chuck123wapati

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!

round cord is used its called welt cord you can google it, sew it inside a piece of your leather to make the round welt then sew then finished welt in when you sew the seam together. you can use plastic tubing or any thing round and with the flex you want.

awesome belt!! makes those 45 70s look small lol, really nice tooling and stitching work!

I would use elk for the tops and heavy moose or sole leather for the soles. I put in the item number 9078 from the pattern and it pulled up "Granger excel leather" if that helps I guess they renamed it.

great idea! I make many of my stamps and leather working tools that's half the fun.

i would also suggest you download all the free books from tandy while you can. Great info!

Interesting I've never seen a tool sold like that but I haven't seen everything lol I'm only 60. the notch is what led me to think it was a ground down knife it is called a sharpening choil, Also it has the tang ground for a finger guard that appeared to be missing. It certainly looks like a useful tool whatever the origin.

looks like an old knife cut down an reground, I have done almost the exact same thing with a 1 1/2 inch thick bladed putty knife. If it works the way it is don't try to temper it you could easily make it to brittle or softer because you don't know what the metal composition is , not all steels take a temper at the same temperature.

Thank you !!!! To share knowledge is a great thing and not done nearly enough in our world today.

is it the one ton arbor press for 56 bucks? 39 if you have a coupon

cool idea indeed a fellow could pick up hundreds at the range or here in Wyoming almost anywhere lol.

Awesome work!!

good thoughts indeed I was thinking maybe the leather was made from parts of an animal that already are shaped similar, many cultures used the male genitalia of animals for bags or pouches.

l'll leave you with this info. http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Tueller/How.Close.htm