Help a Newbie Develop an Eye for Quality

[OGL]

Full disclosure: I have not sewn a stitch or cut a single piece of leather. But I'm definitely curious and looking to find a way in to the craft.

I recently bought this wallet from a well known crafter. I hid the mark, I don't want to malign or criticize or disparage anyone in any way.

But I was a little disappointed. I did not pay the full ~$100 retail price which is common. If I had I would have been very disappointed.

To be fair, I bought it as a grab bag/mystery sale item. I don't see any obvious flaws, so I don't know why it got sent from the retail shelf to the grab bag bin. But since it does have the maker's mark on it I take it to mean it was approved to be sent out into the world.

Questions:

1) Is the level of finish typical of a $100 product?

2) Or should I assume, since it was a grab bag item, that there is some flaw I am not trained to see?

3) I was thinking of using it as a practice piece. Can I skive it? Sand and burnish it to look pro?

Thanks!

 

[fredk]

Well, things I would do differently;

1. looks like the sewing was through punched out round holes; I would use a diamond hole, punched thru but not out

2. Stitching is heavier than need to be; I'd use a much lighter/thinner thread

3. the stitches lay on top of the leather; I'd have a groove cut or run for the stitches to lay into 

4. I don't like the way the stitching goes over the edge at the top

5. I'd prefer a brown thread rather than a stark white

6. no edge finish at all. I'd slick and burnish that edge

[chuck123wapati]

https://tandyleather.com/collections/wallet-kits/products/classic-bi-fold-wallet-kit

[BlackDragon]

Along with what Fred said it also looks like they didnt skive the lower parts of the inner pockets making it bulge out.

They didnt glue the layers down so it lools like it's separating along the bottom. 

Some of the stitch holes arent evenly spaced.

Personally, I wouldn't have put stitching along the top unless there was a liner.

Edited yesterday at 02:19 AM by BlackDragon

[billybopp]

All things considered, it's not horrible.  I've seen less sold for more at times.  That said, I agree with just about everything said above.  That said, if you wanted to make your own, you could do better without too much trouble!  Materials, tools, and all would probably cost less than the $100 asking price - Not including your blood, sweat and tears.

- Bill

[chuck123wapati]

1 hour ago, billybopp said:

All things considered, it's not horrible.  I've seen less sold for more at times.  That said, I agree with just about everything said above.  That said, if you wanted to make your own, you could do better without too much trouble!  Materials, tools, and all would probably cost less than the $100 asking price - Not including your blood, sweat and tears.

- Bill

lol I posted the tandy wallet kit above, I think it's 30 bucks. Thats a kit wallet if i ever saw one.

They're a good learning tool. The second time you stitch them back together, you learn what is wrong with them lol.

[OGL]

2 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

lol I posted the tandy wallet kit above, I think it's 30 bucks. Thats a kit wallet if i ever saw one.

They're a good learning tool. The second time you stitch them back together, you learn what is wrong with them lol.

That's disappointing especially considering where it came from.

I realize I said "skive" in my original post. I meant bevel.

I bought some basic tools. I'm going to try to give it an upgrade.

Edit: I double checked what I received against your comments then went back to the source and what they sell online is consistent with the product I got. So yeah...my amateur eye was not wrong in feeling a bit duped. SOOOO glad I did not pay full price. I'll chalk it up to price of education which is pretty much what I was after anyway.

Edited 11 hours ago by OGL

[wizard of tragacanth]

Chuck is right... that's a Tandy kit, and poorly done at that! 

Not worth $5 in my mind. 

Round holes are starting off on the wrong foot! The thick white thread is an abomination. 

Everything is wrong except the back stitching.

Nick

[chuck123wapati]

47 minutes ago, OGL said:

That's disappointing especially considering where it came from.

I realize I said "skive" in my original post. I meant bevel.

I bought some basic tools. I'm going to try to give it an upgrade.

Edit: I double checked what I received against your comments then went back to the source and what they sell online is consistent with the product I got. So yeah...my amateur eye was not wrong in feeling a bit duped. SOOOO glad I did not pay full price. I'll chalk it up to price of education which is pretty much what I was after anyway.

All is not lost; now you have a basic wallet pattern to use, just take it apart. 

[fredk]

@OGL I sometimes buy a cheap item and take it apart to see how its made and how I would do it better. BUT, I only buy really cheap stuff and what I'm interested in. Its all good edumacation