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Those rough outs are for ranch work and the owner is on top of keeping them clean. Thank you for the complements. I'm glad I'm not the only bootmaker here too. Yes, I do intend to send a pair to Sheridan this year. I just sent off a pair of RO Waxed French Calf to a Kansas cowboy. (I'll post pics elsewhere). I wanted to add a coat of wax for extra protection, but it loses so much of it's beauty. I did that once, and the customer wanted it taken off. It didn't go so well. From my excursion to the Wickenberg Leather Show, I brought back a water resisting product from Bee Natua,l that is supposed to be good for "suede". I'm going to try it out and see how much it changes the surface. Obenaufs Leather Protector, which I really like and sell to wildland firefighters, really darkens light colored rough out. Keep up the good work!

Nice looking work Frank. It's not easy keeping the rough out clean is it? Your inlay work sure looks good!

A little more information on the sole gaurd material I was refering to. It is available from shoe finders, and it's made by several different companies. I use Topy most of the time, but have used other brands. I think it comes in a 36" square sheet, and is about 2mm thin with a very high abrasion resistance, and is quite non-slip even on wet tile. Any of the contact cements appropiate to leather will work. I'd suggest two coats on the leather and one on the rubber. One really can expect years and years of wear. Good Luck.

Nice job! It looks like you stitched, then turned them right side out. Am I right? Did you use a tunnel stitch. where the stitch wouldn't show from the bottom? A thin rubber sole gaurd would make these eternal. Keep up the good work.

[ Ok, now that i just wrote that, it does seem unlikely , but what the hey, I took time to write it, so I will give it a shot. Newf, Ooh. Heavy topic. I'm going to Watch this Topic. I'm not a saddle maker, but please allow me to drop in. I've had similar concerns while learning boot making "on my own", (as much as it may be called such in these days of information). But I have some thoughts about independence and individualism when it comes to propositions like this. For many of us, this is why we chose to go with such an acane trade to begin with, that is "to march to our own beat". And on the other hand, having suffered the same frustration as I'm hearing from your perspctive on the issue, I think it will be an interesting discussion. You maybe should be prepared to be asked if you're will to administer the deal if it should fly.

Nice clean looking machine. I got one in a trade a couple of years back, but it came on a table. Seems wierd to me, after years of working on patchers in shoe repair shops to have one that is mounted on a table. The arm, and therefore the "business end", is like 6" above the table. Fine for using the swivel feature for patches etc., but limiting for stitching boots. So I'm on the hunt for a stand.

Thanks Bruce. See you there then.

Thank you Storm. This was an interesting project and real challenge. But I took way to long to get it finished.

Mornin' All, Well it's finished and delivered to a very happy customer. (I told him I'd share any responses, so please let me know what you think.) The cover is 7oz. W/C carving leather which I bring in as "milled". The lining is 3oz. GN Saddle Cow lining. The handle wrap is bull hide which matches a knife sheath I made for hiom some time back. He wanted it with "features" so it's a pretty heavy piece, 4lbs.! Please take a look and let me know what you think. Back to the bench, Paul

Howdy all, I'm playing with the web site this morning. Familiarizing myself, you know? Haven't downloaded the spell checker yet, so please excuse any... For this exercise, if you will, I've posted pictures of a portfolio I'm finishing, still need to stitch it. I'll include pictures of the completed item when I'm done stitchin' it. The back is stamped with Bob Beards Tri-weave tool, (that ain't easy for me). The front is the customer's business logo, done in the 'rubber cement/leather dust' putty embossed method. (What a mouthful! I usually call it the Barr method, or some such) Along with the putty, I used a leather plug behind the knife in the forground. It helped to straighten out the plane of the blade. I'll posted finished pics later. Back to the bench, Paul

Try here. Zigon Press - Index of leather magazines: The Leather Craftsman, The Craftsman and Make It With Leather: 1956-1979 Make It With Leather and The Leather Craftsman: 1980-1990 The Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal: 1991- ZIGON PRESS 2647 BETHEL CREST DR, STE 600 BETHEL PARK, PA 15102-3849 Frank Zigon Email: frank.zigon@verizon.net