SUP

@Dwight. I know what you mean. I feel the same about my bag too.

Oh Wow! @Dwight That makes it nearly 6 lb. that you carry around your waist, at a minimum. Isn't it exhausting? But I guess you are used to it. I know what to say next time anyone says my handbag is heavy. At least I can keep it down!

Thank you all for your replies. I have been pretty clueless, isn't it? Don't really notice these things, I guess. All I am used to is dress belts. So much to still learn. I don't want to even think of the weight of it all around your waists! Heavy belt, gun, with holster and whatever else! I mean pockets must hold wallet etc. as well? How much does it all end up weighing? Has anyone checked their weights before and after wearing it all?

I see people making gorgeous belts with really thick leather. I mean, 7-9oz, double layered! That would be up to nearly a cm thick! And so heavy too! Other than durability, is there any reason for such thick, heavy belts? Don't they weigh down on the waist? And then, add other stuff in pockets!. Wow! Rather than hold trousers up, I would worry that they will pull then lower. Just wondering.

Wow! That is beautiful!

DO you mean something like this but a little shorter? The foot part in these are a little impractical though. Diesel punk has some shoes that rise above the ankles. Those are not moccasins though. His directions are excellent as well. His moccasins are great too - I wear mine all the time. So maybe you could try making them, only taller. I fact, I have heard that he is very helpful. He might guide you on how to make them taller.

Even if the tea absorbs, will the tannins bind? Even after the iron acetates form, the color might bleed if damp or wet. I tried using tea once and that is what happened. Again, I might be wrong about this but my experience is that using tea and then vingaroon causes bleeding of the black color. Without the tea, it never bleeds because those tannins are bound to the leather, so there is nothing to bleed.

@Northmount I was wondering. As there is no tannin in the leather in the first place, the tannins from tea might remain on the surface and interact with vinegaroon but bleed because there is nothing to hold it to the leather. Of course, I might be wrong about.

Mop N' Glo gives the highest shine, for me. Even more than Resolene. Maybe you could try a couple of these products on scrap of leather first.

Oh, I am interested. I am watching the leather pieces as well. A lot going on right now so I don't have the time to make the tables and give the careful descriptions that I like to do. Ergo the delay. I will be interested as long as I live, I think. it is that sort of experiment.

Thank you @fredk. My one year update is long overdue. Strapped for time. I am keeping watch and all leather appears unchanged from last time. The detailed descriptions, I will be able to get to it by late Oct or early Nov.,2024.

After I skive, I gently sand it to even it out.

If the two layers are stuck together when curved, when the flap is straightened to open the bag, won't the outside crease?

Just ordinary saddle soap. You should get it in any leather store or on Amazon. I have no idea which country you are from, so cannot suggest a store

Have you tried cleaning it with saddle soap to get off the excess?

Ordinary veg tanned leather, dyed brown with Fiebing's Pro dye. Same as several other knife sheaths that I made at that time. I used the same vey tanned leather side from which to cut out the different sheaths. Made them the same way and dyed several of them different shades of brown - light, medium or dark. But other items have been dyed with the same brown as this sheath and they are not magnetic.

I would really like to know but I made the grave error of keeping the scissors and sheath 'very safely'. which means I now cannot find it anywhere. As a large roll of paper, similar kept safely, is not to be found either, my family does not hold out much hope for this much smaller item.

I find that marble cracks far more easily than granite. Also stains and pits.

Springfield starts with sending excellent quality but in later orders, they tend to be careless, at least where their leathers are concerned. I have heard others say the same. They have good return policies though. Same with Tandy, with a 60 day return policy, with receipt. So you always have that option. I don't know about Weaver though.

Earthing moccasins on Etsy has patterns for wide and narrow feet but she is expensive. Dieselpunk.ro has different sizes as well. If you get his, he might give some pointers on how to widen the shoes to your requirements and his patterns are much more reasonable.

Have you tried gold or silver acrylic marker pens? Not sure how long they will last on the flesh side though.

Oh. Okay. On the flesh side I usually use an ordinary pencil, I just remembered. I got one with a rather thick lead from Temu, and it works well for that.

Ooops! Here it is. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08GFL2CBC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A17VVI3BMITTB1&psc=1

Any oils and waxes will darken the leather. You could try the leather conditioner and cleanser that 'the Chemical guys' sell. It did not darken any of my leather but test it first. It might make a slight difference that might not be visible on colored leathers but visible on white.

I like these because they are in different colors. They also have single color sets, silver included. You might get the same in the UK.