Things I've Learned From Leather Working

[Riem]

On 06/07/2014 at 12:20 AM, jfdavis58 said:

Probably shouldn't admit this for two reasons: there has already been enough blood and this lesson learned is far too serious, but here it is anyway.

Never put a knife down on the bench without it's sheath and a corollary (that's something that follows logically from the first part), never cut leather in front of a customer!

I was trying to be a nice guy, the customer was a pain. He wanted his holster his way, i.e. his pattern. And he wanted me to do the initial cutting where he could see it done (his den). I agreed to 'discuss his pattern' but explained that once used it was mine (knowing there would be significant modification). About ninety minutes (unpaid) and we had a sort of hybrid pattern he could live with. He still wanted to see it cut. I had (here's the stupid part) put the sheathed knife in my bag and brought along the cutting surface and sufficient leather. He picked the spot to cut from. Everything was still cordial.

The knife, a Leather Wranglers Round knife. The customer watched in absolute fascination as I cut and repositioned the leather and cut again, several time. I heard him loudly exhale when I made the last cut and the 'blank' fell free. I set the knife down and of course he snatched it up remarking that it must be" very sharp". Before I could say don't try the edge he ran his thumb along about 60% of the edge--down to the bone and about 45% of the total circumference of his thumb.

Hearing him howl when the sensation reached his brain was epic. I took him to the ER and they put in 12 stitches. As we were leaving the hospital I told him he was very lucky. He didn't quite feel as optimistic. That's when I showed him my BOSS. I bet he still doesn't have much color in his face.

I know this is an old thread (circa 2014) but This.Is.Priceless!

[Sheilajeanne]

A few from my most recent project:
 

There are a thousand ways to do something wrong, and you will try quite a few of them when learning this hobby.

Rotary cutters are hellish sharp. I hardly felt the cut, but boy, did it bleed! Fortunately it was very shallow.

Dyes never seem to look quite the way you want them to.

If you leave a project sitting for a couple of weeks, you will forget what colour of dye you were using, with predictable results if you want to touch something up. Adding extra layers of the correct dye will not necessarily return the project to the correct colour. 

When doing a project that needs an extra layer added to it part way through the stitching, tack the layer to the project in the appropriate spot. It saves you having to pull a bunch of stitches out when you FORGET to add it in and stitch a good 10" past it!  

[benlilly1]

I saw this quote today and it just struck me as brilliant. 

Ya think you know, then you learn.

[chrisash]

Just remember few can be entitled to call themself a master tradesman, without at least a quarter of a century of training and practice, so dont be to hard on yourself if you make a mistook or two

[roo4u]

i never saw this thread before...too funny.

i have learned...edgers with pointy ends are bloodthirsty little beasts and will bite you every time you take your eyes off of them during use.  also when mixing leather dye its always the exact color you wanted...when its on your hands.  dogs LOVE braided leather and are SO VERY VERY helpful while you are braiding, the longer your strings the better.  once had to pull 6 feet of lace out of my dogs mouth she was sucking it down like spaghetti

 

[SUP]

On 6/1/2014 at 2:22 PM, CTaylorJr said:

The needle you lost and couldn't find will be found by the significant other's foot.

This is the significant other who found the needle in his moccasin which his wife made for him.

[MedusaOblongata]

On 7/7/2014 at 12:53 PM, cgleathercraft said:

Also, you can always remove material. putting it back is usually impossible. (measure twice, cut once)

This is doubly true when the material in question is removed from your hide.

 

If you spill something (coffee, beer, soda, dye, oil) on your project, carry it to the sink and pour the remainder of the drink on the project, then rinse it clean, hoping for uniform coverage so it will all match. Do not use this technique when what you've spilled on your project is blood.

 

Most new "help me out" questions can be answered with one of two answers:

Test it on scrap first.

Let it dry overnight.

[Sheilajeanne]

        Love this thread!!           

 

Quote

Do not use this technique when what you've spilled on your project is blood.

 

[BigBore]

The only time a customer will order a left-handed holster is when you forget to look at that option on your order form until the holster is completely done.

[Chipster99]

There’s something wrong with those drugstore reading glasses I have - they don’t work as well as they used to….or maybe there’s something wrong with the lights in my shop…