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Everything posted by PastorBob
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Thanks for sharing the photos. I like the basketweave and stars on the one. Something to consider when basket weaving...to ensure there are no unfinished basket weave stamps around the edge, follow up with a border stamp encapsulating the entire area that has been basket stamped. It will literally look like the basket weave continues under the border stamp for a really neat affect. Do you have the actual firearms now so you can make a pattern? If so, I would definitely use them. 10cm is about 4 inches. That seems like a lot. if you don't have the firearms, based on the pics, you could probably add 1/4" to each side(1/2" total) of the flat cut piece. So yes, just extend the width and not the length of the piece.
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Can you still colour veg tan leather after neatsfoot oil?
PastorBob replied to Paul6000's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
I have never worked with "oakleaf" veg tan, but do know if there is no top coat (pro-resist, supersheen, etc.) natural veg tan will absorb the oils from one's body when making contact. It will get darker as you mentioned, over time. Not sure about the greyish color you are speaking of. From the pics it just looks like normal wear marks. What process did you use to slick the edges? Gum Trag? Tokonole? water? -
I love to hand sew in Switzerland
PastorBob replied to SheilaOrikawaAtelier's topic in Member Gallery
Looking good. -
Advice needed - Hairline cracks in belt finish
PastorBob replied to Windrider's topic in How Do I Do That?
Thanks @LatigoAmigo for fixing the photo. What process did you use to dye the belt? Dipping, dauber? Any top coat applied like Super Sheen? I would think it's not enough dye or like you said, no NFO (neatsfoot oil) applied. Welcome to the forum! -
the holster did get to dry overnight before shipping. It looked great. After I mailed it, guess what my wife found in my inventory bin? You guessed it, the holster I thought I had in inventory. All is good. Off to the next build. Thanks for all your insight and advice. I do like the drying cabinet idea to speed up the process. I am using Pro dye so it seems to dry pretty quickly compared to Eco-flo products.
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Made a practice piece.
PastorBob replied to Minnesota's topic in Purses, Wallets, Belts and Miscellaneous Pocket Items
Thanks for sending. i will have to take a crack at it one day. Unfortunately my scrap pieces are less than 6" x 6", anything larger i use for projects. Will have to bite the bullet. -
I have been admiring your work from this and previous posts. Once these are complete, what is the final product? Are you selling them, or just keeping them around your house? Thanks and keep sharing your work?
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*NEW* Juki 441 Clone Walking Foot Sewing Machine
PastorBob replied to SolidFella's topic in Old/Sold
welcome to the forum. -
Working area in progress (Will keep updating here)
PastorBob replied to Danne's topic in Leatherwork Conversation
Very nice work, even with hand tools. Please keep the pics and progress coming. -
I too, normally leave several hours between steps. My customer orders are nowhere near your volume. Maybe 1 every week or so. I am also the only one in my shop. Occasionally I will get my wife to mail something for me, but she has a full time job as well. I also hand stitch every item. I haven't been able to justify a new machine, nor do I have enough knowledge to buy a good used machine. Heck, I have never used a sewing machine so not sure I would know what to do with it if I did get one. Thanks for the insights. I almost didn't even ask the question to begin with, but if we can't be honest with ourselves and our fellows, what are we doing? Hopefully someone will be able to glean something from this...I know I did. Thanks!!
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When I say it was rushed, it was just not letting the dye dry for several hours to a day. I did not short cut any of the other processes. I allowed ample time for Barge's to setup before tacking pieces together and did my normal saddle stitch by hand. It is home drying now (over night) from the wet mold. When I get home from my day job, i will apply water proofing compound and rub in before shipment. Just wasn't sure of the dye dry time being shortened before gluing and stitching. There were no other compromises. Great point Tugadude. Like stated above, my main concern was with the dye. All other steps were done as usual. Not even when his buddy Lazarus was sick. Agreed.
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Well, I got an order for one of my holsters. i thought I had it made and sitting in inventory. Told the customer I would ship out next day. With me having a full-time job and doing leather as I can, next day orders only happen when i have inventory. Guess what, didn't have it in inventory. So last night around 5pm, I started on the avenger holster. At 7:30, I had it complete (up to wet mold). I cut it, dyed it, glued it, stitched it, burnished it (using dye as burnishing agent as someone on here suggested) and wet molded. That was the first time I have done one that quickly. For a lot of it, the dye was still damp. It looks okay, but did I rush through it and is there the possibility of future quality issues by doing this so quickly? Thanks for your candid feedback.
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I don't attach my patterns to the leather. i will make it out of paper, then will transfer it to a manila folder by tracing it. Or i have some very thin (.03125) plastic sheeting I will transfer it to. I will then place this on the leather and hold while tracing. If it is a large piece I will use a weight to hold it in place as well. Here lately, I have been flipping the leather and placing the pattern upside down on the flesh side so I can trace with a pen for better marking than using a pencil or scratch awl on the top surface of the leather. May not be the best way, but seems to work well for me.
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Made a practice piece.
PastorBob replied to Minnesota's topic in Purses, Wallets, Belts and Miscellaneous Pocket Items
I like it. I wish i had scrap pieces that big. can you post more pics? Would like to see how you did the bottom and inside. Thanks! -
gun molds for holster makers
PastorBob replied to troop's topic in Gun Holsters, Rifle Slings and Knife Sheathes
I ordered some custom stamps from Ray not to long ago. He also sent me several holster patterns as well. Great guy to deal with and quick turn around on custom work as well. -
Very nice. I have not tried sewing a round case like that. Well done.
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I have bought blanks from SLC as well. I got some with snaps installed and the bend area pre-skived. Some of the snaps were defective. When I visited the next time, they told me they are mass setting the snaps on a machine and sometimes they are not set properly. But the leather was beautiful. I did call ahead to place my order for shipment and told them some of the belt would not be tooled, and it needed to be pretty clean. And it was. You can also pick your leather thickness when you call as well, should you want it thicker than what they list on their site. Good luck.
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I cut both pieces, then glue them together. I then will even up all the edges, either by cutting away or sanding. Then I start bending it where the fold will be, slowly, and I continue to work it open and closed. Apply glue. I will then fold it over so that the front facing side is slightly within the outer edge of the back side and hammer it down. Then I trim edges again. I have had one that wrinkled slightly, but the client was fine with that. Said he would rather have a slight wrinkle vs. having the gun against the raw flesh side of the leather.
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Very nice. I have been doing the Avenger style for a bit now, using Slick Bald's patterns. Have you received any comments on the holster being unlined? All of mine are made with two 5-6 oz. pieces glued together, flesh to flesh, so they are smooth inside and out. If you haven't, I may switch to a single layer with the wrap around part. What thickness leather are you using? Again - Beautiful!!
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If I use the cheap import leather, I definitely get blotching. When I use Hermann Oak leather, it is soo much better. I spoke with the team at Springfield leather. They say that the import leather adds chemicals to their veg tan process to speed it up. This can cause issues with dyeing the leather. According to them, as I am not an expert, the only difference with the PRO and regular Feibing's dyes are the PRO has an oil additive to help with flow of the dye. Again, not an expert, just passing on some hearsay.
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love it. would hate to be their tattoo artist. LOL.
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Plenty of great ideas and information here. I have learned a bunch. Also, there are numerous videos on YouTube specific to different styles / techniques. Look for Don Gonzalez for tooling and dyeing, Weaver Leathercraft for the same plus different types of projects, and Joe Meling for more. These are just to name a few...there are many. Good luck and thank you for your service.