rdb Report post Posted February 22, 2010 TIPS FROM UNCLE DAVE: Part 1 Make 2 gallons of Vinegaroon at a time. The leather will soak up more than you think. Mix up a bucket of Baking soda, while you're at it. Be careful, even dry vinegaroon splatters will get on everything. Don't let your Oil Dye and Neatsfoot mixtures freeze overnight. Mix them very well at all times before dunking. Edge cut and Burnish your edges before you try and mark sewing lines or groove. Makes for smoother lines. When you buy blades for any tool...buy 2 or more packages. Don't estimate a job unless you've already made the pattern to cut out the leather. Those small things eat up much more leather than you think. Check how much thread is on the boobin spool before you start sewing. Piecework is your friend. Making six belts...edge all of them in one step, slot them, all in one step, dye all in one step, etc. Just remember, if you have to make six of something...test the first one completely before cutting all the rest. Promise more than you can deliver, then deliver more than you promised. Let it dry first!!! Top finish first, then lightly burnish edges before dying. It makes for a cleaner dye job. Then do the full burnish after dye dries. If you burnish with canvas, or denim, have a black cloth a brown cloth, and a neutral one. Keep the empty small jars of dye, etc. Pour the quart sizes into the small ones as needed. When you spill, it ain't so bad...lol Never jump right into a project from yesterday. Do something simple first to get your head straight. The smallest scrap can be useful...testing dyes, etc...but at some point throw it away! Keep your fingers out of the way! Or at least, keep the bandaids close by. No, you can't disguise it with dye. Duct tape the edges of your benches. They'll scratch the leather easier than you think. You can't have enough small clamps. Go ahead, add your own..this might be fun... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted February 22, 2010 No truer words have been spoken.............. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted February 22, 2010 Nice one Uncle Dave! When you have used a piece of sponge or rag throw it away - don't save it. Keep a strop on a hook under your bench. Do your dyeing on a piece of white butchers paper but throw the paper away before it makes your work dirty. Always sweep up tacks before they go into your feet. Never grab at a falling knife. Never scratch anything when you are dyeing -especially your nose! LOL Vinyl gloves work better than latex ones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dbusarow Report post Posted February 22, 2010 "Promise more than you can deliver, then deliver more than you promised." Now that is a slogan to live by. Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bentley Report post Posted February 22, 2010 Never open a bottle of dye near your work bench, amazing how far a small bit of dye can fly through the air. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rdb Report post Posted February 22, 2010 Thanks guys and dolls. Yep, Dan, I made that one up Good one bentley...that's a for sure Somebody keep an eye on those hatley boys.... Hey, I could do this all day, but I'll save some for a Part 2. All Y'all should be filling in the rest of this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted February 23, 2010 Thanks guys and dolls. Yep, Dan, I made that one up Good one bentley...that's a for sure Somebody keep an eye on those hatley boys.... Hey, I could do this all day, but I'll save some for a Part 2. All Y'all should be filling in the rest of this one. KEEP REMINDING ME OF WHAT I HAVE FORGOT....."Ray is the one to be watched"....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
