JayEhl

Hi, certainly did not mean to denigrate your pricing and did not realize there was an option. I am still considering it but my girl is still in the shop. Besides, I'm still recovering from overspending from Christmas.

I was on the fence, too, but since you've added 'leather originals' I think you added just the right touch. But go with whatever makes you happy. You're the maker!

I bought my Techsew 2700 used and the table came with it didn't have the original long bolts/nuts etc. I went tot the local hardware store and bought the parts and it works fine but it is cumbersome and with the long bolts hanging off of the danged thing it gets in the way of other things. I was about to order one of these from that Etsy but she wanted $135! Danged machine is in the shop, anyway, so it'll be awhile until I can pull it out of hock. But if you can get yours for a cobra for $55 I would jump on it.

I know. And considering the source....

Are you selling these?

Are you planning to sell these?

I bought mine from Granger but its the same thing. (At the time HF was out and didn't expect to get any in for several months due to supply chain issues) If you go with something like that know that your pressure is pointed to one area, meaning you'll have to do multiple passes to click your dye through, depending on how big it is. You'll want to get a metal plate for the top and bottom. I found one at a scrap metal place that wasn't far from the house but every time I moved the project around to adjust for the size I moved the dye and had a double stamp. (I was using letter stamps). I ordered a plate from Etsy that attaches to the ram that will more evenly distribute the pressure and am waiting for it to arrive.

You could get a dye made and click out your own. For small thing like that an arbor press would work well. I guess it would depend on how much your time would be worth. And your customers would probably never be able to tell.

You can also look at getting wallet inserts from Tandy or others off the interwebs

I do not profess myself to be any kind of expert and many others here have way more experience than I, but I can tell you that true leather working sewing machines (with walking foot) aren't cheap to start with; but you can get some manual versions (hand crank) that will be less expensive. I cannot attest to the qualities but I've hear Tipman Boss machines are pretty good. New they look to be a grand but you may find it used, cheaper. But if you want to go the used route stay tuned this forum for items that are being sold, ebay, etc. Good luck ~JL

Man that was alot of work. Great two tone colors.

You can find HDPE from used kitchen equipment stores, But if you want to go with mats, JOANNS fabircs has them on sale 1/2 price pretty frequently if you have that kind of store.

Wow, that is some fine tooling. Looked like it was a fun project. I'd go with the leather instead of elastic as the others said.

maybe rubbing a light coat of bees wax?

This might help:

Where are you located?

By any chance are the skivers still available? I can pick up.

I just love the creativity this group brings out. Well done!

A steep beveler is a tool that has a steep angle. Barry King has a really nice line of steep bevelers but I'm sure there are others including Pro Leather Carvers: https://www.barrykingtools.com/groundersbevelers.htm https://proleathercarvers.com/products/smooth-steep-angle-beveler-set-2 I bought my set from BK and they helped my work a great deal. I'm sure others here will have their own opinion, though. I can only attest for BK tools and have not tried others. ~JL

I'm certainly not a commercial belt maker and have only made a handful of belts but I use a very small piece of sponge about the size of a finger nail folded in half squeezed together by a wooden clothespin. I found the wool daubers get too messy but this one I just toss the sponge away when I'm done. Works pretty well for me.

Fortunately, my kids have grown so its just the two of us but yea, its not cheaper and I get insulted by the grocers shrinkflation methods. Funny how they blamed increased fuel prices for increased food prices but when oil came down the food prices sure didn't. And now since the oil empires are cutting production to prop up their failing country you can sure expect our own grocers to follow suit.

I'd hang that in my office!

Of course the trade off will be an increase in the price of the beef down the road.

I like this idea, too, and i think I am gonna 'steal it' for a patch for a plain ball cap I have. Kind of like a secret handshake!