tsunkasapa

Other uses for the corks; after you've been stabbing into one for a while, it will get rather chewed up. It makes a great 'pincushion' to keep your needles in. Also, if you have a round handle awl, stabbing it into the cork at an angle will keep it from rolling off the bench when you set it down.

+1 on the wine corks, but it's a good thing I have friends that drink it, because wine is disgusting. Every bottle is RAISINS that don't get to go into oatmeal cookies!

That's a bit hard on the fingers, all those pointy things and all.

Thingy is a 'Technical' term.

WifesLeatherGuy sent me pics that I have resized. I have never seen anything like it. Perhaps the resist was too heavy? Perhaps not dry enough? Not stirred/shaken enough? Anybody else have an idea?

Not bad. I see what you mean about the latch. One thing that might give you a problem is the 'top' where your handle is attached. A piece of Masonite inside would beef it up so the weight of the firearms doesn't pull it out of shape. Just a thought.

Exactly. I have no idea where that came from, but the old guys at the saddle shop I used to hang out at as a kid did it R to L, and 'near to far' so to speak.

Well done! For crosshatching, try either draw filing or use a needle file to cut one line at a time.

I think you have it exactly right.

I cover EVERYTHING. The antique will only stay in the impressions. And I let it sit for maybe 10 minutes. Here is a Christmas card I did, and then antiqued. This was Sheridan brown. But I do oil the leather before the resist. This will darken the leather a little, or a lot, depending on how heavy you do it. After several hours, preferably overnight, THEN I do the resist and then the antique.

Never underestimate the damage that a crew of teenage boys can do to even the best of tools. I came in the door just as one of them was hammering a scratch awl through his leather on a marble slab. He "Didn't want to scar the table top".

Very nice for a first go. And I would second Don Gonzales. He usually has a free pattern you can download, and then a series of videos taking you through all the steps. One tip, when Backgrounding, twist the tool slightly as you cover the area to avoid a 'pattern'. This will give you a smoother background. Here are a couple videos on it. using the background tool in leatherworking - YouTube Basic Leather Working Pt. 8 - How To Use The Backgrounder Tool - YouTube

There were two pairs of those at the Scout camp I worked at. They had the same issue. I always assumed it was due to the abuse that a couple hundred 11-18 year old gave them.

Almost all of my work is either holsters, sheaths or saddle/tack build or repair. The only belts I've done in 15 years were for me. Wallets? Did one for the grandson.

Perhaps, but I have never had the antique color the resist. I know that the resist is supposed to be stirred, perhaps it wasn't stirred enough? I just shake it up good.

Just 85% of everything that has been said. Try using them on a holster for a large pistol that is 1/2"-5/8" in the trigger guard area. I'll pass on chisels.

Some I line, some I just dye the back. Depends on the type of belt.

But if he used the resist, it shouldn't be able to soak in.

Punching the front, then the back. Using a block of wood to hold it down. Using an array of tools for tight curves, gentle curves, straight lines. Yeah, seems WAY faster than gluing, stabbing, stitching.

Read what all you guys post about using them and get back to me.

Very nice for a first go. And that is how we ALL learn. Do it, see what you don't like and change it next project.

The first thing that comes to mind is that the leather used in saddles is far too thick for projects such as wallets. And second, most of us would refurbish a saddle rather than cannibalize it.

A truly sad thing. And becoming more common daily. Over here in Ellensburg, Central Paving had a truck and tool trailer stolen right out of their yard. The company I work for had a large trailer mounted generator stolen from a jobsite. They used to hang horse thieves. I think they were onto something.

I agree 100%. I've used an awl and stitch marking wheels for 35+ years. The whole chisel thing looks like a huge waste of time.

'Girly"? No, but damn sure nothing to lose sleep over.