myjtp Report post Posted January 19, 2017 On 1/17/2017 at 8:07 PM, JLSleather said: At least $8. These were slightly more than that. I will give you 2 shillings and not a cent more sir! ( Seriously BEAUTIFUL work!! ) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NVLeatherWorx Report post Posted January 19, 2017 I have done a small number of gun belts for concealed carry use and I just add extra leather "overlays" that add some character and design to it while also giving those areas where the overlays are extra thickness and support for a their holster. These overlays are shaped in various patterns and some have even been stamped to add some extra flair; they are then hand stitched into place. I find that the extra support is quite good and the use of the leather versus the more rigid products that some do use keeps the belt still feeling like a belt instead of a ring with a buckle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ultimatemcnab Report post Posted February 2, 2017 (edited) On 2017-01-18 at 3:07 AM, JLSleather said: At least $8. These were slightly more than that. If you had to hand stitch ( saddle stitch ) , by how much would that effect the price ? Assuming these belts were machine stitched. Takes me about 5 to 6 hours to hand stitch a lined belt depending on length. Your belts are awesome by the way. Edited February 2, 2017 by ultimatemcnab Add compliment. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ultimatemcnab Report post Posted February 2, 2017 On 2017-01-19 at 3:14 AM, OLDNSLOW said: What hasn't been said or if it has I missed it, but you have to figure out your market, there are different factors in each even when it comes to how someone will be led to your website to look for an item they might be interested in, but you have to be able to charge what the market will bare. There has been mention about weekenders full time artisans on and on. Again what it will come down to is how you present yourself and how you click with the client. Its like looking at Ansel Adams and his work, Ansel was a much better darkroom person than he is given credit for, he is given high accolades for his photography but, his work was printed by him and he knew how to bring the best out in the dark room. I myself am retired and spend a great deal amount of time talking to people to promote my fledgling leather business with hopes that I will hit the right note that will reverberate with the potential customer. Here are 3 of my belts the one on each side sells for 60.00 the one in the middle sells for 75.00 these are all H/O leather 1/4 inch thick with a stainless steel liner. Do I wish I could get more sure but it is going to take time to get there, but it will come from sales outside of my immediate area. Has anyone used evenly split rawhide between the two layers of a lined belt to add to its rigidity ? I have thought of trying this and probably will test out my theory sometime. I know its not always practical but hell it would be nice if it all works out in practice - an all hide reinforced gun belt !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLSleather Report post Posted February 2, 2017 Been a while since I hand stitched a belt. "Back when" it took me a couple hours... but I was used to doing it frequently, and could about stitch in my sleep This would of course be dependent on the number of stitches per inch (I like 5 to 7 based on leather thickness, but some people make 11 spi look real nice!). I always say I don't care if it's hand stitched or machine stitched, long as it's well stitched! If done properly, either will be fine. These days, hand sewing is largely for small items -- which are sometimes easier to just sew by hand rather than change the machine setup -- or larger items- which may not fit in the machine so well. I would find it difficult to do it for the prices you mention. Grade A Hermann Oak would run about $25 (two layers), plus the thread, glue, dye, finish, etc... So even without 'sandwiching' anything between layers that doesn't leave much room for pay. That I suppose would depend on pricing and the value of a "dollar" where you are. "They" say time is money... but then notice how much of it they spend on 'social' poo-dia sites, forums, their phones. But the TIME involved in a project is never the question for me. Someone wanting to bill me "by the hour" is wasting his time and mine -- say the price for the item, and then I buy it or not. There are some projects which I would want hand sewn, and some projects where hand sewing might be a better idea than the machine they have available. But a belt isn't one of those times - doesn't matter, it's not getting that kind of stress. In those cases, I don't pay more for hand stitching. Same as if I agree to meet people somewhere, we all meet together. The guy who walked, and the guy who brought that ugly truck, and the guy in that shiny new sport scar all get the same "deal". Long as they meet, doesn't matter how they got there. Oh, almost forgot -- back when the boys at the gym wanted weight lifting belts, some tooling or maybe just a name on it. Double layer and stitched. So I gave em a price for 10 (or was it 12) belts. They wanted 'em hand sewn, so I told them I'd punch holes and give them thread so THEY could sew them. Suddenly, they decided sewn in a machine would be just fine Those belts still holding up 10+ years later. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ultimatemcnab Report post Posted February 2, 2017 Good advice and thank you JLS. Still very green at this - but I love it , just wish I had more easy access to quality tools , hardware etc. Very frustrating having limited resources. BUT I am finding lots of incredibly helpful professionals here advising and leading the way for me. It is very much appreciated. My goal is to save up and come over and do some hunting marketing and visit some of the leather shows. Establish some relationships and buy items I can bring home with me. I may be going in the wrong direction so help me. My ambition is to build a reputation for creating custom belts and adding my own handmade buckles from horn , bone , antler , ivory engraved by myself and combination buckles of these materials inlayed into metals ( stainless steel / silver ). If I am headed for disappointment please advise me. If not encouragement would be appreciated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
