WalterF

As big a part as Harley Davidson played in my fathers and my life, this is the first piece of that life. it is 8 x 11 inches and it will most likelyy be painted. No hurry on this one taking time and enjoying the memories.

Tooled a 40 Ford my favorite era truck trading card.

Finished painting on the Texas Girl Nose Art and put it on the thermometer on our wood stove to dry it out quicker. Tonight the stove was running hotter and warped and discolored it. Tried to save it and see what happened, the front leg is messed up and discoloration. Sometimes we have bonehead moves, today was mine.

Another WWII nose art.

Worked on a WWII nose art trading card. There is so much inspiration for tooling in that genre.

Another trading card, while under the weather.

Another trading card V8 theme and old school pinstriping. Pretty happy how it does on leather. Still drying down.

Was able to work on another tonight.

Made a trading card, first one. Decided these would be a good time to tool things I wouldn't normally do.

Thank you, making a few stamps also, background and border out of bolts. It is cheap to try and if it fails put it in the scrap metal pile. I do buy good stamps too, their is a skill to it and I don't have it. Simple things are fun who knows what happens though. I like the stacked handle. I wouldn't say fancy, more options.

Wanted to do some petal lifting, making the leather look more 3d by stretching up certain sections. Mine are in NC, didn't want to buy an expensive set. For under 20 dollars and an hours work here we are. Pretty happy. The items, Stainless rods, handles, super glue, I found a set of stainless rods 1.5mm to 8mm x 60mm long these were 8.99, the handles are file handles got 12, 6 large not used and 6 small, 6.99. Put the rods in the handles, for the small ones wrapped painters tape around the top for a snug fit then used some super glue down the hole to fix them. The grinding to shape can be done many ways bench grinder, files, dremmels, the angle isn't precise we are after a cutting edge. I like the angle around 45 degrees with the heel radiused. Used a course grinder to get shape and then went to a finer belt grinder. Then used sharpening stones to clean up the scratches, finished with 2000 on the stones and then used a strop with polishing compound to bring a mirror polish, we want it to be razor sharp at the tip as it is a cutting tool..

Nicely done, very clean.

Thought it would be good to share an early piece, found it and it is rough.

The hat came yesterday, used a little tape to shrink it, long oval seems to fit good. After wearing it a couple days it has shaped to my head and is very comfortable. It is show in the photo already dirty, hard to keep hands clean and run a farm. Put the hat on and had to grease the tractor, it is a tool much the same as the tractor. Thank you for the kind words, have had good teachers who I have not met in person. Your welcome. I got some yesterday and they work much better, this hat clamp used them.

I wore a cheap straw hat this summer then it got colder, tried a felt one and they are nicer than expected for comfort and protetion. You're welcome Purchased a good hhat on the Black Friday sales, sadly she is in NM, but she was able to shape the brim for me more of a flat style and a softer turned shovel size front brim. the final tweaking will be up to me, ordered a little bigger than recommended by the company and will adjust down to fit if needed. I didn't have much luck finding a shop locally carrying what was wanted. Finished the wallet back challenge that was given at the end of a class. It caused me to slow down and be more precise. Floral is an area I am intentionally trying to improve.

A couple suggestions on the hat clamp, use Neodymium N52 magnets or possibly N42 the others seem too weak, the clasp I am switching to a caribener bigger. Your welcome. I am learning about hats as they are new to me, wore basebll caps all my life. Then had a scare with cancer on the back of my neck and cowboy hats looked like the ticket.

Well done,

Thank you, it is going on a Serratelli beaver. The grey u=is a Justin wool. Thank you Made a hat clamp to be able to hang a hat in the car.

Worked on some more hatbands

The knife has my utmost respect. Feeling a little better and wanted to tool a bit. Making a 1 inch hatband for a special hat. Not sure how it will be finished, painted or just antiqued. Waiting till 100% to get back on the wallet, hate to mess it up.

LOL, bought a nice headknife and didn't use it for over a year as it scared me. Now it's better than sliced bread. Thank you for the compliment.

Thank you, yes Sir working on my weak area. Pictoral and Figure are my favorite and floral was lagging. Finished the left half of the wallet and started getting sick, it is sitting till I am better. A head knife came, cost 25.00 missed mine and didn't want another nice one. Surprisingly it was extremely sharp. Can I find shortcommings, sure but for the price it works well above it. Made a sheath for it don't want any red fluid leaking.

Appreciate it. Took a class on detailed floral and figure carving, this walltet back was a challenge. Giving it a go, having to go slow as the beveling side changes mid line quite often. This walllet is a "hold my beer" lifting some petals and leaves so just a show piece. Probably another day or so on it.

Thank you, it was a nice change, beveller and backgrounder only. Finished the field notes, Gini liked it when I showed it to her, started adding things to make it special. Each symbol has various meanings.

Thank you, There is something special to walk where things happened, I love history. Finished the tooling, waiting on the antique to dry. Will finish in the morning. Had to much open space on the rear to leave.