Members Zacharyc Posted February 12, 2015 Members Report Posted February 12, 2015 Anybody read through these? I am very hesitant to spend $97 a pop on four books that come in a zip file format. In case you don't know what I am blabbering about. Here's the link http://www.theleatherconnection.com/id57.htm He has some very convincing testimonials on there, but that doesn't do much for me. All I keep seeing is $100 and "ebook" I just can't justify that in my head. Any info on these manuals would be greatly appreciated! - Zach Quote
Members DavidL Posted February 12, 2015 Members Report Posted February 12, 2015 Just a heads up the last time I emailed the site (3-4 months ago) there was no reply. There was a member that offered to sell me the manuals and he was saying that francis, the owner of the site has some health issues. so there is no guarantee that you will get the ebook once you click buy. From what I can tell from these are the only ebooks/manuals available of its kind that is still in circulation. To save costs they are done in ebook form. Quote
Members Troy Burch Posted February 13, 2015 Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 He says they redress the old ways so they won't be lost to future generations. Sounds like another repeat of Al Stolman's stuff thats fairly cheap at Tandy, I could be wrong but thats the impression I got. Quote
Members Zacharyc Posted February 13, 2015 Author Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 Well I hope Francis is doing alright! I emailed and tried to get in touch yesterday but haven't gotten a reply. That's the impression I got too! Another al stohlman book that teaches me how to make a shotgun shell case with a duck carved into it. Don't need or want that! Quote
Members Zacharyc Posted February 13, 2015 Author Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 I am looking for a book that teaches me construction notes. Own quite a few of them...leather working manual al stohlman. I have the Valerie Michael book. I own a whole slew of these japanese books I paid an arm and a leg for (not worth it by the way) and various other books. Seems a lot of books I buy are really vague or refer to other volumes of books. Just looking for a solid leather working book to give me insight into the construction of bags and wallets. Haven't found it as of yet. The al stohlman books are okay at best. But I have no interest in tooling. Anybody have some recommendations on books. Written in English. Quote
Members digdug18 Posted February 13, 2015 Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 I don't think there is really such a book out there. All the books teach you a little bit, the rest the information you need to gain on your own. What I've been doing, is finding something I like, buying it and taking it apart to learn how it is constructed. Though Anymore I think you need to goto china or a third world country to learn many of these skills. Quote
stelmackr Posted February 13, 2015 Report Posted February 13, 2015 Just a heads up the last time I emailed the site (3-4 months ago) there was no reply. There was a member that offered to sell me the manuals and he was saying that francis, the owner of the site has some health issues. so there is no guarantee that you will get the ebook once you click buy. From what I can tell from these are the only ebooks/manuals available of its kind that is still in circulation. To save costs they are done in ebook form. Here is the link to the previous discussion: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=53929&hl=stelmack&page=2 ...and David L was sent some pages from the three books, so you can ask him what he thought. Bob Stelmack. Quote Bob Stelmack Desert Leathercraft LLC Former Editor of the, RawHide Gazette, for the Puget Sound Leather Artisans Co-Op, 25 years of doing it was enough...
Members Zacharyc Posted February 13, 2015 Author Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 Thanks bob! I'll ask him. As of now I am leaning towards a no. It seems too much of a gamble to blow that kind of money. Digdugg18 I've been known to rip apart a Salvation Army purse or two. But so far I've learned that they are cheap horribly made purses I don't want to remake. I'll keep my eyes peeled for some good books and post here if I find anything good. That Valerie Michael book seems to be the cream of the crop for me. Found some places offering classes online, but man are they expensive. There's a place in California you can go to "school" and learn from a lady who worked for hermes but the classes are outrageous in cost. No wonder this trade has been vanishing. Quote
Members DavidL Posted February 13, 2015 Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) Couldn't find the pages on my computer.. I would refer to Stelmack as he most likely read the books. If I remember correctly I read on the website or from stelmack that Valerie michael was a former student of Francis from the manuals you are referring to so he does have credentials if that is true. It was a long time ago that I read this so.. I may be wrong. The first manual had things like costing and material assessment. It looked to be more for those looking to do this as a business vs other books that are just for hobby. Edited February 13, 2015 by DavidL Quote
Members Macca Posted February 13, 2015 Members Report Posted February 13, 2015 There's a place in California you can go to "school" and learn from a lady who worked for hermes but the classes are outrageous in cost. No wonder this trade has been vanishing. The classes are aways full, the students produce some fantastic work, Its one of the few places in the world that you can learn this type of leather working, wouldn't say the cost was outrageous at all Quote
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