TomSwede Posted February 5, 2008 Report Posted February 5, 2008 I make things in leather simply because I love to work with it and the leather is a nice canvas to work with as an creative outlet for someone that can't paint or make drawings and more importantly it's a real pleasure to do things for other people. What I don't like is to push lot of money into display items (own portfolio) if it's something that is not in high demand from myself simply because it's hard to get the money back so whenever someone comes up to me with an idea for something new I reply, -Yeah, I can probably do it so I'll give it a try. I ca'nt guarantee the outcome but keep a lower price just for you. The real reason for the lower price is of course that I don't have any expenses for developing a new product and maybe some useful templates for future products, experience and last but not least a small "profit". The profit most times get spent on new leathers and tools but when I took a break from leatherwork a few years ago I could pull some nice money out it for whater use I felt spending on. Now that I'm back in doing leathers I have had to spend some serious money from the pocket to get some stuff needed to take my work to I higher level wich also have meant been doing some display items so my work account is way on minus right now and I have some serious costs to cover this summer so the timing is really bad, but I just can't stop myself in doing this, it's way addictive and all I wish for is more "shoptime" and have a balance in the shop account. Soo..all of this leads us into today when a friend payed a visit with a special request It's been a long dream of mine to make a fishingrod tube but for costreasons mentioned above I never gotten around to make one. My friend knows about this and is now taking the step into fullblown hardcore flyfishing fanatic so He wanted to have not one but two rod tubes. I answered as previous mentioned and then we discussed how it will be built up and graphic themes and such. I have 2 1/2 month to build them and he will pay for the materials as well as being a part of selecting them, wich means i get to shop around a bit with a privat taxi driver. How great isn't that! They will be built around a plastic innertube and the leather will be like a sleeve going over. The sleeve will be a bit oversized since we're gonna use a sheet of foampadding between the plastic and the sleeve , mainly beacuse that way I can adjust the fit by choosing from different thicknesses of the padding but also because this way the leather becomes less sensitive to indents and buckles when loading in and out of cars and such. There will also be a carrying handle on the side. The sleeve will be 1/8" leather that rolls around and get's laced together with that nice little MEXICAN BASKETWAVE lacing (estimated time for that alone is about 15 hours). I won't get into the bottom or the lid but I can tell you they will be kept fairly simple. They're gonna get his name tooled down and we're thinking maybe some decorative carving aswell to keep costs down a bit. So by know, if anyone still is reading, you're probably wondering why I'm writing all this down and that's just because I'm just really happy right now because it's for a loved friend, a long desired project, getting payed what I ask for without questioning (it'll be friend price off course), I get new stuff out on real life display and get those precious templates for making more of them, alot of fun and possibly chewing off a bite of that minus balance in the shop account. That's about it! Supersatisfied Tom Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
ETW Grumpy Posted February 6, 2008 Report Posted February 6, 2008 Happy for ya, Swede. It's nice to be able to do a project that you've been wanting to do. Be sure to post pics when you get 'em done. Quote
TomSwede Posted February 6, 2008 Author Report Posted February 6, 2008 Thanks Grumpy! We'll be shopping the essentials at the end of the next week and week after that is a hard week at my job so I probably just get the stuff layed out and start tooling and assembly after that hard week at the job. I also need to squeeze in a bikeseat and probably another whisky flask sheeth with deadlines somewhere in may. Pictures will definetely be posted as I finish off the stuff but probably not while in progress. I am very afraid to show anything before completion, it often draw bad luck upon me. Thanks for your support! Tom Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
Members Tina Posted February 7, 2008 Members Report Posted February 7, 2008 Really Really Happy for you Tom :-) I know how hard it is to start anything and doing it in a place where hand craft items is not that common or appriciated...Even harder. Build up you portfoilio, have patience (it will take you a few years) and be prepaird to sell for prices in the beginning that only allowes you to sell for getting the material costs back...Patience and presistens will finally get you there:-) Whishing you all the best of Luck Tom Quote "He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands, and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is An Artist" http://vildkorpens-laderlya.deviantart.com http://tupali.deviantart.com/
Contributing Member rdb Posted February 7, 2008 Contributing Member Report Posted February 7, 2008 Congrats Tom! The last rod case I saw was selling for around $350. They ain't that easy to pump out, but th experience will make you a thousand percent better leather worker. Quote Web page Facebook
TomSwede Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Posted February 7, 2008 Really Really Happy for you Tom :-)I know how hard it is to start anything and doing it in a place where hand craft items is not that common or appriciated...Even harder. Build up you portfoilio, have patience (it will take you a few years) and be prepaird to sell for prices in the beginning that only allowes you to sell for getting the material costs back...Patience and presistens will finally get you there:-) Whishing you all the best of Luck Tom Tack Tina! Dalahästar och dryckeskåsor är väl vad som är gångbart här, stentroll också förstås. Thank you for your good advice and support! Tom Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
TomSwede Posted February 7, 2008 Author Report Posted February 7, 2008 Congrats Tom!The last rod case I saw was selling for around $350. They ain't that easy to pump out, but th experience will make you a thousand percent better leather worker. Thank you RDB! This is the first time I actually get confirmation that they exist but I had my suspicions off course. Good to get a perception on pricing aswell. Just hope those two tubes attract attention, this guy has an exstensive network of fishingpartners so hopefully some attention can broght to it. I'll just have to keep my tounge in the mouth an make sure it comes out real nice. Best regards Tom Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
Members Tina Posted February 7, 2008 Members Report Posted February 7, 2008 Hej Tom, Scroll down on the link and you'll find some, maybe getting some hints? http://www.turtlemoon.com/acord/ Quote "He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands, and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is An Artist" http://vildkorpens-laderlya.deviantart.com http://tupali.deviantart.com/
TomSwede Posted February 19, 2008 Author Report Posted February 19, 2008 (edited) A little update to what's going on. Today is material shopping day and hopefully I nail all needed stuff down and I'll try to find a new solution to the finish/sealer problems I'm having. Tired of the plastic spraystuff but the market here is very limited. I'll just have to press my supplier for a solution that have some resistance to water and looks good. Plastic innertubes is on the list and thin foampadding that might be useful to adjust fit at final assembly. Bronze or brass hardware for fittings. Gotta rush, friends are here! A quick link for you flyfishin freaks. A guy I know a bit with some reputuation I think. Mr. Hard Classic fly tying at master level. http://www.hardsclassic.com/ Tom Edited February 19, 2008 by TomSwede Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
TomSwede Posted March 19, 2008 Author Report Posted March 19, 2008 Update! Slowly the wheels have started rolling. I have to June 1 to make it ready so I don't wanna stress it. So far I have made one handle with mexican basketweave ready and a sausagehandle wich I've yet to decide wether I can use it or not. The ends looks to ugly and I'm not sure it will fit the finished product at all. We'll see bout that. Any tip how to finish the ends on such a piece with turned leather and foamtubing for shape inside is greatly appreciated even though I have some ideas. Working on the plastic innertubes to lighten them up, they are too heavy now. Some drilling holes and sanding and then start cutting the leather that will wrap around. Gotta shop some lining too and start sewing on that, asap. Tom Quote Confucius - Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. --------------------------------------------- www.1eye1.se blogg.1eye1.se
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