CTaylorJr Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Things I've learned from leather working Water based dye doesn't mean it cleans up really well with water When pounding on a hide, make sure objects on the top shelf of the workbench are secure, or at least not heavy! An uncovered pricking iron will usually find a fingertip when reaching for another tool in the rack. Any spill of coffee, soda, or water will always find the piece you're working on. Cats can make a HUGE mess on the bench if you come into the room and scare them. The needle you lost and couldn't find will be found by the significant other's foot. When you drop your swivel knife, it will always find the hardest object on the bench to land on, blade tip first. Never forget a piece of rawhide in the soaking bucket for a week, it gets quite fragrant in the garage, during the summer in Texas! Measure twice, cut once... I need to put this one on my forearm! Leather items make great chew toys if left unattended. You never have all the tools you need... How many others did I miss? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benlilly1 Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Ha ha, I'm sure there's more but you've mentioned some great ones! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
J Hayes Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Always dip dye in the garage or any place the floor and surrounding do not matter because a quart of black Fiebing's pro oil dye sucks to clean up....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 1, 2014 Patience. That's the one Iesson I still need to learn! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eglideride Report post Posted June 2, 2014 YOU, are your toughest critic. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WScott Report post Posted June 2, 2014 There are a million ways to do something.....and everyone has the right way Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pounder Report post Posted June 3, 2014 No matter what the customer tells you they want and you make it their specifications, they will always alter the finished product. Stay calm and carve on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted June 3, 2014 If you change the color of the cat with leather dye your girlfriend will be upset, even if the cat looks better in the new color. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 3, 2014 If you change the color of the cat with leather dye your girlfriend will be upset, even if the cat looks better in the new color. Pics or it didn't happen! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted June 3, 2014 Pics or it didn't happen! We'll, thanks not fair. You didn't tell Charlie that he had to show proof of the foot stabbing of his girlfriend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 3, 2014 Things I've learned from leather working Water based dye doesn't mean it cleans up really well with water When pounding on a hide, make sure objects on the top shelf of the workbench are secure, or at least not heavy! An uncovered pricking iron will usually find a fingertip when reaching for another tool in the rack. Any spill of coffee, soda, or water will always find the piece you're working on. Cats can make a HUGE mess on the bench if you come into the room and scare them. The needle you lost and couldn't find will be found by the significant other's foot. When you drop your swivel knife, it will always find the hardest object on the bench to land on, blade tip first. Never forget a piece of rawhide in the soaking bucket for a week, it gets quite fragrant in the garage, during the summer in Texas! Measure twice, cut once... I need to put this one on my forearm! Leather items make great chew toys if left unattended. You never have all the tools you need... How many others did I miss? Pics of your wife's foot or it didn't happen! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dwight Report post Posted June 3, 2014 Patience. That's the one Iesson I still need to learn! If you are not Doctor Joe, . . . you do not need patience, . . . or patients, . . . You just need to keep plodding on, . . . cut a little here, . . . carve a little there, . . . dye some of this, . . . Resolene on that, . . . The Good Book tells us that "tribulation worketh patience", . . . and if we look at the OP's ideas, . . . he must have a bunch of patience May God bless, Dwight Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tboyce Report post Posted June 3, 2014 Keep your tools sharp Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CTaylorJr Report post Posted June 3, 2014 HA! If I had pulled out a camera for that, they would have been surgically removing that camera from me a bit later! She was MAD, right between 2 toes... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfdavis58 Report post Posted June 4, 2014 If you think you got it 'figured-out', you don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 10, 2014 HA! If I had pulled out a camera for that, they would have been surgically removing that camera from me a bit later! She was MAD, right between 2 toes... Oh man I bet! If that was my wife I can't imagine how many flowers and how much chocolate it would take... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CTaylorJr Report post Posted June 10, 2014 Yeah it took a bit for her to get over that one! Here's another for the list though... Not matter how often it happens, and you know it's going to, when the acetone can "pops", you'll jump.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glendon Report post Posted June 10, 2014 Here's one. Sharp tools demand respect. If you need a refresher on this rule, blood will be involved. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shtoink Report post Posted June 10, 2014 I have a couple... Glue, it's inevitable to have it unintentionally applied to far more places than you planned for. It's not a true "project" until blood has been drawn. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 10, 2014 Here's one. Sharp tools demand respect. If you need a refresher on this rule, blood will be involved. ^ This OMG. I cook a lot. I mean a lot. I have cut myself non-seriously many times. I have only cut myself really bad once. On a ing onion. I have chopped prob thousands of freaking onions. Was holding it the wrong way cause I was in a hurry and took a giant chunk out of my thumb. I can still feel where the flesh is missing. I wrapped in a giant wad of paper tows and duct taped it very tightly. My wife got home 45 minutes later. It was still bleeding profusely. Had to go to urgent care. Stitches suck. Especially when they put the anesthetic right in the damn wound. I have not made that mistake again. I now chop much slower. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stephenpuhakish Report post Posted June 10, 2014 Here's one I learned the hard way, a good sharp awl will easily go through the leather and into your fingertip if you've done the foolish thing of putting your finger behind the work, likely without you feeling it. Also, for some reason most customers don't want bloodstains on their brand new item... go figure Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glendon Report post Posted June 10, 2014 It is absolutely amazing how fast one quick shortcut can turn into a bloodbath. Last Christmas I was making parts for presents. At one point I decided to flip my knife around and switch hands rather then take the time to rearrange the part I was cutting. As I'm sure you can guess, it didn't end well. Didn't need stitches thankfully, but it was a close thing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 11, 2014 It is absolutely amazing how fast one quick shortcut can turn into a bloodbath. Last Christmas I was making parts for presents. At one point I decided to flip my knife around and switch hands rather then take the time to rearrange the part I was cutting. As I'm sure you can guess, it didn't end well. Didn't need stitches thankfully, but it was a close thing. I hear you there. Then you are sitting there wondering how you could possibly be so stupid. At least I was. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samalan Report post Posted June 11, 2014 I did sharpen the back side of a head knife on one side for the pull cut dumb f-----------------------------------------ing thing to do! IMHO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hi Im Joe Report post Posted June 11, 2014 I did sharpen the back side of a head knife on one side for the pull cut dumb f-----------------------------------------ing thing to do! IMHO Ouch! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites