chuck123wapati

That was a good question , I would think the crafters experience would play into it also, less experienced, myself included, wouldn't know what to look for in some of the flaws no matter how they were producing the piece.

Awesome work on both!!!!

Why would you say that? Is there some fact hidden that says machine made goods will always make a profit? But again quality wasn't the point of the original post.

I find also that folks that have moved up to machines to make it easier have also downplayed the term once they aren't doing what they once considered handmade. My intent isn't to spark argument or make anyone's methods wrong but to open conversation and possibly find a medium ground amongst all as to the definition. This video is hilarious, probably why its title is captioned comedy, satire. We all know that sub par products can be made just as easily and far faster by machine but quality wasn't the issue of my question.

Now I know!!! LOL

I found a free downloadable copy of this book on the web

beautiful!!! To nice to tote around in the woods lol.

People have been trapping as long as they have been hunting why would it be considered morally wrong?

Yup by poachers not ethical hunters, its really to bad they cant enforce good hunting laws and ethical behavior as we have in the U.S. I do know the native peoples used them as a food source historically and most hunters donate the meat to locals. Here is an awesome picture I took last week while hunting Elk, these Moose were reintroduced close to our area about 20 year ago and have been doing great, all the hunters were taking pictures of them as they haven't been on this side of the mountain before. All due to sportsmen and hunters and good ethical game laws put in place by professional animal biologists.

My only experience with veg oil is from people trying to use it as a lubricant in the food industry on meat slicers. It turns to gummy mess, then hard as heck not to mention the rancid smell. Hope you have better luck than that. I use any of the leather products traditionally used, Neets foot oil ,mink oil, sno seal, etc. Never had a problem most oils will darken your leather that I have used. There is a new post from someone who tested a bunch of products, seems to be good info.

Very well said!

Friggin cool stuff !! I will post when I get back from the boonies, two weeks of huntin Elk!!!

the thumper I use I whittled out of a scrub oak branch I'd post a picture but you all would laugh at it. It works well, was free and is easily replaceable.

LOL I have done that, learning to knap was my big hang up as well as fleshing out a hide and brain tanning, sorry didn't make the bow or arrows that killed the deer. So does it still count?

Interesting, so to you the term handmade is an essentially useless term and all products stand only on quality of their build no matter the machine processes or human work involved?

I like that opinion it as good as any.

I think you are right to a point, in the more modern countries it would be true in some countries however hand made is still how most things the poor folk use are made. many of our definitions are coming to be marketing messages, I always laugh at the car commercial that shows a steering wheel cover being hand stitched to the wheel people believe that crap or just go along with it I guess.

Yes I think personal ethics plays a big part in it. Obvious some hand powered tools would disqualify a product no matter how much "hand" work was done , a belt embossing wheel for example. consumers would see the obvious pattern and dismiss the belt as machine made, however a hand tooled belt would be considered handmade even though all the rest of the crafting would be the same as the embossed belt.

Nope I understood your comment no worries here. Social media has made us all a little gun shy I think lol and quite often misunderstood. I agree with you r comment about hand power tools, often if a person is not good with them they can ruin an article much faster than you can wink an eye so the person is still in command of the operation and still doing it by "hand".

No back story at all and no ill intent I don't play those games lol! I want to know what I would consider my products to be and how to compare them to other leather products. I am also curious as it seems to be a very grey area not just in leather work but other crafts as well. You have good points indeed but couldn't all those tools you mentioned be used in a high production setting as well? Thanks for the link.

Don't factories, or those cheap labor sweat shops do that exact same thing?

so then I would also have to make my hand tools, thread etc. ?

you mean hand tools only? That's my opinion also but have talked to some who disagree and cite some grey areas for example a non motorized sewing machine or clicker press?

Just wondering what the thoughts are on "handmade" . Is sewn on machine considered handmade or does it disqualify the item since most factory made stuff is sewn on a machine. How about machine cut. What are the parameters for calling your work handmade?

great job on both!