Brokenolmarine

Have been working on the new shoulder strap. Played with the tooling design and settled on the layout. I am using a squared basketweave stamp down the center in a single pass, and the same border as on the pouch. I put some wording on the strap instead of her name. "ALL" the grandkids call me the same thing. "Grumpy." Once we ordered the snap links for the end of the strap I knew the width and I could finish the ends... so I was able to dye, resist and antique the strap as well. The snap links should be here by the 13th and I can sew them into the loops at the ends. I am happy so far. The new strap on the right, old on the left: The end stepped down to one inch for the snap link: Before antiquing, I rubbed the entire strap down with mink oil to restore flexibility. It had hardened up from the dying overnight. Front, back and sides were all liberally coated and the mink oil rubbed/massaged into the leather. Then I buffed with a soft cloth. Then... and only then, antiqued. Antiquing the strap, note the lettering. In lettering the strap I used a light center pencil line, and a small woodworking square to insure the placement of EACH letter before striking the stamp. Slow and sure.

I will work up the pics tomorrow in the shop and post the how to HERE. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1eZFBwyHlHQ A couple key points. For a layout reference, you'll need very light vertical pencil lines 3/8" apart. Once you start the subsequent rows, you'll have THREE points of reference to align the stamp: The two diagonal corners on the stamp on the line... A third corner touching the adjacent stamp forming the heart. It's simple, if you are careful and take your time. Practice on scrap and you'll catch on quickly... Trying to freehand without the reference lines, is a trip thru frustration. Ask me how I know.

If anyone is interested in the technique let me know, I'll post it.

Since the project required a LOT of box stitching, I stitched the D-rings into place, and the strap by hand as well. Slow and sure to make sure the project lasts. My granddaughter always appreciates what Grumpy makes for her. Years ago, she asked that I make a cradle for her dolls. I made each of the Grandchildren a pendulum cradle when they were born, but since they were 1200 miles away, her mom told me not to bother for her. When she saw the cradle her cousin had, that's when she asked if Grumpy would make her's for her doll. Her mother called and asked if I could possibly make her one for Christmas that year. I had been saving a beautiful knotty pine board for years... and I put it to good use. I down sized the pattern to fit the doll. Miss Tina made the mattress, pads, sheets, and quilt for the mini-cradle and I paid the UPS store to pack and ship the whole shebang to OK from VA. JO would point to the cradle and tell everyone "My Grumpy made that for me." She was quick to remind her little friends: "You look with your EYES, NOT your hands." She still has the cradle ten years later in pristine condition, still displays an American Girl doll in the cradle, swapping the doll as the mood hits her. I wanted the pouch to last as long as possible. Nice to have someone appreciate your work, isn't it?

My daughter called and said that the Granddaughter wanted a pouch just like her hand tooled pouch I made her to carry her epi-pen's in. Jo has been stealing it to carry her phone and cash in when my daughter is using the red leather pouch. The daughter said that I could use my imagination to create the design for the tooling and I spent a week or so playing with scrap leather, trying to come up with something... rejecting most of the ideas, then I saw a video using the serpentine stamp to make hearts. The granddaughter is 16. Hearts it is. Slowly and surely I worked thru the process and knocked it out. It's done except for waxing.... Yup, I put the bling on the security strap. SHE's a 16 year old girl. I chose ruby red to go with the heart pattern. I had tooled the 60" across the chest strap, and while rubbing in the mink oil, I kept feeling a hard spot. I twisted the strap like a corkscrew, and found that there was a defect in the leather. I had bought a side, and I pulled it back down and saw that there was a discoloration on the underside of the skin about 8" long, barely noticable. When you flexed the side, you could feel a hardness, a scar of some sort. I cut that 8" out and recut the strap. I am remaking the 60" strap. Since I am remaking the strap I am rethinking the tooling. A little more intricate, but not carved. Not that good at that yet.

I bought two goose neck led floor lamps from Hobby Lobby, that are two stage: bright enough and super bright for detail work. I started with just one coming in from my left. I quickly found that invariably at the most critical juncture, the work was in shadow. On her next trip for quilting material, Miss Tina picked up a second light to come in from my right. HOLD the power on button, the light ramps up to OMG bright, hold it again, drops back to bright. Good lighting is a blessing for old eyes. Floor lamps don't bounce around when you are pounding on the bench at 120 beats per minute beveling a border.

I really like the carving. I have been practicing, but your leaves come to life. Mine still look flat and dead, though I am getting better. I'm watching a lot of videos, and working on the edging and lifting...

Nice work on a large job.

I finally finished the sheath for the Shawnee with the cocobolo scales as well. It took four tries to get it right. I didn't risk the Cowboy 3200, did the stitching by hand. I am still learning the 3200, don't have enough time on the machine to chance it. I did okay on the first, but the dark brown dye turned black on the second coat and looked awful. I thought the second looked good but my friend wanted the maker's mark on the front of the sheath so people would ask about it... and he could explain where the knife and the sheath came from. Since I have a duplicate blank to make for Miss Tina, I told him no problem, and asked if he liked the Basket Weave I used or wanted a different pattern. He chose a smaller basic pattern. We discussed a few other mods and I got started. I blew the third when I lost focus and the Basket weave pattern fell apart. As most of you know, that's not hard to do. Number four was a charm. I took my time and laid out the pattern around the maker's mark. Worked slowly on the tooling and hand stitched everything. She is done, and all that remains is waxing the sheath after the mink oil dries.

I finished the Damascus knife, went with HORN for the scales.

I spent most of my career as an aviation electronics tech, working on just about anything that had a wire running to it. The military figured out it was way cheaper to retain those with experience in technical jobs, than to train new people with no experience and wait for them to gain it. Hence, reenlistment bonuses. Some were higher than others based on additional certifications. For example, an airframes tech might receive $xx to reenlist. The same tech with (NDI) non-destructive inspection certification might get double, add upper level welding, triple. I don't know about now, but in my day, NDI techs could write their own contracts in the civilian aviation community, so they were hard to retain once they gained experience.

The Damascus blade barely started: I cut the birdseye scales, and laid them in place, but haven't formally started on them yet. I'll take another hard look at antler possibilities tomorrow before deciding. Then make my move. This friend has done a lot for me and I want to repay him with a gift that will knock his socks off. Good Guy. The Shawnee will be a knife he will use. The Damascus can be used, or displayed.

A good friend across the country was always commenting on the knives I put together. (I don't forge the blades, too many surgeries.) I kept telling him to choose a blank and I'd build him one. He finally chose, but I was disappointed as he originally said he wanted damascus and cocobolo. But the prices had doubled and tripled on damascus. He chose a modestly priced blank. Miss T and I drove down and I picked up TWO of the blanks he chose, in case I blew it, two bolsters, the Corby Rivets, and a few other things I needed. I also picked up a damascus blank as a surprise. I have the Shawnee Skinner and cocobolo done except for waxing, took it to 800 grit. I'll start on the sheath tomorrow, and finish the damascus blank out while the dyes and the glues are drying in the sheath process. I told him the sheath might take a few days. He knows I take my time, and he's excited. The damascus will get either the birdseye scales or I'll fit antler scales, haven't decided. The Shawnee:

Back in the early 80s, I got a nice bonus to reenlist in the Corps due to my specialty. I bought a pair of Pythons, sequentially serial numbered. Miami Vice was all the rage, my dealer got me a Zero Halliburton aluminum briefcase with the pullout block liner for the two guns. A year later, my daughter was born. My ex (yup, ex) had to have Ginny Lind furniture for the kid's room. The quality stuff from the exchange wouldn't do. So, the two pythons and custom case went, as did the Ovation Custom Legend 12 String... Never got back to playing. I was just finger picking John Denver for myself anyway... A friend gave me this shot... I took it.

Luckily, I'm retired. The watch will ride in a shirt or overall pocket. The fob should outlast ME. But, I have a couple Christmas gifts ahead of personal projects. Isn't that always the thing? Plus three knives on the "other" bench.

My Seal Team Luminox took a beating, working patrol, teaching on the range, and a few years at the desk until we retired. I replaced the strap four or five times. They never held up. I bet yours do.

Love the design, just picked up a pair of 6" Colts today. A Diamondback and a Python. That carving Rocks! I would have to make a two gun rig, if I was going to carry them. They are unfired 1980s models, but not for long. . I could make a presentation case, with a dual carving on leather inside the top.

Just like that. But looking at the watch again, I think I'd go with black or navy blue leather and orange thread. The watch is one of the Citizen's that you don't wind, it's powered by light, any light. Overhead interior lights, sunlight, whatever. The Blue Face, black bezel, and orange second hand would pop with the right fob. I might make a flap to cover the face to keep the scratches down. Another project for the leather bench. Priority goes to the tooled pouch for the Granddaughter, a Christmas Present "Request."

That looks great! I bought a very nice watch a couple years ago to replace my Luminod Seal Team Watch that finally died after fifteen years. Then fell and fractured my left wrist in two places badly enough they put a plate in it. Now I lost about 20% range of motion. Can't wear watches any more. Think I'll mount the new one on a fob, to carry in my pocket. Your stitch and leather combo is beautifully done, and would show off my watch nicely.

Went to Tandy and got what I needed a few days ago, will be starting soon.

This would likely work, and rather than belt slot on the rear, add d-rings to the back or side as I did on my daughter's pouch. https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/102863-my-second-22-pouch/ https://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/102408-the-second-pouch-for-the-daughter/

"Oh, you can live on it, but it tastes like..."

I enjoyed the thread immensely. I like to make things I need as well. But my constructs lean more to woodwork as I don't weld or have a lathe. The wife saw one on sale and commented it wasn't that expensive. I pulled up several pictures of turners corners and pointed to the tool boards beside the lathes. The lathe is just the tip of that iceberg.... With my other hobbies, I'm not falling down that well. Great job, a good maul makes all the difference.

I have to thank our local Tandy Leather Supply. I have to drive two hours to get to the shop, and I called on Monday to let the manager know I would be driving up on Wednesday and asked if she would mind having them pull the items I would need so I wouldn't arrive and find they "Just sold the last of that color yesterday. Too bad you didn't call." She said she was happy to, but she would be off on Wednesday. I told her I was really disappointed, as I had really benefited from her help and advice on my last visit and wanted to get her help in choosing some leather for an upcoming project. "What time do you think you will be in on Wednesday?" I told her I'd be in around noon but not to put herself out, I'm sure the staff and I would get by. She told me to email the list of items and the leather needs from the pattern: The Thumbhole sling someone posted here recently... she'd see to it. I walked thru the doors at Tandy at 1145am on Wednesday and she grinned at me from behind the counter. She said she was going to meet her niece for lunch after "our" visit. We found the Dyes I needed to replenish my stocks, she had set them aside and they were all there. She had laid out three pieces of leather that met my size requirements. I bought two they were so nice. She had put aside a nice suede for backing. In the basket. She found a tool I needed to add to the tool bar in my shop. I came close to adding a burnishing machine, but it wasn't on sale and hand burnishing will do me for now. I can't justify the cost even with the discount she offered. I managed to get out the door under $300 but I'm good for several months. I had checked on line and their prices for the dye were significantly lower for the same exact item than all the other suppliers. By swinging by while I was in town on other business, I didn't have to wait on the items to be shipped. (Free for a sale over $150) I got to inspect the leather I purchased, two large pieces of 6/7 vegtanned. 60x36 side (you know, approximate) And I had the pleasure of the manager's company. Next time I am up, I will stop in and take advantage of one of her classes. Improve my carving skills.