Billy P

Bruce, thanks for showing a good way to do the corners and then a better/more correct way to do it also. You are one of the best set tool stampers, whose work I've seen. Your instructions and advice have really helped me a lot, and I'm actually doing a lot more practicing and applying what I've learned to things now. Again thanks, Billy P

One thing I forgot to mention was, I wear (2) gold braclets on my right wrist. I bought a couple of the ace wrist wraps, with the velcro closures, and I use one of them over the braclets too keep them from rubbing on the leather. It's less trouble than tring to take them off every time I work. Billy P

Hey Rob, you might want to check out springfield leather co. springfieldleather.com or s-t leather at stleather.com. I think that they both have this buckle or something close. I have several that look just like them + the keepers to match. I got mine from Tandy, but both of those other places are cheaper and have better shipping rates. I hope this helps Billy P

Hey Jim, take a look at your finger nails. I have to keep mine trimmed and filed, or they will make markes. One other thing, if you wear rings, take them off. Just about anything that touches the leather when it is cased will put a mark on it. Billy P

Over the years I've bought a good bit of stuff from S-T Leather. The last few times I bought any carving tools from them they were made by Ivan Tool Co. It seems that they like most other tool companies use the same tool id nos. as Tandy. I am pretty pleased with all that I've bought from them. Billy P.

I just wanted to comment on what Ray said about the plastic belts and such. I just finished up (2) belts for people here in my small town. Our population is about 350 people. They both had belts one from Wal-Mart the other from a higher end department/clothing store. Both of their belts were torn up, because of being belts. The plastic just can't hold up to bigger people wearing them every day. One guy wore his one day and the next morning asked me to make him another one in black. You can make a lot of the same things in plastic as you can in leather, but the plastic is never gonna hold up to heavy use as well. What does a person gain if he buys 3 or 4 belts for $15 each and they wear out in a couple of weeks or gets a plain $40 leather belt that will last for years? Anyway my 2 cents worth Billy P

Hey Todd, I have the Leathercraft Tools book and maybe I can scan that page and send it. I'll try tomorrow afternoon. Billy P

I have a special little snap setting tool that I got years ago from a shop in Cleburne Texas. I might have a friend who has a machine shop to see how much trouble it is to make, and if not overly so I'll let you know. I don't want anything out of the deal, just what he charges and shipping. It works on the line 20 and line 24 snaps. One thing that you might try is a trick I learned years ago from a old Tandy manager. Take a french skiving tool and put a corner/edge in the hole for the snap post, and then make a quick circle cut all the way around the hole. It doesn't skive the whole thing just a little around where the thing sits. Good luck and later Billy P

Hey Buffalogal, you might check with Kevin at Springfield Leather. Ithink you can see the catalog at springfieldleather.com hope this helps Billy P

Great work Dave, but yours usually is. I just may have to get with you alittle later in the year and drive the old truck up and see you. Maybe we can get away to go over to Zack Whites. I used to shop at Mr. Zack's when he was there. The first leather stuff I ever bought was from one of his peoples stepson. The old guy was Clarence Fuller and he knew the leather business too. Anyway great work and talk to you later. Billy P

Hey Lindsey, you might try Kevin at Springfield leather, in ST. Louis Mo., USA. I think the web sit is springfield leather.com. I hope this helps you and they are really great people to work with. Billy P

Hello everybody, I hope this question finds everyone happy and healthy. I need to find a source for the old trophy type belt buckles that had a bezel that would allow you to put a silver dollar in it. The bezel had two (2)small screws in the back that let you get the front loose to install the coin. A friend here has a belt and buckle that one of his friend gave hime years ago, and the buckle has just worn out and broke the loop off the back where it attaches to the belt. I have already looked at Tandy, Springfield Leather, Hidecrafters, and S-T Leather, with no luck. If anyone has a source or know where we could get one I would really appreciate the information. Billy P

Hey Bobby, I just want to say that I am greatly admire your work. I know that there are a great many fantastic leather carvers on our forum, but you are one of the best. I agree with what you said about starting off with a 3/8" straight blade and getting good with it before advancing to other blades, however in my case, when I started there wasn't anyone else within a hundred miles of me working with leather. The only ones that did were at Mrytle Beach and they were selling WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU MAM, give me the money and get out of the way. A friend who had done time in prison was doing some stuff when he got out and he gave a Tandy swivel knife with a 1/4 inch angle blade and that is all I ever knew to use until a few years ago. A friend from Cal. sent me a Henley knife with a 3/8 straight blade, and it is the best knife that I have ever used. It seems that no matter how much I practice with it I still scalp the leather on turns and curves. Do you or any of the other carvers ever have this problem, and if so what can I do to correct it. I ordered a 1/4 angle blade from Mr. Louie, and I use it now, but I still need to learn to use the straight blades. Shoot like Larry told me with the straight blade gets a littl dull and needs stroping, just turn it around and keep using the other side of the blade. Anyway any help or ideas will be appreciated. Billy P

Hey Mike, I've bought a few tools from s-t leather co. and they were Ivan. You might also check with Kevin at Springfield Leather, if he doesn't have them he just might be able to get you a better tool for the money spent. I hope this helps, Billy P.

Hey Mike, this may or may not apply to the pricing question. I've messed up leather since about 73 or 74, had a small but, decent business from about 76 thru the early 80's. It's been my observation that most people don't have a clue about good leather work or the time it takes to turn out the pretty stuff that catches their eye. I don't do very much now diabetes and 2 heart attacks have cut me back but, still do some stuff. To get to my point I made my uncle a belt, some of the old guy's he and I now hang out with asked me about making them a belt too. I just charged them the cost of materials + maybe a cup of coffee at the little store where we hang out. Well this other fellow saw their belts and asked about one for him so I said alright, he asks how much, so I say about 20 or 25 bucks and a cup of coffee. His face turned red and he said "man I can go to the flea market and get a belt for 10 or 12 dollars", I say go to the market then. He comes back about a month later and says his flea market belt is already broke, so go ahead and make him one. I tell him alright but now it's gonna cost at least $50. He gets red in the face again and ask me why, so I say before I was gonna give him the same deal as the rest but not now. Moral is some, probably most people want a deal plus the don't know what it takes to make what they want so they don't appreciate the difference it takes to make a one of a kind item versus the millions of machine made. A lot said, probably to say nothing, but if you could ever figure people out you would have a better chance to set the right price. Later, Billy P

I'm pushing 58 and am a 2X fat, but still cooler than ice cream and cuter than a fat babies poot. nuff said Billy P

Many thanks to everyone who replied to my question. I do think that I have a bottle of Tan Kote, if not I'll order that. Again many thanks Billy P

I hit a wrong button and didn't finish the question. The saddle tan stain that I have has thickened up a lot and I would like to find out if there is something to thin it with other than the Tandy stain thinner. I hate to have to order a $5 bottle of thinner and have to pay $10 or $11 dollars shipping. Plus the Tandy is only about 80 miles away, but because of where it is in Charlotte N.C. it's about a 2+ hr. drive. Any ideas/help will be greatly appreciated. Later Billy P

dI have some of the Tandy antique stain in various colors. My personal favorite is the SADDLE TAN

Hey everybody, I'm pretty dumb about computers and need some help. I think it's called the address bar at the top where you can click on to open up say leatherworker.net., goggle, etc. I have managed to get more stuff on there than I want or need and if possible need someone to explain to me how to delete some of it out of there. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks Billy P

Hey Lui, from the pics, you've got a really nice, first class store. A big CONGRATULATIONS for what you've done and best of luck on the few inspections you have left. Sometimes those people can be real A**holes, but hopefully not for you. Best wishs and send out a number when you're ready. All the Best Billy P

Hello Johanna, I want to wish you a belated birthday. I'm hoping that you had a great day because you are such a great person. With best wishs Billy P Your're only 21 this year & Still looking good. BRP

Hello everyone, while following this thread, it made me remember something. About 3 to 3 1/2 years ago I made my uncle a belt. Well he loves it and wears it allot. My little town only has 1 store that is of any size, and it's really small at that. Just about every morning I meet my uncle and several more of the older fellows and drink coffee and shoot the breeze. I've known all of these guys all my life, and they are all in their 70's. Anyway to the point, another guy, just a little older than I am, has been looking at my uncle's belt, and a few weeks ago he asked me about making him one too. He asked me how much I would charge him for the belt, so I says to him, well Junebug, I won't charge you hardly for the work, just a little over the cost of the material so about $20 or $25 is all that it will cost you. He gets red in the face, and tells me I can't believe that you want to charge 20 or 25 dollars for just a belt. I told him if I order a belt strip and buckle and then use chicago screws to hold it on and pay shipping on it all, I'll have more than $25 in it myself. The only reason I could make it that cheap is I cut my on strap and already had the other stuff on hand. He looked like he wanted to change his mind about me overcharging him, but before he could open his mouth, I told him to go to Wal-Mart, Target, or to the flea-market and get him a cheap belt, that I didn't think that I would have time to make him one in the next few years. Sure the belt bend I'm using I bought a long time back, but I am gonna have to replace it with leather that probably won't be as good and will most likely cost me 3 times as much. The price of just about everything related to leatheworking, whether it's for a little paying hobby like me or it's someone that is doing it as a business, to make their living and support their family has gone up a pretty good bit in the last couple of years or so. Even me, with hardly any overhead, can't do cheap much anymore. It must be really tough on people who rent a building or who has a separate shop outside the house. I have a small shop outback of my house. I wired it up, put in good lights, and air-conditioner, a little electric heater, just right for me and I could play my music as loud as I wanted, buddy comes over and mix up a drink, good time all the way around. Then the figureing up started. There is not much business in my area, so I really don't sell much plus with me drawing SS disability, I'm kind of wary about doing much, but the shop with as few hours that I put in out there was costing me about $75.00 to $100.00 a month extra on my power bill, so I moved back into my spare room in the house. I've rambled enough now, but my point is everything we do has some sort of cost to it. With no more than I sell, I charge a firm deposit on any custom item. I don't care if it's uncle, cousin, family or friend or stranger, before I pull out and cut leather they are gonna come of some $$$$$ or go somewhere else. I keep some belts that I made in the early 80's. I made them for some guys on a construction job that weekend, take them to work on Monday and they had gotten laid off the weekend and I'm out my time and money. Where am I gonna sell a size 46 buckstitched belt, with "MONTE" on it? When someone wants to try and slide by on the deposit I show them these belts, usually enough said. Wishing everyone a good day A HAPPY AND SAFE JULY 4th Billy P