My First Real Rolled Edge Wallet...

[Kevin King]

I think it looks fine. Make the changes to the stitching...stitch from the outside rather than inside for the prettier stitch, and hide those raw edges on the pockets and you'll be good to go.

I might suggest flipping the pocket on the left side of the wallet so that the opening faces the inside of the wallet...to prevent cards from slipping out of the wallet when closed.

I have a Highlead bell knife skiver. Best investment I ever made. Highlead makes just about all of the skivers out there. The other companies just stick their label on em and mark em up. Check em out.

[Leather by LOU]

@Shtoink Do you use other social networking for sharing Leather Info? I found leatherworker.net on facebook but curious if there are others that people use to get a newsfeed of sorts about leather.

I would like to find a better way to secure that lower edge on the bridge. While i know the bent position will hold it secure I do not want it unrolling in the future. Trouble was I could'nt put that section under the presser foot and not stretch out the bridge of the inside liner. But I am still going to try to find a way to sew it. Thanks for your input!

@WScott Thank you! I have been reading lots over the last few days. You are correct! A definite wealth of info on here.

@KevinKing I am going to leave myself a little more room on the outside layer so i can feel a little more confident on sewing the top side. I can always trim after. I too think it would make for a much cleaner look. Thanks for the encouragement! As far as that pocket goes I battled with it both ways. I wanted it to face the inside for security but I wanted it facing out for ease of access figuring it might be the driver or ID that goes there and when you have to use it they never want it inside a wallet still. I think I'll try both ways and see what I like best. And thank you for the tip on the Highlead bell knife skiver. That is a brand I hadn't heard of so I have more research to do. Any idea where they are sold out of? Or better yet is there a place to see and actually touch one? hahaha I know that's not likely.

cheers to you all and thank you for your honest info.

[Ferg]

HighLead may be a company who makes many skivers. I doubt there is any one skiver that is not made in a factory in China with one possible exception, FORTUNA.

I researched skivers and their internals for months, actually several years off and on. I came to one important conclusion, doggone every one of them is made exactly the same except, again, FORTUNA. Consew, Cowboy, Highlead, Cobra, and several others I have forgotten their attached names, are exactly the same and are primarily sold as bottom feed only. I bought my Cowboy with Top and Bottom feed. I believe "ART" on the forum uses top and bottom feed Fortuna. $4000 plus was out of my price range but I would love to have a FORTUNA some day.

There is a learning curve with the skiving machines just as there is with the sewing machines. Once you get the "Settings", oiling info, bell knife sharpening, and a few other little items in your head you will wonder what you done without it.

I could never recommend one of these machines with only bottom feed. With the Top and Bottom feed you can skive most any type leather available to you.

Google "skiving machine". I assure you there will be enough info to occupy your time for awhile. Select a Dealer that is as close to you as possible. Not too far away, by all means go see the machine in operation using pieces of leather you intend to use for your projects.

ferg

[Northmount]

There are wallet patterns around that don't stitch the bridge piece to the side pockets. It has tabs that fit into slots in an extra layer in the side pockets. It adjusts or moves automatically to adjust for the difference in inside length when the wallet is closed and fully open.

I saw one of the patterns here, so maybe you can find it with a search for wallet pattern.

I'm another guy that would sure like a power skiver, but too expensive for the amount of work I do. There is a paring skiver used by bookbinders that you pull the leather through. Adjustable taper, height, etc. around $400.

http://apps.webcreate.com/ecom/catalog/product_specific.cfm?ClientID=15&ProductID=17482

And a link here on LW http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=1216&st=15

Tom

[Leather by LOU]

Thanks Tom. I'll look into those too. Would be nice to save some loot.

[Buttons]

Nice work, nice photos.

[Chit]

Very nice Lou!

[Leather by LOU]

Thanks!

[dentat2]

i wouldnt want to give any technical leatherworking advice as ive only been doing leather for a few months now, and these folks seem to have you taken care of anyway. but as a tattoo artists of 15 years and airbrush artist for about 30 yrs. my only advice would be on the artwork design. now forgive me if thats exactly what the customer wanted but i think the grateful dead skull could have been a bit more elaborate maybe with some roses. outside the box kind of stuff. but again if thats what the customer wants thats what they get i definatley understand that. just my 2 cents worth. other than that the attention to detail in your stitching and rolling is excellent.

[Leather by LOU]

I often struggle with "artwork". most of my experience comes from duplication art as a screen printer. but i started to hate making the same thing over and over. This project was limited to time and cost efficiency. it was a commissioned gift for a 3rd wedding anniversary for some dear friends. I didnt' put as much time into the carving and tooling as i would have liked. like i said it was for some dear friends so there came a limit to how much time I could put into the piece for what i was going to be paid. as is I put in way more time than i was paid for. hahaha. thank you for the direction but as you said it was what the customer wanted. I spent the better part of the day tooling that design and couldn't justify more design time for what i sold the wallet for

Have you every used your airbrush equipment for staining leather? i've seen some neat results with antiqueing leather using air brushing. I want to get into air brushing for finishes but haven't had the time to research necessary tools yet. any suggestions for equipment for a beginner? my main goal would be for feathering in darker colors at the edges and such...