Can of worms

[Gezzer]

@RockyAussie  Here is the scoop on this and Thanks for the kind words .

 

[Klara]

16 hours ago, Tugadude said:

As much as I love Springfield Leather, and I do, when I was there several years ago I noticed that they had begun to market a lot of finished goods, wallets, card holders, etc.  That was new, and I was intrigued so I looked at them, closely.  The stitching immediately made me cringe.  The goods looked fine I guess, but the stitching clearly was made by machine and didn't exhibit any of the hallmark qualities of saddle stitching achieved by hand.  I'll show an example below.  To me they just look "wrong".  Others will disagree, and that's fine.  Aesthetics are personal.  Expectations are personal.  If people don't care one way or another, then sure, they want to buy at the cheapest price.  Some will pay more, some won't.  Always been and always will.

Does machine stitching on leather have to look so ugly? I hope not... 

On fabric machine stitching mostly looks better than handstitching (remember the scene in The Fiddler on the Roof where the tailor receives his sewing machine?), and I wouldn't pay more for made-to-measure trousers just because the sewing machine broke down and they were sewn by hand.

With leather it's different because handstitching is actually functionally better. That's what it makes worth more to me...

 

[Samalan]

3 hours ago, Klara said:

Does machine stitching on leather have to look so ugly? I hope not.

This is machine-stitched I think it looks ok

[Tugadude]

One thing to clarify.  When I posted the example that I did it wasn't because I believe ALL machine stitching looks bad, not at all.  There have been lots of examples posted here that show that it can look good.  To argue otherwise is silly.

Springfield could have chosen a thicker thread and it immediately would have looked better.  Why they didn't, who knows?  I can't believe there's a huge savings in going with thinner thread.  Not when you look at the small amount of thread per article certainly.

What I was trying to show is how machine stitching CAN look when aesthetics aren't a concern.  I can't imagine them looking at that stitching and believing it looks great.  Just can't believe that.

Some buy them for their function and I'm sure don't even notice.  They don't realize there is something better available probably.

So let's not make this a handstitched versus machine debate.  That wasn't my intent.  The advantages of each are well known, well documented and I respect those on both sides.  

[Samalan]

3 hours ago, Tugadude said:

let's not make this a handstitched versus machine debate.

No debate at all I'm just too dam lazy to do all that hand stitching I actually think it's better and I like to think of myself as the guy who would like to do hand stitching and I have all the equipment to do it but then when it comes time to do it I'm on the machine the most hand stitching I do is to close up the end of the machine stitch LOL.

[chuck123wapati]

When i open a can o worms I go fishin!!! man i wanna go fishin! but the water is still to hard.

[Tugadude]

17 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

When i open a can o worms I go fishin!!! man i wanna go fishin! but the water is still to hard.

Chainsaw!

[doubleh]

I say it is whatever floats YOUR boat. Stamping leaves mine sitting very low in the water but that's just me. If you like it go for it.

I am working on a border stamped holster, the first ever for me. I am not too enthused about it as it's been in the works for well over a month now but I did have a respiratory bug to deal with during that time.  Maybe sometime this week, or next,  I'll get back to it.

[Frodo]

Choosing the correct tool for the right spot is my struggle with carving. I am trying to learn on my own and my teacher is an idiot

 This is an embarrassment

 

[sparctek]

@Frodo I was in the same spot you are in a couple of years ago. I started watching Don Gonzales videos and 2-3 years later, I can confidently say my work has improved. I am by no means an expert and I am nowhere near the skill level that some of the people on this forum are at.

But I can confidently say that once you learn what each tool does and learn at least one way to use them, you will improve them if you put the time in to practice. It took me that long because I still work fill time for an IT company. So, my time working with leather is limited. Give this video of Don showing his process and the tools he uses and why a try or 2... it should help get you going in the right direction. I know it did for me.

Hope this helps, and yes it is a 4 video series. If you don't have the same tools a she does (undershot, undercut) you can just use a beveler, angle it and use that to bevel those areas instead.