RidgebackCustoms

It's never enough lol.

@BlackDragon Your maul storage catches my eye.

@PastorBob Good looking 1911 you got there. Holster project I'm assuming. What do you think of the brass stamps? I see them there in the picture. I just started dipping my toe in the water and picked up a set of brass backgrounders. Also, what's your work surface and does it span the whole length of the bench? Is it a white UHMW?

@bruce johnson That's a lot of tool density in a little area. Love it! I'm trying to plan ahead as my tool collection increases. My last solution (in the background) I outgrew really quickly and it never was quite right (poor tool density, super heavy, etc.). The rolls in a box I like! It would be nice to not have to pack up a tool roll when I go mobile. I've had my eye on some new Wayne Jueschke tools, but haven't pulled the trigger. Still in the process of getting more of the basics from Barry King. I have a Bob Beard basket weave stamp I'm on the wait list for. Haven't heard of a lot of the other makers. I'll have to educate myself.

Across the posts I've seen a ton of different organizer solutions. Most of them are home grown. I'm always looking for the next better mouse trap, so show me your tool organizer. Here's my current solution, but show me yours. Uses a 3 foot section of 2 x 4 cut in 2. One of the boards is slimmed down to create an opening that does 2 things. Keeps the dirt, leather plugs, etc. out of the bottom of the hole and lets me see the color marks on the back end of my stamps. For stamps that look similar I mark the back ends with some colored electrical tape. I've never seen anyone else do this, but it just makes sense to me. Easy to spot the low angle beveler vs the standard angle beveler when I inevitably take both out and leave them on the stone as I tool. Biggest shortfall I have is that the capacity is limited. I punch columns 1" on center to allow finger space to either side, but the tool density could definitely be increased.

I like it!

It's definitely on my list to integrate into my work, but no pyrography experience on leather. Are you a trial and error guy or do you know any tutorials I should check out?

Rather than post a new thread for each project (posted 2 in the show-off thread), figured I'd just start a thread I and others could add to. I'm learning to do portraits. I started down the rabbit hole doing comic book art carvings. I struggled with the faces, so started researching how to do it better and that effort expanded into pursuing realistic portraits. I've really enjoyed the learning process. I'm hoping this thread can turn into lessons learned, progress photos, and a place for others that may be pursuing the same goal to ask questions. My number one tool I've found besides practice is the videos from Elk Track Studios by Annie Libertini. I've downloaded and used those, but was also fortunate to be able to take one of her live classes in 2024 at Sheridan. The first photos here are a self-portrait of me and my wife and a portrait of CSM Billy Waugh. Annie recommends not doing portraits with teeth, as they look weird. After doing the self-portrait, I can confirm. Would definitely recommend not doing toothy smiles. CSM Billy Waugh is an amazing figure in military history. If you don't know who it is and you want to kill > 1 hour of time check out the video. (The video contains a lot of military humor / crass humor, so be forewarned).

For concave blades/rounded bevelers I use a straight piece of MDF and use the beveler itself to round the corner of the MDF. I then have a stropping block that holds compound pretty well and is perfectly matched to my beveler. Granted, using a beveler to cut MDF is not good for the tool, but it's a one time thing so the dulling it causes is minimal. Not sure I would use this trick for expensive bevelers, but for the cheap ones (which is all I have) it works great. Thank you!

"They be more what you call guidelines than say actual rules" Since the fibers on the flesh side are a little looser and harder to cut cleanly, I tend to cut it first. The presence of the full width of the leather supporting the cut makes it easier. I can push down slightly as well as forward and the fibers don't tend to smush down as I run the line since they're fully supported.

Added the high-lite stain from eco flo. Gave decent contrast with the background.

Added color. First time using the Eco Flo Hi-Lite stain. I like it MUCH better than the gel antique or the fiebing's antique pastes. Easier to get the pigments off the areas you don't want them with the Hi Lite. This is their Briar Brown.

I'm from Easley. Didn't know there were others in the area. Anyone interested in a meet up?

Video from the event:

In 2019, members of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, reenacted climbing the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Some of the Rangers were dressed in period accurate uniforms while others were dressed in modern combat gear. The picture, used as reference, was taken that day. Members of the original 2nd Ranger Battalion were responsible for climbing the cliffs and silencing the guns firing onto the beaches that day, June 6, 1944. I got to spend a long holiday weekend in the shop and this felt like an appropriate piece for the holiday.