Members Handstitched Posted April 8, 2018 Members Report Posted April 8, 2018 G'Day Rolandranch , apart from a few odd jobs here and there over 14 years ago, , I used to be a ' rousy ' , ( roustabout ) in a sheep shearing shed ( Central Wheatbelt, Western Australia..., and no, not the 'outback' ) I did it for a number of years until I ended up with a hernia , common amongst shearers & rousy's , and.........very painful , but I had no interest to return to that kind of work post recovery. So literally out of the blue, I just thought I'd try my hand at 'leathercraft'. I knew nothing about leather back then. Long story short,after borrowing the only ' how to ' book on leather from my local library many times & many phone calls later, ( yellow pages) I entered the world of leather. Obtained some tools, leather, dyes etc. and off I went. After much practice and many ( sometimes expensive ) mistakes later , I thought I'd try my luck at a local market with a few simple belts, key rings, book marks etc. but barely enough to fill a table. So my good ol' Mum filled the table with her handicrafts, knitted and hand sewn bits & bobs Much tater, the ' internet' soon became a very handy tool, ........and so did this web site 14 years later, its now a full time business. I also do horse rug repairs, and canvas repairs . An opportunity presented itself , ( and so did the sewing machine ) so I took that on too. I am well known in my small town (with a population of around 1800) , ..... and the next town, as the "leather man" . Needless to say, my ' good ol' Mum' still does handicrafts and sells them too HS Quote ' I have a very gweat friend in Wome called Biggus Dickus, He has a wife you know, do you know whats she's called? Incontinentia.......Incontinentia Buttocks '
Contributing Member Ferg Posted April 8, 2018 Contributing Member Report Posted April 8, 2018 Ryan, It is good you started this thread. I love to read what others have done and become. This is normally a very humble craft. Reading through some of the old "How-To" books will jerk us back to what folks have become. You keep up the good work. I can tell you have been raised "right" and know at least some of what you want in life. Ferg Quote
Rockoboy Posted April 8, 2018 Report Posted April 8, 2018 I played with a few bits of leather at home before I hit 12 years old, but my first "project" was with a teacher when I was 12 years old. That was a sheath for a folding knife, both of which I still have somewhere. I am not sure how I ended up doing leatherwork with that teacher, because I was not in his class, but I did, and then I was given a few more tools for Xmas or birthdays. That lasted for a few years I guess, then something else came along. I made a few bits and pieces over the years when I needed them, but those tools were not on my horizon. I found some of those tools again about a year ago, and there's a few things that I had figured on making, so ... here I am ... a few thousand bucks into a great past-time! I have given my 2 kids, 10 year old twin, a bit of a go, but they do not seem interested at the moment, It might not happen immediately, but it will happen! Quote Kindest regards Brian "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are right" Henry Ford Machines: Singer 201p, Kennedy, Singer 31K20, Singer 66K16 ("boat anchor" condition), Protex TY8B Cylinder Arm (Consew 227r copy), Unbranded Walking Foot (Sailrite LSV-1 copy)
Contributing Member JLSleather Posted April 8, 2018 Contributing Member Report Posted April 8, 2018 Mixture of interest, need, and contempt. I needed a weight lifting belt that boys at the gym could understand is not community property. I saw a guy making those belts, and it looked like it would work (though, he wasn't very good - just the only one around). And when I set up buying one, it turned into a zoo --- took a lot longer than he said, and I got tired of the excuses. When he suggested that he was the only guy around, so it was his way, I told him just keep that money, but I'll make my own. I ruined a couple of complete hides finding out how to tool at all. I bought books, tools, threads, punches, dyes & finishes, all manner of things I certainly didn't need to make a simple wide belt like that guy was making. I ruined some getting used to a swivel knife. I ruined some that were "mooshed" due to tooling way too wet. I ruined some not knowing what to expect applying leather dye - turned out not like paint really. I learned there really IS such a thing as too much neatsfoot on a belt. But I managed to get two weightlifting belts - one for my buddy - and a "jeans belt' for myself (which was certainly not beautiful). That was a good bit ago... Quote "Observation is 9/10 of the law." IF what you do is something that ANYBODY can do, then don't be surprised when ANYBODY does.
Members JD62 Posted April 8, 2018 Members Report Posted April 8, 2018 I started,I guess, in the early part of 2016 while recovering from a burst fracture of the spine which damaged nerves and left me paralyzed from the waist down. Between phis therapy sessions I needed something to do to keep from going nuts. I found leather tutorials on YouTube and thought it looked cool. 2 months later I got out of the hospital able to walk a little ways and started buying tools and some bellies from SCL and started teaching my self. I can only sit at my bench for about an hour at a time so its slow going but it really keeps me doing something useful. I think Quote One day at a time my friends John
Members Rolandranch Posted April 9, 2018 Author Members Report Posted April 9, 2018 @bikermutt07 I'm sorry to hear about your son. Thank you for sharing your story and a pic of your first project. That sheath is way too cool to be a first project. You must be a natural. @Joseph1836 I wish I had 2k for leather spending right now. As soon as I make money it gets spent on more leather/tools. It's called "reinvesting," I think. @alpha2 I've seen some of your holsters and they're quite impressive. I hope I can continue leatherwork when I retire too. (Funny I say "when I retire." I need to get a job first. lol) @DJole Wow, you must have a ton of experience with leather! I saw your serpent box and I have to say I can understand why you won grand prize! It was incredible! Thanks for sharing your story. @nstarleather So you were basically born with the tools in your hand. That's great to see that you've been doing it all your life and still love it. @Handstitched Thanks for the heads up. I won't be a sheep shearer. To me, all of Australia is the "outback." ha, as soon as I read "G'day" I looked at your location and was like "yep, I thought so." I enjoyed your story, thanks for sharing! @Rockoboy It seems as though the popular first project right now is a knife sheath. Thanks for sharing and I'm sure your kids will catch onto leather soon. @JLSleather That is a good reason to get into leather craft. I liked your story it's a good one. I don't think there's any of us who haven't ruined a good amount of leather while learning. @JD62 Sorry to hear about your injury. But I'm glad to hear you are able to do leatherwork and that you enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your story and yes, I think it is a craft that is more than useful. Thank you all for contributing to this thread. I really enjoy every story! -Ryan Quote
Members Rolandranch Posted April 9, 2018 Author Members Report Posted April 9, 2018 13 hours ago, Ferg said: Ryan, It is good you started this thread. I love to read what others have done and become. This is normally a very humble craft. Reading through some of the old "How-To" books will jerk us back to what folks have become. You keep up the good work. I can tell you have been raised "right" and know at least some of what you want in life. Ferg Thanks, Ferg! I agree most leather workers are there to help and I want to do the same. I appreciate your encouraging words. The credit for everything I am goes to God and my amazing parents. -Ryan Quote
Members RedDun Posted April 9, 2018 Members Report Posted April 9, 2018 As a kid I would read through my dad's Back to Basics book over and over- always wanted a handmade pair of moccasins. Reading the book didn't make anything happen but it did light a little fire... In my early 20's I got as far as ordering some leather supply catalogs and then I saw the prices. Being a stay at home mom in a miserable marriage I didn't even bother to ask.... 20ish or so years later (happily married to a man who encourages me to do what I want & working full time managing a turkey hatchery) I needed wanted a new belt, but not with too much bling and one that wouldn't fall apart because I wore it everyday, carrying a holster on it, riding horses, messing with calves, gardening and all the other stuff I do everyday; couldn't find that anywhere else so I made one. And so it began. I love it, I love seeing the improvements I've made. I love figuring out how things go together and I love when I have a finished product that puts a smile on someone's face. Quote
Members charon Posted April 9, 2018 Members Report Posted April 9, 2018 As a rather new leatherworking addict my story is not nearly as good as the ones I already read, however, I still want to share it in case anyone is interested: I work in IT for about 10 years now and it's like arriving at work early with a huge pile of ToDo and coming home late, the pile is even higher than in the morning and you produced - well, nothing. I always had the feeling that I need to create something with my hands that will last longer than our fast paced digital products we consume and throw away every day. Additionally, when you come home from a long day of meetings and annoying stuff all that's left in your head is pudding so about half a year ago that urge to do something with my hands grew stronger. I totally feel Mutt, blacksmithing was also the first thing that came to my mind. It's something I always wanted to do (in fact it was - or is - my "When I retire..." plan). However, with a regular job and my young boy sleeping next to my workshop in my apartment in the evening hours when I have time to do something, blacksmithing was out due to noise, dirt and lack of space. My coin purse fell apart that time and I watched a video of Ian Atkinson doing one. I bought a pack of leather tools from Amazon and some pieces of scrap leather alongside his pattern and here it is. I have bought so much tools and leather since then and I'm doing something every evening, even if it's just finishing some leather I dyed the night before or just some smaller tasks. Still thinking about how to sell some stuff to get some money back to buy more materials but I'm learning every day and it clears my head after some hard working with my head during my regular job. Quote
Members Double Daddy Posted April 9, 2018 Members Report Posted April 9, 2018 (edited) I've always had a want/need to work with my hands, a'building stuff...remodeling, tile/masonry, woodworking, a little welding, etc...thought I'd try my hand at leatherworking. I've been doing it for about four years now...I mostly make field and concealed carry leather for the local-yocals as well as a few accessories (belts, portfolios, valets, etc)...looking to expand into bags and other items in the near future. Very satisfying side-work. Here's my first two pieces...a couple knife sheaths: a brown slip sheath from a Tandy hide and a black one from some scrap veg-tan leather that someone gave me (an old tool belt, if memory serves)...I stamped it to cover up all the scratches. Lot's of practice and toss-outs along the way...finally earned enough to get a CB3200...things got a little easier after that learning curve. I will say that finding LW.net forums proved to be perhaps the biggest help to my knowledge base...lots of folks on here that are very free-giving with their time and knowledge...a rarity in our day and age. Edited April 9, 2018 by Double Daddy Quote Have a great day! Chris
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