Spence

Don't know anything about it. Are there any previews or clips from it? Website?

I've seen plenty of the coated webbing sewn by machine, but not by hand. It is on my wishlist of projects to start. I want to make tracking leads and maybe a halter or two. But I don't have a machine, so I was just sitting back in the shadows, hoping to see how many would answer your question.

It's not a 'lot' problem with the Tandy lace, unfortunately. They import from India and the multitude of splices are terrible. If they hold, sometimes they're backwards or poorly matched edge to edge. I had stopped using it a year ago and recently bought a spool of Superior. Bingo - Same problem. In their defense, our local manager, Dennis, will make it right. They're not the only ones. I tried some calf lace from another supplier and it turned out to have been imported from India also. Now I don't know where to order it from because most everyone else carries the same brand. I order my 'roo from Springfield Leather and I've never had a problem with it.

You may have to drop down to 3/4", but I get all of my webbing from these folks. Family owned, which I prefer .... www.strapworks.com g'luck

You need an adjustable V-Groover. It'll cut out the groove so you can fold up the sides, etc.

Great holsters. But, what process is used to 'laminate' the leather to the kydex?? I've got everything I need but that. tks

Kangaroo is all I've used. Thickness is fairly constant. Roo is bark tanned, usually and I'm pretty sure that's the same as veg-tanned. IMO chrome tanned leather is not a good choice. The process actually breaks down (as in destroys) cell walls, thus making the leather nice and soft, but weak. After you've been doing your research on Roo and looking at more books on whipmaking, the terminology will be easier to understand. There are a few top whipmakers on this forum that will be joining this thread, I'm sure. G'luck and show us all how you're progressing.

Ditto on Home Depot here in TX

Which one did you get? Picture? Keep us posted on how you like it.

Awesome work, Shirley !! I'd love to see patterns.

I just picked up a can of Deft at Home Depot. Haven't tried it yet though.

Great Idea!!! Easy to operate. I can definitely use that idea to clear off my bench a bit. Thanks for sharing.

Sorry, can't help you with that, but let us know if/when you get rolling with plates. It's hit and miss for me to find decent plates.

My 28 y/o nephew is facing a kidney transplant (donor not firmed up yet) and the expenses are headed for the roof. His friends and family up in Reno, NV are holding a skeet shoot and benefit dinner to help raise some money to offset these mounting expenses. There will be a raffle and they're contemplating an auction, which I'm pushing for. Jared, has always been a rough and tumble young man. His positive attitude has always been his strong point and today is no exception. Jared was a qualifier for the College National Finals Rodeo and is currently an active member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and participates in both Steer Wrestling and Tie-Down Roping. If anyone is interested and can donate an item or two of your work for an auction, it would be greatly appreciated. You can PM me and I will put you in contact with my sister in Reno. They are in the process of setting up a PayPal acct for cash donations. Here's a website that his friends have set up for him. http://www.monzter.com/jared/ Thanks all

The lack of response is probably due to the fact that there may be no real solutions to your dilemma. The only solution, if you'd call it that, would be to become a "Day Owl."

That's an awesome looking tool. I wanna call it a spike, but times have changed. lol Whatever it's called, it's gonna make your braiding days much easier. The portrait is great!! Back before these addictive computers, we did pictures using the keyboard, nothing nearly as creative as your work, just random strokes. Great!!

Here's a maker's stamp made by Brenda at www.lasergiftcreations.com I sent her a photo of one of my dogs, did a little magic in photoshop and she did the rest. We started about mid-morning on a Friday and I had the stamps in the mail on Wednesday. The other stamp is of a caduseus that I will be using on coffee corsets for some friends at the local hospital. I couldn't be happier with Brenda's work and assistance.

I always use a square eye snaphook with strap leather. I just took another look at your pictures and the one in picture #1 (top) appears to be the best choice. Don't know how I missed it. I've used these folks for my D & O rings and clips for 5 years and have never had a problem with their equipment. http://www.cdwplus.com/brassS.html The "too sharp and small" I was referring to is the French Scissors clip, not pictured. http://www.pineofalconry.com/product_more.php?id=56 g'luck

IMHO, if you could find a solid shaft clip as in #3, it would be the way to go - IF you are using flat leather. Another opinion I have has to do with the strength of the leather or whatever material the leash is made of. If it is a flat lead, then putting it through a round eye is going to wear at the edges of the leash and it will definitely shorten the life of the leash. You need to be prepared to inspect that leash at every opportunity and scrap it when the wear gets to a 15-20% level. You may want to think about looking for a square eye. If you are using a braided lead and have 'wear leather' on the inside of the clip loop, you have better security. A 10-12 str 'roo braid with two or three paracord cores, back braided into the leash itself, will provide you with an enormous amount of strength. I don't have a Rott, but I have 5 GSDs that are protection trained and I work them at least 3x a week. I use a 10 str 'roo braid as described above. I've also got a 6 str 'roo braid with a French Scissor Clip by Herm Spenger. I have wear leather on that one and have replace the wear leather a couple of times. The clip is deceptively strong and is favored by law enforcement and some military applications. My biggest reservation is the loop. It just seems too small and too sharp. After all, we don't want our "sweet things" getting loose at the wrong moment.

I have German Shepherds and I use 6/7 & 7/8 doubled. I do work my dogs in protection and tracking, so it might be a bit of overkill for a well-mannered dog of that size. I don't have the luxury of a sewing machine, so it's all hand-stitching for me. I'd only hurt myself with a machine. As long as there's football, I'm good for hand-stitching. lol

I don't know diddly about bosals, but the braiding has come a long way. Knots look great too. As to size and spacing - that's for someone else.

Tony, I get the 'practice', but what are your suggestions for 'correct tools'? lol

Ditto. I look for your stuff.

Looks real good to me. The search for perfection should never end. I probably didn't coin that phrase, nor do I remember hearing it before, but it sure sounds about right. lol.

$15 seems to be the norm and reasonable. I've already had someone call me a "thief" but when I asked her how much she expected to pay, she answered "$5.00 and no more !!!"