Klara

But back in the day before the internet we had so much more time... I used some of that to read a magazine article about sharpening which is how I learned, more or less. I only encountered stropping when I got into leatherwork, and it's incredible what a difference it makes. Still waitingfor the swivel knife to arrive, I'm curious what state it'll be in (got a cheap one). I agree with @chuck123wapati on his rant, I can't understand either why so many people just accept that cutting instruments become dull and unuseable. Even if nobody taught them - the information is easy enough to find nowadays. But I've heard there's people who don't know how to sew on a button...

https://www.rayallen.com/knotted-heavy-leather-leash/ I am talking about the knot on the snap hook; I recognise (and have found instructions for) the bleed knot on the handle end. Despite checking all the usual suspects (Google, YouTube, here, Bruce Grant and Ron Edwards) I have no idea what it is called or how it is made (well, I think it starts with a lengthwise slit in the leather close to the end like a bleed knot. But then?) Also, is such a knot even a good idea? Are bleed knots such a good idea for items that will be strongly pulled on? I've read in advertisement for a bleed knot leash "no stitches to wear out" - but I figure worn-out stitches are replaced easily enough (apart from the fact that I don't think seams on a leash will wear out that easily as there is not a lot of friction).

Yes, that's the one. I've bought one too, but not cut it up yet because so far I haven't made patterns that seemed worth it. Cardboard or even Paper does it for me.

F***ing unbelievable. However, can't help but wonder about the chain of transport: I'm pretty sure the knife broke its packaging before ending up in the postman's car (and cut who knows how many others). But nobody in a sorting center thought about wrapping some more tape (or cardboard, bubble wrap) around it? In France I've got some damaged packages wit extra tape and a note from the post office that they had to do something... That said, Covid might not make people stupid (but fear does!), but between it and Brexit Britain may suffer from a shortage of qualified personnel. When the sales admin packs her first shipment without proper instructions, breakage can happen (back in the day I killed a box of hard disk drives...)

Congrats!

I wonder whether that's so you can more easily see what you are doing? The other day I had to use (for the first time) my French clam, which rests on a thigh at an angle. When I went back to the stitching pony (vertical) for the next project, I was struck how I need to twist to see the stitch marks. (In case anyone wonders why I use both: I like the stitching pony because the leather is held in place without me having to pay attention. Unfortunately the bolt that holds both uprights together means that I don't have enough space for big projects. ) @Mulesaw Gorgeous work, for a while I was tempted to order one when you said you are in Denmark, but then I remembered that I don't need another piece of furniture...

I'm at the same point in my leatherworking journey and I've rather enjoyed the videos by Jim Linnell on YouTube (he made some for Tandy). While there I discovered he has a website, a downloadable free video about the basics (pretty much the same as YouTube, but without the ads) https://elktracksstudio.com/collections/videos and a huge amount of videos for sale. Some of them are currently on sale at half the price - I'm especially curious about the simple figure carving one where the only tools used are swivel knife and modeling spoon. As for what to start with - I'd say something you really want to do. Personally, I don't care how many people say to start out with simple flowers - I couldn't care less about flowers (don't even like them in vases) and have zero interest in ever getting them on leather. I like @billybob's Celtic knot idea, though! And a nice big dog silhouette should be doable, too, I hope.

Doesn't US customs have a website? I'm in Europe, and I've found most of the info I needed for importing online and the rest by writing an email.

That's what the sticky flypaper looks like in my living room. And there's another long one under the desk lamp. Do you feel better now?

Yep, that's the way of the world. Which is why I've actually filled in one of the little feedback papers at a Leroy Merlin store once (comparable to Home Depot, I think) complimenting them on the friendliness and competence of their salespeople. And I'm pleasantly surprised that whereas the CS staff at my telecom provider are sometimes hard to understand (but I'm not a native speaker), they generally manage to get the line working again. As I said, when you are used to awful service, you are happy about any improvement.

Actually I'm pretty sure they don't need a quarter inch! But didn't you lament the lack of targets to test your swatter? Be careful what you wish for...

Omg, I don't believe it: Al Stohlman invented (or at least wrote the book about) exactly what I plan to do: Inverted carving/silhouette stamping. I'm posthumously in love with the man! (Also, the handsewing and case making books get better every time I look at them...)

Thanks a lot! I suppose bevelers from Tandy, Ivan or Oka will do the job as well? And I'll need the smallest one I can get, a medium one, and a wide one to make long lines go faster, and everything in smooth (I'm still blown away by the variety on the Barry King Website. But the prices...) Regarding the modelling tool - do I want a spoon or a ball at the end? Or do I take a look at my crochet hooks... (actually, I will do that anyway!) Thanks again for your help!

My new checkbook cover, the borzoi is simply painted on (with permanent marker). I would like to try tooling hounds - what sort of tools will I need? Swivel knife, obviously. Beveler probably, but which one? To begin with I'd be happy with a silhouette that stands out from the background, next step will be details in the borzoi. Maybe something like this https://www.etsy.com/fr/listing/582314802/borzoi-art-svg-printable-painting-png?ga_search_query=Borzoi&ref=shop_items_search_3&pro=1 I've watched videos on tooling, but so far they were about flowers or borders, not what I'm aiming at. To be clear: I'm not looking for instructions on how to do it, just for a list of tools to buy - the shorter, the better.

I think you were previously spoiled by very customer-friendly service . In France the customer has never been king so that I'm overjoyed whenever I meet somebody halfway competent...

You could have sold it as a unique piece, never to be repeated, for double the price

I'll look for it, though I have a feeling that most cleaning products at least look French. I suppose I could always test French wood floor polishes, even if that would mean I'd have to actually clean my floors if they don't work out for leather...

Thanks, with the recommendation of Resolene I know more than before. I figured that probably there is no way, but was hoping to be wrong...

Is there any way to have veg tan keep its natural, very light colour without keeping it in the dark?

It's not cheap, but could still be lower quality. For I see similar marbling in some cheap natural shoulder I recently bought. But I think it's a pity that you evened out the dye because I liked the cloudy effect! A lot! As @RockyAussie said, it would be difficult to create the effect on purpose.

I only got into leather work and stropping a few months ago, so from my inexperience I would say: Use the thinnest leather you have and stick it to a smooth and straight piece of wood with the least amount of contact glue possible (you don't want bumps of glue under the leather). Thin leather so the blade can't sink into it, as @chuck123wapati warned against. And yeah, the leather shouldn't be squishy like lamb nappa... Just feel what you have and think about what you want it to do (this advice goes for all your future projects, btw). I actually think of stropping as polishing (recently I saw a guy on YouTube who strops ceramic knives with this argument) and it improves the blade enormously (even though I probably don't do it perfectly). However I should say that my favourite knives are from very soft carbon steel (not stainless)...

Guess what: Aliexpress does exactly the same, or Ebay, or Amazon. But only when I buy from Amazon directly can I be sure that the seller is in the EU. On the other platforms I need to check (except Aliexpress, its sellers are in China), and especially with Etsy and leather tools items are often enough in the US. or U.K.. So there's always a risk of items being processed by customs. Shipments from China are so small, worth so little and so extremely frequent that none of my orders so far has cost me anything extra. I do know how international trade works because it has been part of my job every now and then for decades... I bought them for leatherwork: to get an elegant taper on my sighthound collars...

I used chrome tanned because I didn't want to "waste" veg tanned fot the purpose and it works fine. No idea whether veg tanned would work even better. But the way I see it, all that's needed is a surface for the honing compound to stick to....

What exactly is the advantage of Etsy if I'm looking for a cheap mass-produced knife? Guy buys them from China, has them shipped to U.S., puts them on Etsy and then sells one to me in Europe - at double (or more) the price plus shipping...

(This is about the straight knifes in the japanese style) I've seen these knives on Aliexpress at various prices. If you still want one you might find one that gets to you before November. I want one now so I'll have a look (which won't help you as I'm in Europe). I'm using a head knife for much of my cutting, an ex-kitchen knife with a rounded tip for some and a cheap pair of utility shears for some. I'm not perfectly happy with my curves, though. But straight edges with a head knife (or round knife, probably) are easy: Start the cut and then rock the knife forward, push and rock. The rocking is also excellent for chrome-tanned leather. For belts I've bought a strap cutter, though... (Incidentally, it seems as if glaziers used head knifes for scraping putty from old windows. I've asked Friedrich Herder - makers of the Don Carlos knives - where to buy their head knife in the EU and they've sent me to a supplier for windows and doors.)