ArkieNewbie

I mixed a few of my hobbies together on this project. I laser engraved on wood and then glued the wood rounds down to leather and cut them out. I think they turned out pretty great! What do y'all think?

Ooo, thats a good idea. Especially the football dimpled. That would be cool!

No sir. The football dimpled is horse hide as well. Would it be against "leather laws" to back a CXL strap with a veg tan strap?

Thanks for the suggestions! A Ranger belt is a good idea. I have been wanting to make one. I might give that a go. I'm also working on a briefcase for myself right now. Straps would be a good option. I've made a few notebook covers here lately but haven't done a Bible cover yet that might be a good option too. I've also toyed with the idea of rebinding my paperback copy of Valley of Vision in leather but 5/6oz might be too heavy for that.

A while back I bought 3 CXL horse butt strips from Maverick. One brown, one light brown, and one black embossed with the dimples for a football. I have never worked with horse hide before. Does it behave differently than other leather? These "strips" are about 6-8" wide and 40" long, 5/6oz, and has about the same temper as other CXL I've worked with, maybe a little firmed. Any insight into horse hide and what my first project should be out of it is MUCH appreciated!

Aren't almost all chemicals "toxic" if atomized and inhaled? I've sprayed some pretty nasty stuff through a spray gun redoing furniture and I'm fi fi fi fine. But seriously, have proper ventilation and wear the right level canister respirator and you should be OK.

It would also depend on the thickness of the leather and power of the laser. For $200 you're not going to get much over a 5.5 watt laser. In my experience it takes my 5.5W laser about 12 passes to cut 5/6oz leather. Keep in mind I do not have an air assist. If you were to have an air assist it may cut off some passes.

I've never heard of such. I have to admit I'm curious as to the purpose of that kind of belt. It seem like it would be more likely to drag your pants down than hold them up. Are you planning on wearing it as a belt? If so it shouldn't be too difficult to produce.

Looks darn good! I feel you on hand stitching belts, it's a commitment!

Bert is right about what is pictured not being a CO2 laser and would have no where near the power. I was just gifted a Flying Bear 5.5W diode laser by a friend and it has done great engraving leather so far. I have not attempted to cut yet but I do not believe it would do a great job. But as far as engraving goes, it does a good job. From what I have tested in my friend's shop who has a CO2, diode, and fiber laser, the CO2 laser will give you the "cleanest" engrave. But the diode is still not disappointing to me and works well for me in my shop as I have limited space.

How does that camera feature work? I haven't used it but I am having trouble getting my work pieces in the right spot for where I want the laser to engrave. These look great! That hog would be very popular here in Arkansas.

That is awesome!

Thanks Chuck! It's sitting on my desk right now. I keep picking it up every few minutes. It just feels right in the hand.

As I've mentioned here before, I work at a steel mill. I work in the office but interact with our shop guys a good bit. The supervisor of our roll shop is a mechanical genius! He was in my office one day and I mentioned I needed a good handle for my 3-d stamps. And he asked me to bring one in and he'd make me handle for it. I know what you're thinking, why not just buy a hefty handle from one of the big box stores for $15+shipping. Well, mostly because that wouldn't be as cool. Custom made is ALWAYS better than mass produced. I feel like that's kind of the mantra of the leatherworker right?!?! Anyways, he brought it by to me today and I am just blown away! He used a good tool steel, it was turned on a CNC lathe, and smoothed out to perfection. The narrowed section fits perfectly in the web of my hand and the length below it is just long enough so i can get a full grip above where the stamp slides in. I weighed this thing and it comes in at 1 1/2 pounds!! I cannot wait to get home and try this thing out! Only thing to NOT do is drop it on my foot

Yes sir! I'm working on a set of shooting rest bags for somebody so I've needed projects to work on while waiting on the cement to set up on the seams and these wallets are easy and fun to pump out.

Wow! That looks really nice!! Sorry I don't have any advice about the creases. I have never dealt with that before.

Looking good!! Can't wait to see them both finished.

I've been on a wallet kick here lately. And yesterday I made a cover for a Rite in the Rain notebook. Let me know what y'all think!

Wow!! That's awesome! I just bought a pair of shears I need to make a sheath for but it will be nowhere near this awesome.

If I only lived an hour away it would not be healthy for my checking account or marriage hahahaha

https://www.springfieldleather.com/Sole-Bends-Super-Thick Tony may have already directed you here but these may be a good option too.

Thank you!! Yes, he is. Only gripe I a have is he didn't invite me on this hunt. But, I did get an order for 3 totes from one of his friends so I guess I can't complain too much. HAHA!!!

WOW!!! That is incredible! How do you get your pockets to lay so flat without any bulge building up?

I have never used any of these. Just what I found available. https://maverickleathercompany.com/product/haas-french-calf-burgundy/ https://maverickleathercompany.com/product/italian-deluxe-calf-brown/ https://www.buckleguy.com/horween-mlb-baseball-glove-leather-panel-tan-multiple-sizes/?sku=HW-BS-LP12x12-555-TAN&gclid=CjwKCAiAh9qdBhAOEiwAvxIok0noRHNNc1QC-kY42eBxPWkucnNafY03su-Mb9pH0pAk7UuCljQ0ShoCBqIQAvD_BwE https://waterhouseleather.com/product/vegetable-tanned_leather_calfskin_kip/