go without.

man your having a heck of a time just getting the basics. I bypassed all this stuff i use one needle size and made my own awl haft combo lol. Now i remember why. Hang in there friend!!

you can make them tighter by giving the female snap a tiny bit of a squeeze with pliars but you can also ruin them be careful.

i would fix the haft not monkey with the blade. you can run a small drill bit if there is a hole in the center or sand or file the slot larger or both. It shouldn't take much. I wish i had experiece to help you with those but i make my own.

the holster and tooling looks pretty good to me for a first. The chocolate looks black in the pics.

thats cool you could use the correct threads and spi for each needle division also as a way to remember.

Welcome!

That was a great way to repurpose and a great unique look, definatly one of a kind holsters.

any hints where that one came from?

Welcome from wunerful Wyoming.

you have the knack for sure!

thats some cool history wonder what size track it is and the width between? that would tell you the age. I live in rr country also and use two anvils i have made from track. As well the spikes may be high enough carbon to make knives and tomahawks from they are quite a novelty. If i remember right the high carbon spikes had an H stamped on them. I have a spike puller i found years ago lol. looks kind of like a giant claw hammer end you can pound under it with a four /five foot handle.

your welcome Freds way obviously works well also either glue it or stretch it but no need for both. lol Would love to see your work when done please post.

Your welcome hope to see your work

there is no bad popsicle flavor imo lol I'm partial to those orange cream things and they go great with a semi dry rose.

but i use a wine cork lol.

Amen!!! Amen!!!

i doubt that but its your story Now back on topic please so the person asking the question doesn't think all we do is agrue about stupid shit.

yup they need to be razor sharp another method that i use is to glue a piece of 1000 grit sandpaper to a popcicle stick then hold the awl still and flat and polish the edge similar to using a file on a piece of steel. then a piece odf 2000 grit. I find it much easier to keep the shape and angles of the awl that way. Good luck on whatever method you choose.

creepy cool !!

i'm sure you will figure it out. good luck!

awesome tooling there, i like the absract pattern very unique.

great job!!! i make some of my own tools also, i would suggest useing stainless bolts as the steel can sometimes stain the leather black. regular small or jewlers files will cut stainless bolts just fine if you want to cross hatch and such. These are easy to make also lifters, modeling tool and stylus made with stainless all thread and brass nuts, i used leather washers for handles. i chuck them up in a drill and turn them against my grinding belt to get the nice taper.

Do it how ever you want to i'm not going to argue the point any longer if you think adding a couple steps in the process is faster then go ahead and do it that way most beginers do until they get good at sewing. I did i still do but the fact reamains taking less steps is always going to be faster. As i said to tug and you probably read but decided to re state any way. i used the wrong word in enlage, you have to re open them that is what a diamond chisel does it cuts a slit but the shape opens a hole in the center after a few minutes it closes and has to be reopened either with the needles or an awl of some sort. thats what diamond awls and chisels do thats why the hole closes after you sew it up thats why you hammer it a bit to set the thread and close the holes. i also wrote this to tug. Most of the miscommunication comes from us because we all make diferent products with diferents leathers and diferent personal opinions. Beating a chisel through three layers of 10 oz is not the same as running a chisel around the edge of a 2mm wallet and takes alot longer to do than just useing an awl and neither is sewing the two the same by any means. I can easily sew a wallet without re-opening the holes not so much with a holster.