A question for the the pros

[RockyAussie]

Pics worth a thousand words they say. Mostly as I am a contract manufacturer I need to produce things in larger numbers like 20 or a hundred at a time and I need to have therefor a large number of molds. The advantage once the drawing is done and converted to an stl file I can set the printer to print the mold or molds while I can continue to work on. To line up zips straight in a product when you put them is a lot easier if you have a mold inside with a center line mark to follow. The lipstick pouch and the key purse and coin purse mold are done in 2 clip apart sections so the zip can be folded over onto 1 lining then uncliped and then folded over the other side lining. I don't do much casting type stuff but the advantage here is 1 the multiple molds all the same and 2 the ease of making the outer cover section to press down over the leather. Imagine having your logo pressed in at the same time as the rest of the casting.(no good on croc skin unfortunatly). I will try and get a couple of mold pics for you tommorow or at least this weekend. Look up shapeways over there they can print steel brass and all sorts and you can find the pricing there as well. http://www.shapeways.com/how-shapeways-works?li=nav.

Or yeah to answer your question I use a press for some things and a roller for some others.

Regards Brian F

[bikermutt07]

Those are some nifty looking products. I like how the lipstick case has a mirror.

[bob21804]

Matt, very interesting thread. Thanks for starting it. Of course, being a newbie myself, I probably shouldn't even chime in here, but I want to say I almost like the idea of our current civilization falling apart. Sometimes I wish I was born 150 years ago when skills like the people here have were more highly valued. (but I'd be dead now. lol) I'm in my mid 50's and currently look at leatherwork as being a rewarding hobby that can pay for itself with a few extra dollars left over for a lot of time invested. When I make things for friends, and charge them a reasonable price, I tell them honestly I'm not even making 1/2 of minimum wage.  Even with improved skills, being able to produce items faster and the following an artisan can develop, a person would likely do this more for the love of the craft than the money. But that's not such a bad thing. And yes, those are some beautiful items above.

[Boriqua]

I do everything by hand .. dont have a clicker to cut out shapes or a host of other tools and equipment that would make things more expedient. Like a sewing machine .. If I pushed hard I might be able to make 1200.00 and change a month. That is not "living on wages" and its not guaranteed. However I am one of those crazy people who went to school and studied fine arts when everyone said what are you going to do with that. Now I turned it into a nice little career before I dropped out and never had illusions of being shown at the MET but before I launched my career I worked with some great artists on many public projects ... most of them my instructors who I had formed relationships with. The trick for them was diversifying. So one instructor in particular grossed around 100,000 a year. He won bids for public art at schools and city projects, so art for pay, he made his own art work and showed regularly and sold pieces and he taught classes at the School of Visual arts during the week and taught an adult education class at a community college one weekend day. So I think if someone was willing to mix it up they could find a way to make leather work a viable alternative. I think for anyone coming up it might be about embracing new styles, color schemes and all things hip that I am no longer privy to.

In the end .. take it from a grandpa ... if you want him to take up leather work then he will most assuredly want to be a mason. 

[bikermutt07]

Both, great posts, Bob and Bori. Bob, I'm kinda itching for it to all come unravelled. But it may stagger on a few more decades, who knows?

[bikermutt07]

There's a man here in Shreveport that only does these really big leather medallions. I ran into him when I was first starting leather for the first time two years ago. He told me he manufacturers them for some company that sells them in the back of magazines. I think he contracts exclusively with them. I thought that was neat. He had placed an ad in the thrifty nickel selling some tools. I was digging around the other day and realized that he had sold me a bk mulesfoot really cheap. Cool.

[RockyAussie]

Here as promised are some of 3d molds I said I would take today. If you look carefully you will see a recess hole to accommodate the small internal zip slide and the older mold done in layered Masonite. Near to impossible to make without a 3d printer as you see the newer model comes with extra support legs to aid in keeping the whole purse supported when attaching the outer zip to the internal. For the little crown zip purse you see the advantage of printing molds that be uncliped and even with finger recess to make removal easier. To the left at the top you should see a outer piece for pressing in all the edges at once on the zip when pushed downward. The crown is what we call the center piece on the back of the crocodiles neck/head. I guess a lot of my fun is developing machinery and tools that make the making easier and more profitable. Just found this link which is also interesting. http://leatherworker.net/forum/topic/66260-3d-printing-and-leather/#comment-430777

 

[bikermutt07]

That's really neat, Brian. Thanks for sharing.

[JLSleather]

I know quite a few people who make between $50k - $70k per year doing basically nothing. They have "jobs", but they do nothing.  So, any 'craft' you want to do which requires any skill at all should pay AT LEAST that, PLUS pay for the time you'll spend on marketing, advertising, answering messages of one form or another, selling, and tax prep -- all of which is done FOR those people who do nothing.  Oh, don't forget health insurance and vacation pay

Leather and leather tools can be pricey, so in the end it seems the only ones making any money (profit margin) is those who make relatively  low cost, quick-out-the-door stuff that I wouldn't want if it was free.  "Carnival" crap... bought to be fun for the moment and then pitched out.  As a carpenter, I'm sure you've seen the ones I'm talking about....

 

[bikermutt07]

Oh yes, I certainly have. I'm not sure I would ever buy a home younger than myself.