Need Tooled Wallet Maker

[dbear]

I am new here, and there are so many good leather workers on the site to choose from..... I am wanting to have a custom tooled wallet made out of saddle style leather. Hand stitch is a plus and attention to detail is big for me. If anyone can help, let me know. My # is 214-605-0813.

Thanks again,

Tommy Bailey

[electrathon]

Similar to this? $35 plus shipping ($40 total) .

Aaron

[jbird]

Hay Tommy

I use high end interiors and would not touch $35 way out of my league. I charge a $50 min on wallets

I will contact you monday.

thanks

Josh

[pinkchaps]

-

Hay Tommy

I use high end interiors and would not touch $35 way out of my league. I charge a $50 min on wallets

I will contact you monday.

thanks

Josh

You know everyone on this board is very proud of the work they do. It is sad someone like you comes on here and belittles other peoples work for personal satisfaction or even worse - a dollar. I think this board should be encouraging and uplifting.

[jbird]

Hay know hold on! no belittlement involved every one on this board does great work. and in fact I dont hold my work above any one else's,

And if I came across sounding like that I apologize. All I was saying was I cant compete with that price. And for any one that knows me they would have given me a PM and I could have retracted any offensive post.

I strive to uphold the values of this forum as I am a representative there of

respectfully

Josh

[UKRay]

Nice looking wallet, Electrathon. IMHO, you could be charging much more than that for such good looking work. I have no idea what the inside looks like, but based on other pics of your work I have seen, I'd be very surprised if the collar didn't match the cuffs...

Josh, I do believe you could have phrased that a little more sensitively. Aaron's a very experienced and well respected leatherworker so I can't imagine you were suggesting he would use anything but top quality materials.

This forum is supportive, Pinkchaps, and will always remain that way. Encouraging and uplifting? Yes, that too but occasionally folks can get carried away in their enthusiasm to sell their products. I'm confident that there was no malice aforethought.

Ray

[Luke Hatley]

Nice looking wallet, Electrathon. IMHO, you could be charging much more than that for such good looking work. I have no idea what the inside looks like, but based on other pics of your work I have seen, I'd be very surprised if the collar didn't match the cuffs...

Josh, I do believe you could have phrased that a little more sensitively. Aaron's a very experienced and well respected leatherworker so I can't imagine you were suggesting he would use anything but top quality materials.

This forum is supportive, Pinkchaps, and will always remain that way. Encouraging and uplifting? Yes, that too but occasionally folks can get carried away in their enthusiasm to sell their products. I'm confident that there was no malice aforethought.

Ray

[dfredhrs]

Hi,I am looking at the lacing.Very nice.could you tell me what stitch the lacing is.And also how did you manage to run 2 colors,Obviously 2 needles,right??)With the 2 colors it is hard to trace the stitch and figure it out.Anyway....Nice wallet.Excellent stamping.thank you for your post Dana

Similar to this? $35 plus shipping ($40 total) .

Aaron

[jbird]

Nice looking wallet, Electrathon. IMHO, you could be charging much more than that for such good looking work. I have no idea what the inside looks like, but based on other pics of your work I have seen, I'd be very surprised if the collar didn't match the cuffs...

Josh, I do believe you could have phrased that a little more sensitively. Aaron's a very experienced and well respected leatherworker so I can't imagine you were suggesting he would use anything but top quality materials.

This forum is supportive, Pinkchaps, and will always remain that way. Encouraging and uplifting? Yes, that too but occasionally folks can get carried away in their enthusiasm to sell their products. I'm confident that there was no malice aforethought.

Ray

very well said thanks Ray.

I was not meaning to say what it sounded like very sorry for how it sounded and I apologize again.

I have pm the people involved and apologized as well.

Happy new year to all my best wishes for a happy new year.

Josh

Josh

[electrathon]

First off let me say I am not upset at Josh and understand that he was not trying to put me down. I did recieve an apology directly from him saying he was sorry if his wording offended me. Thank you Josh.

I am a good amature leatherworker , not a professional. I do leather because I enjoy it and have fun doing it. I work on it in the evenings when I am watching TV as a way to relax and pass the time. Because of that, I do not have to make a lot of money at it. Most of my work is passed on as gifts to friends and family. Someday if my life situation changes I may find that I need to do leather as a carrier, for now I just enjoy what I create. I sell a few things to help offset the cost of buying tools and materials (I am a tool junkie by the way) but if someone was to come to me wanting 25 wallets I would pass on the order, as I would not have fun doing it.

Interiors: I make my own. Not because I want to, but because every time I build a wallet with a pre-made one it comes apart! I currently do not have any pics of the insides of mine, but I keep them simple and thin. I have one wallet under construction now and in a few days I will post pics of how I do the insides.

Lacing: Two toned, double loop. It is basicly the same pattern as single strand, double loop, but you use two laces. You can find the patterns for it on a couple places on the web or here: http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/search/searchresults/61906-00.aspx?feature=Product_2&kw=lacing+book I highly recomend this book. Be carefull not to buy the other one Tandy sells, the pictures are harder to follow. I use a lacing punch ( I will post a pic of it later). Never use round holes. Round holes are for round lace, slits are for flat lace. I punch close to the edge, usually about an 1/8th inch. Kangeroo lace is the only way to go. It lasts longer than cheaper laces and lays in smoother.

Thank you to those who said kind words about my work.

Aaron

[THein]

After a couple days of driving the loader back and forth from the haystack to the cows, I figure there are two or more issues going on here. It's regrettable that someone seeking our products has to read this c**p from within the community member or not.

The first problem, as I see it, this appeared like a small feeding frenzy. I'm assuming we're all in the same boat trying to market our creations and pay the bills. If I were to reply to this type of inquiry, I would invite Tommy to view my work and go from there. Let the customer see your work, your linings, etc. and decide. If he likes what he sees, he will come.

As far as Aaron and Josh, I know exactly where you both are coming from. Aaron, I too am a tool junkie, there's times I should push away from the table and don't, that's my problem. I make a passable bit of work and try to make up the gap between the price of feeder calves and our bills. (understand everyone that our share of the price you pay for beef is about 5-10% of the store price depending on whether it's burger or steak) Josh, I'm not familiar with your situation but it appears you are trying to make a living with your leather work. You've done your homework and figured what your profit point is. Aaron, you have a talent, don't sell it short. We can't all necessarily command the prices of the top names but we need to make sure that we can stay in business or at least pay for our passion. The he problem we need to avoid is that as leather workers we don't tread on one another's business in our pricing.

Case in point:

A woman in town asked me to make here a noseband/ bronc halter style. When I went in to see what she wanted on it she said a freind wanted a couple as well. Friend wanted a full floral pattern, she pointed out which pattern she wanted "adapted" to the noseband and then informed me she could get the same thing made for $60.00 from "somebody" down the road including conchos The somebody down the road was doing, if all's equal the same work for less than minimum wage.

I told her I couldn't do it for that.

I hope I didn't offend anyone with this note. It was just my two cents worth. Actually the Canadian goverment is talking about doing away with the penny so next time it might cost me a nickel!

Happy and Prosperous New Year to all,

Terry

[UKRay]

An interesting and though provoking post, Terry and I completely agree with you about letting the customer choose for themselves.

Do you think those responding to an enquiry here should add a picture of their work with their response or wait until it is requested? Personally, I'd like to see a picture up-front as it would help the potential customer choose who to contact.

The bigger picture throws up some issues that, IMHO, have no answers. The pro-leatherworkers will always have 'someone down the road' who will do a job cheaper than they can - and the amateur guys are just trying to fund their hobby (and good luck to 'em!). The situation isn't about to change any time soon and there is no reason it should.

Personally, I quite like competition from amateur craftspeople as it keeps me on my toes and makes sure I watch the pennies when I do my costings - that way I stay competitive and don't get greedy or lazy. I also enjoy to see work that has taken weeks to complete (and would be impossible for me to make a profit on so I don't do it) it is often absolutely amazing and inspirational. I can't tell you how much I've learned from the so-called amateurs on this board. So many contributors here really are artists in the best sense of the word.

Okay, there are some (both pro and amateur) who see a shoddy job as a quick way to make money but they never last long. Most people aren't stupid

In the end, I believe all anyone can do is show their work and let the customer choose. Some you win and some you lose!

Ray

[King's X]

I know JBird and his words were not meant to belittle anyone. He is right, what cost him to run his shop will be different than me who runs my tooling bench out of the corner of the master bedroom. I think if Electrathon can sell the hell out of his wallets for his cost, well I am behind him! I believe it was merely competition as would anyone bidding on a job. But I can see PinkChaps side from the open field.

The seeker put out an open request and he sought was he was looking for. He seems like a smart shopper. I am sure that he did not just go off word or replies alone. I am sure he was looking through everyone gallery or websites before any decisions were made. I am sure he has done his homework and knows what he wants and seeks.

For the future, I do believe on open invitations for work, we should just send a PM and post that you have replied so others are aware. This will allow the opportunity to avoid these issues. Just my .02 cents!

Good luck to all and Happy New Year!

[electrathon]

Here is a pic of the way I do the interiors. I do them myself solely because when I have bought pre-made interiors they come apart! I want my wallets to be simple, thin and long lasting. I sew these out of pig, two pockets and a sideways slot on each side. I have been doing them this way for a couple years, never to my knowledge has one came apart.. Every one I built with a premade interior had a seam come apart in less than a year, one in less than 6 months. I made a wallet for one of the guys I work with over a year ago, he just told me the other day it has lasted him longer than any wallet he has ever had.

Aaron

[JRodz]

I agree with the comments posted above and I think the suggestion that interested parties send a pm is a great idea. I personally would have done it that way. Other post I have participated in for graphic design and screen printing had such rules and prices were never posted. As far as pricing goes, we all have our own formulas and consumers know that, the value of any product will always be a balance of what the client is willing too pay and you are willing to take. I personally do not discount my work to compete for a sale, I know what I put into a piece and what I need to make from it. I also know what materials, tools, and equipment cost me and what that means to my pricing.That being said, I have learned a lot and really enjoy the forums. Everyone is always very open and welcoming and that is just proof of the integrity of the members. In many industries, good luck getting help, feedback, and tips from others because people horde their knowledge and experience.Keep up the good work, supportive commens, and keep the neighborhood safe and clean.Cheers,Jose

[TwinOaks]

This post has been viewed quite a number of times, but not visited by the OP. According to his profile, he was active today. Either he has found the maker of his wallet, or has lost interest.