Billy P

Hello all and Merry Christmas Everyone. I have never used the modeling spoons very much. Until a couple of years ago, when I found and joined the IILG, I didn't have much of an idea what they were even for. Now that I have an idea of their intended use, I find them whipping my ass. I just can't seem to get the way to use them correctly in my mind. If any and all that can would try to explain to me how to use them I would really appreciate it. Also if anyone has maybe pictures of how they are used and would post them as a before, during and after, it would probably help me and maybe some others also. Anyway like I said any help with this would be most greatly and humbly appreciated. Thanks in Advance, Billy P

Hey Steveb, last year a very dear friend, who lives in CAl. got a hold of some extra $$. He suprised the hell out of me by sending me a Henley knife and blade, among a bunch of other stuff. I really love the Henley knife, but he had got a 3/8 straight blade. I had never used the straight blade and have still not got used to it. So my wife bought me a 1/4" angle Henley as part of my Christmas, a little early. I've had it a little over a week and am using the fire out of it. It's like you ssaid they sure a are a sweet blade. Mr. Louie Henley and I have talked on the phone a few times and he's a really nice person to talk too. Anyway Merry Chirstmas and a Happy New Year to you and everyone else on the Forum. With Kindest Regards Billy P

Mike and or anyone else who can help, how do you apply the gum trag to the edges? I mean do you put on with your finger, a rag, a Q-tip, etc.? I use it too and haven't found a good way to apply it to the edges yet. Thanks Billy P

Hey there Rger, nice work. I wish I could get a chance to learn some braiding. I don't know much about it, but I do know nice and pretty, and what I like and I like your work. Thanks for sharing with us, Billy P

Hey guys, I just added a reply to another post about the maul. I have one of Grizzlies smaller mauls, I think about a 14oz. I have come to really like using the tapered maul, as it helped me with the pain I was having in my shoulder and elbow. In my opinion they are a good deal, but they are made of a soft material. They are great for small tools; small bevelers, seeders, and such, but they bounce too much for any medium size up bevelers, pear shaders, cam, etc. I know as soon as I get some things straightened out and can afford it. I'm going to get me another one, probably a Barry King. My best advice is if you are going to invest in one you'd be better off spending a little more money on the BK or another one made out of the harder material. Regards Billy P

Hi everybody, some years ago I had surgery for carpel tunnel syn., then as it turned out I didn't have carpel tunnel, but Diabetic Neurothopy (sp). That means nerve damage caused by diabetes. My right hand sometimes hurts as bad as passing a kidney stone, and yep I did that once too, so I know them both. Until a couple of years ago I had not worked with leather for a while, no time, no place, too busy working 12/15 hr days. When I had to retire in 2002 I started going stir crazy so I bought a 8x16 building, put in elec. and off I go working at working with leather. It got to where after a couple of hours my shoulders and elbows hurt to I felt like crying. I'm right handed, but have always held the mallet/maul in my left hand and the tool in my right. Well it was the left side giving me the problems. It finally came out that I had torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders. Not bad enough for surgery, but hurt like hell. I had seen and read all the emails from the IILG and I finally ordered me a maul. I just got mine from Grizzly Tools because it was cheaper than Hidecrafters and ws the sme thing. I wanted to try one before I invested very much in one. Anyway to the point, It did'nt take long to realize that I really need a better maul made out of something harder, as mine is soft and I have to use my old Garland mallet for pear shading and some of the bigger stamps. The truth is you would have to really fight me to make me give up my maul now though. It has helped my shoulder and elbows a lot. I can tool for a long time now and it hardly bothers me at all. As soon as I can get some stuff straightened out and can afford it I intend to get me a decent maul about a lb or 20oz er. As long as it is made of the harder material I'll be fine. I said a lot to say that changing to a maul made a big difference in my tooling and how long I can tool at the sitting and how much trouble I was having with my shoulder and elbow. With Regards Billy P

hey Wolf try it this way I think that I put it in wrong www.geocities.com/craftoolwyo/Craftools.html When I went back to where I have that place put up I noticed that the second Craftool began with a capital C. I hope this works if not let me know and i'll try some other way. Later Billy P

A pretty good place to check on Craftools is www.geocities.com/craftoolwyo/craftools.html if it doesn't work let me know and i'll try and put it up again. Billy P

I use both the Red and white rouge sticks. I bought both from Tandy years ago. Tandy used to only sell the red rough sticks, but then they started with the white for some reason. I've found that the red is more abrasive than the white. I keep to stropping sticks close by and will sometimes hit the blades with the red and then a few strokes with the white. That gives me a really sharp edge on my blades. Another thing is for my rough strops I usually make them using Crocus cloth. That is something that is almost like a smooth sand paper. When I did construction work, most of the time I worked in Maintenance Support for the contractors. The Crocus Cloth was used to help get a really good polished finish on some of the Valve Seats, and misc. Turbine parts. Anyway I've found it to be good stuff and I hope that I can find some more sometime soon as I'm down to just 3 or 4 sheets now. Some of the other compounds named are good to. Some people swear by something else that is called Yellow something. I haven't used it, but the ones I've heard from that use it I trust that are right as they are really good leatherworkers/saddle makers. Anyway I hope this helps a little, Kindest Regards Billy P

You can order directly from Wicket&Craig just call 1-800-823-6397. That is their Tannery Warehouse and you can order 1 side on up. After 10 sides get a discount, but their prices are better than Tandy's price on Oak Leaf, which is their mid-grade of leather. You can check the them out on their web-site. I just typed in wicket-craig on google and got them. On their web site, which the prices may have changed some since they updated in Feb. 2007, but the prices were 8/10 oz tooling leather in russet or black was standard or best grade $6.30 sq ft., utility grade/mid grade $5.60 sq ft., and $4.89 for special grade. Backs for belts or whatever are .95 cent more and if you want thinner leather they will split it for you also. I tink the guy I talked too is named Glenn, but he told me that the Russet color is just a tan like TLF or Hidecrafters or the other's sell. I do know that some of /a lot of the ones we call the masters use the W&C and really don't want anything else. I haven't ordered from them yet myself, but the next belt/tooling leather I order will be from them. They are a lot cheaper than Tandy, Hidecrafters, etc. even at the wholesale prices I get for being in the guilds I'm in. Just my .02 worth, so if it helps someone it'll make me happy and if it doesn't it was free info anyway. Have a good one Billy P

I gonna run the risk of being the dumbest person on the planet, or at least as the dumbest member of this forum. How do I get into the MARKETPLACE FORUM to see what's there or to post something? I see where it has been expanded and seems to be an improved thing, but for the life of me I can't find it. Maybe I just don't know it when I see it. Anyway any help will be appreciated a lot. Thanks in Advance Billy P

Hey Skip, welcome to the forum. When you figured out how to do it, post pics, you sure posted some pretty work. I really like the bags on the saddle horn, but heck I like all the pictures. Great work and thanks for sharing them with us. Billy P

I bought some sometime back, that were similiar to yours. I got them from Hidecrafters, but don't know if you can ;order from them now. Regards Billy P P.S. you might also check out S-T leather, as they might have some.

Hey Chris I'm gonna try and add the link to the Henley knive site so that you can just open it, don't know if it'll work for us but here goes Visit My Website

Hey Chris, I made my strop with a 5 gal. paint stir stick and used some Crocus Cloth with jewelers rouge and also like Kate said I use a longer piece of slick illustration board with the rouge on it. When you try to use the business cards, because of them being short you'll tend to lift up on the knife to quick and gives a greater chance of rounding the edge. Just my .02 on the strop. As for a blade I too have the ALS brand of swivel blade, but if you really want a good swivel knife blade and an outstanding swivel knife in my opinion you can't beat a Henley. They make their blades out of some kind of super hard exotic metal. Their regular business is makeing cutting tools for the harvest of timber, ie saws, shears, etc. you can contact them at (318) 631-3545, ask for Tony of Mr Louie. I've not spoken to Tony, but Mr. Louie is really a nice down to earth person. In fact I just talked to him the first of this week. One of their 1/4 angle blades is $30.80 + shipping, he told me that if that is the only thing I wanted to order that the shipping wouldn't be but a dollar or so, as they would just but it in a envelope and mail it out regular mail. I think the web site is gemosphere.tripod.com/gemosphere/swivel_knivesx.html I hope this may help you out. Billy P

Dave beautiful work as usual. If the boss don't like that seat, he must have eyes that are ill'in him mighty bad. Take that man to the eye Dr. in a hurry, and whatever you do don't let him try to drive, as nobody is safe with him on the road. Again really great work and thanks for sharing with all of us that love all Bike Work. When we see the work that you, Beeza, and a lot of the other people doing Biker stuff are turning out it makes me and I'm sure a lot more fell inadaquat with our leatherworking, but it also gives us something to shoot for. When we do a piece and can look at it and say that looks as good as Dave's, or Beeza's, or ETC., then we can say that we are getting there. Billy P

Beautiful work, really outstanding. Now a question, does sewing the stingray cause any problems? I have to hand sew all of my work, and was wondering if it caused any unsually hard sewing, as I've heard that it is hard to work with because it is so tough. I have some that a friend in Singapore sent me early this year along with some water snake skin, but didn't know about the ray hide. Regards Billy P

Phil LeDuc at Stonehedge Leather in San Diego Ca. usually carries Henley knives and blades. 1-888-805-9690 He's been sick and in and out of the hospital, but his wife, Reggie, and his son Eric are running things while he is sick. Diabetes is tearing him up too, LOL, that's some tough stuff. Regards Billy P

All the holsters and scabbards are nice, mbrien I was not able to open your pictures in the format you sent them could you or one of the others that can see them send them out in jpeg of something like that maybe even pdf. Any help will be appreciated. Billy P

The little green man I am trying to send is me full of envy of your really good work. I do have a question though is the holster and the bottom part of the shoulder yoke all one piece of leather? Thanks for sharing with us, Billy P

Hey Johnny, rdb, and Mike, Mike you know me somewhat, but the others don't. I'm gonna tell you a little history about me and Zack White. Way back in the early 70's I got interested in leatherworking by watching an old guy at Mrytle Beach makeing mystry braid bracelets. He would not show me how to do, but he gave me a piece that was braided and a piece that was cut to be braided and told me to learn how. I found a book in the local libarary with the instructions in it and about 3 weeks later I had a weekend off and went back down there and showed him I could do it. Back then Mr Zack had a guy, Clarence Fuller, that had been working with him for years. I met Mr. Clarence's stepson and bought my first leatherworking tools and stuff from Toby, is son. Toby had got Mr. Clarence to get the stuff for him and would pound out a belt or bracelet on a cement block, a brick or whatever he could find, an easy way to pick up a few bucks back then. For the first year that I worked at leather I didn't know that there was anywhere else but Zack White Leather Co. in Raleigh N.C. to buy leather and supplies from. After Mr. Zack decided to sell out and retire, the new owners moved the co to Ramsuer N.C., but no matter where they have been since 1974, I've bought from them, I've always been satisfied with the price and the quality of there products. They didn't used to sell as much Tandy/Crafttool stuff as they do now, but I understand that business is business and they have to do what they can to stay in business and stay competitive in the market. Guys you wouldn't believe the stamping tools, belt buckles, handbag hardware, shoe findings, etc., that Zack white used to carry and always cheaper than just about anywhere else. Johnny I live about 35 mi. south of the Rock down in South Carolina on U.S. Highway 1. I've been to Carthage several times, my daughter used to live there. Another thing my wife has been up to Pinehurst to the hospital several times and we/I usually try and make it on up to Sandhills Harley-Davidson. Maybe some time we can get together and we can meet up somewhere up around Carthage and ride on up to Zack White's together, have some fun lusting after the leather stuff and even get a cup of coffee. RDB, if you want we can all meet up somewhere and enjoy talking about leather with someone who at least knows something about it. Down here where I live nobody even knows what carving leather is. Anyway enough wind for now. Ya'll all have a good one and I'll talk to you later. Mr. Phelps, I got the private email and am glad to here that you are getting some use out of it. It seems that a while back it came up again, here and in the group, turned out to be the SSDD (same sh*t different day), but if the big guys won't let you play without a whipping, I guess just don't play there game. We can't afford to get in trouble about it. I might would do another for someone, but I'd have t really know that they don't talk and brag. Kindest Regards everybody, Billy P

Hi everybody, even though I've been doing leatherwork on and off for a while I have a question, but first a few comments. If things work out I will probably be trying to do at least one solo seat for a Harley Sportster and maybe get started on an old buddy seat off of a 1952 Harley 3-Wheeler for my bro-in-law. He's been dragging his feet on getting the seat pan ready,LOL he don't get in a hurry. My questions are do I do a light oiling before I dye it or after? What is the best oil to use, ie Lexol, pure neatsfoot, or what? After the oiling and dying what is the best finish to use, Satin sheen, Super Sheen, Resolene, All in one, etc, ? The Solo seat is going to be, probablely medium Brown, he's really not sure yet, just knows it won't be black. I never even knew about oiling leather until a year or 2 ago. Most of what I had done was small cases, belts, pictures and things like that, and oh yeah some ladies bags plus checkbook covers and the like. I hate to ask such a question, but I'd rather ask and learn and do the guy a good job, than not ask thus not know and make him something that won't hold up under weather and use. Any help and answers will be greatly appreciated. Billy P

very nice, thanks for sharing with us. Billy P

Vera, that is some nice work. Please share some more with us. Billy P

Mike and Jordan, I really know what ya'll are going through. Back in 2002 I went to pick p some paperwork for my wife to get an ultrasound for a lump on her breast. The nurse asked me if I was alright and I said I guess so, anyway she was insistant that I see the Dr. right then. Next thing I know I'm going to the hospital for test too, and when they got the results haven't worked since. Already had severe Diabetes, that had caused me to have 2 heart attacks (badly weakened my arteries) also caused lung damage (pulmonary fibrosis). I alread had diabetic neuropthany, (sp) whic means severe nerve damage in ankle and especially right hand. I can't pick up a dime off the floor in I can't see it, because I can't feel it. I also can't feel much that is soft like toliet paper, tissue paper, etc. My wife has hade surgery on her back 4 times, once on her neck, and 2 times on her right shoulder for torn rotator cuff. It took me over 2 years to get my SS Disablity started and It likes alot being what I made working. When you go from a little over a thousand a week to little over a thousand a month, now that's a big cut in pay. We both stay depressed. I am in the process of getting my leather working stuff movered into the house. It has been costing me about $75 or $80 a month extra on my power bill to cool and heat my little dogg house so I'm moving it into the extra room in the house to save money. Another thing about that is I've almost always worked in the house on my leather stuff and my wife says, plus I agree with her that I'll get more done in here than in the shop. When I'm out there in the dogg house I tend to worry about her falling or trying to do too much and that effects how much I do and how long I stay out there. She and I have been together for 30 years and while I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer sometimes I'm smart enough to know who looks out for me, after all these years she is still my best friend. If I see something I want or need to work with leather and she knows it she'll end up getting it for me. Anyway I just wanted you guys to know that some of the rest of us know about and are going through the same things as you are. Ya'll will be in our prayers. Until Later and With Kindest Regards Billy P