ArkieNewbie

I have had my Class 26 for about a month now. You're going to love it!!!!! It has definitely been a time saver though there has been a learning curve on somethings I make. I am following this topic, I'm curious about thread too. I bought some stuff off Amazon and it has been good so far, haven't had any problems so far but I'm sure there is much better thread out there. The black nylon thread that Leather Machine Co. sent with the machine is my favorite!

I've had issues with vegtan holding onto the char too when I cut my hat patches. I have resorted to cleaning each one with saddle soap and that usually does the trick. Some are more stubborn than others though. You could try covering the surface with blue painter's tape . In my experience the laser doesn't care that its there, it peels off cleanly with no residue left behind, and I haven't had any issues with char. The only place where the painter's tape messes me up is if I'm engraving at the same time. To engrave through the takes a little extra power.

The electricity cost wouldn't even cross my mind! I have run my Ender 3 Max, resin printer, and two diode lasers at the same time and have not noticed any difference in my electric bills. Will it work? My best answer is, probably. I would probably print them in ABS to be sure they would hold up to repeated use. PLA tends to be pretty brittle. The other cost of printing, the filament, is not really going to be an issue either. A 1KG roll of Hatchbox, my favorite brand, is about $25. That roll should last your through several models. The files are the big issue. I have spent a lot of time looking and have found some files, just not good ones. The problem I have encountered is ensuring they are to 100% scale of the original gun. The worst thing is spending 8-10 hours on a print just to realize the model is too small. If someone here has a good source for files I would love to have that as well.

Thanks so much! It is quite satisfying! And the satisfying feel and slight creak of the horse hide helps too!

Thanks! Well first off, they weren't real leather. The whole bag is bonded leather I believe and they were made as three separate parts. The end of the main part of the handle was stitched to a separate piece that went around the ring. With that construction they were dependent on the strength of the stitch holding them in. Once that failed it was all down hill from there. Thanks! Those handles will far outlast the rest of the bag haha Thanks! I appreciate it! I hope so. He's out of town until next Friday so now I have to spend a whole week hoping he will. haha

I got a call from a local dentist about his duffle bag that he uses for his flight gear that he needed repaired. He mentioned on the phone that the handles were in rough shape but I didn't think it would be THIS bad. As you can see he had one of them held on with some aluminum wire!! I remade the handles and the retainer strap. I used a CXL horse but strip I had bought a while back from Maverick Leather. This stuff was AWESOME to work with. Nice and flexible and glued up GREAT! What do y'all think?

You sure you're not really living in a sideways alternate dimension where your shop it laid over on its side?

Agreed. I laser cut and engrave chrome tan every day and I t t t t totally fine! But seriously, I agree with you. The smoke can irritate you lungs but, what smoke doesn't??

I keep a beautiful wallet on my workbench as a reminder. While this wallet may LOOK really good, it is too small and cards won't fit in it. This wallet too, like your projects, took a flight across my workshop.

I bought some of these, https://www.amazon.com/Shackle-Release-Rigging-Sailing-Stainless/dp/B08RYGWHML/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=snap+shackle&qid=1687524460&sr=8-5 and still have not thought up a use fo them@

Where can we buy these?

I'm going to have to look into that!! Engraved these last night. Did this on my Atomstack A30 Pro. That thing is a beast!

I've had the smearing too. Especially on oil tan patches. If that happens I just follow up with some saddle soap. Cleans it right up.

I have 3, all three are diode lasers. I have a 30W, 24W, and a 5.5W. The 5.5W will not cut well but the other two are like a hot knife through butter!

Yes probably so. The heat from the laser will slightly darken the leather around it. If you lower your power or increase speed it might lessen it. You're correct. I dyed and then lasered. I always make sure my dye is good and dry, cause you know how alcohol likes to catch on fire. Then after engraving I clean its up with a wet sponge to remove soot, let it dry and on that particular patch I use Leather Balm with Atom Wax. Right now I am hand stitching them on. Takes about 10-15 minutes depending on the hat, whether structured or unstructured. BUT, and that's a BIG but, I have a brand new Cobra Class 26 being delivered this week! It's going to be a GAME CHANGER!! So I guess in short, I apply color first, and then top coat after its done. Thanks! I appreciate it! Keep adjusting your settings and you'll get the results you're looking for. Thanks!! I really like the ear tag and that mallard is by FAR my favorite design! SO much detail in it. Thanks, Dwight! Yeah, stitching them on can get tricky!

I've been making these hats and selling them at our local farmers market and folks have loved them! Some of y'all may not appreciate the laser engraving, and that's ok. It gives me the ability to do designs and detail I wouldn't be able to achieve otherwise. Hope y'all like them!

Just sent you a DM I am VERY interested in this machine!

Beautiful holster! That basket weave looks amazing on that black leather!

WOW! That is classy! Very well done!

Based on the dates in the obituary I found it seems that this may have been one of his early saddles so you're probably right, he didn't have a makers mark yet.

Just found this on the Google machine. https://missoulian.com/tuesday-october-gene-vallance-june-brander-gilman-mildred-g-chaffin/article_26797d39-28f4-5a15-9fc4-4d8876f7f3a9.html Owen 'Jerk' Steiner MISSOULA - Jerk Steiner, 78, died quietly at home Oct. 25, 2001, "With His Boots On" after a courageous battle with cancer. Jerk was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Jenkins, Minn., and grew up on a farm near Terry. He became interested in leather braiding while in high school. After a stint with the Civilian Conservation Corps at Ninemile, he joined the Army's 91st Artillery Division and served from 1943 through 1945 in North Africa. He then spent 18 months in Europe on the front lines as a communications specialist. Jerk then became an apprentice at the Miles City Saddlery Co. and learned the saddle-making business. He made thousands of saddles, and his first love was "teaching" his trade to others. He owned and operated saddle shops in Wyoming and Montana. He also worked as a hunting guide and was a "Master" in sapphire cutting as well as an avid fly-fisherman and guitar player. He was preceded in death by his brother Herbert A. Clark. He is survived by his sister Ann Kreager and family of Baker; brother Richard "Dick" Steiner and family of Worland, Wyo.; sister Vivian Huckins of Iowa; and close friends Terry, Doug, Dan, Jerry, Ed and Mike. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Meals on Wheels, Missoula Aging Services, 227 W. Front St., Missoula, MT 59802; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

A local university, Arkansas State, has something like this. I think they call it the Entrepreneur Collective. They have 3D printers, a laser, and other equipment for people to use. I wish they would buy an industrial sewing machine haha.

Very nice!

Diode lasers are pretty attainable as far as price goes and mine works great for engraving on leather. This is the largest piece I've done and it took about 35 minutes. The laser I have is about $280, it's a 5.5W laser with a 16"x16" bed. I would not recommend a diode laser if you're looking for something to cut out patterns with. For that I would go the CO2 route. For me to cut 3/4oz leather takes about 15 passes. That could definitely be reduced with a more powerful diode laser but over all CO2 is going to be better for cutting.

Thanks!