Expensive Hobby

[Squid61]

2 hours ago, dikman said:

ANY hobby I take up (and there have been a few) always seems to turn out expensive!

I've been there!  The worst was woodworking.

[Spyros]

woodworking is strangely popular, for a hobby where you spend a tonne of money for the privilege of pushing sticks with your bare hands against scary spinning blades while filling your lungs with sawdust and spending your weekends researching sharpening methods for your endless list of planes & chisels, dust collection solutions, noise insulation for your garage so your neighbour stops complaining about your air compressor, and memorising safety lists for working on the table saw for years and ending up with all 10 fingers.

And then eventually you make a beautiful timber box that people receive with great excitement, then they open it to see what is inside, it's empty, and they look at you surprised and you're like

"ah, no, the gift is the actual box"

....."oh"

LOL

But, I've never met anybody who didn't want another leather bag

Edited October 25, 2021 by Spyros

[fredk]

When my father sort-of gave up making cabinets and things for sale he went into 'hobby' mode. He then spent most of his time making wood stands for his woodworking machines and boxes or cabinets to hold all their removable parts

[Spyros]

1 minute ago, fredk said:

When my father sort-of gave up making cabinets and things for sale he went into 'hobby' mode. He then spent most of his time making wood stands for his woodworking machines and boxes or cabinets to hold all their removable parts

That's pretty much all I do with woodworking thess days, workshop cabinets, stitching ponies and jigs for leatherworking :D

Edited October 25, 2021 by Spyros

[johnnydb]

10 hours ago, Squid61 said:

There are a lot of very good leathers that don't cost what Herman Oak costs.  To read this thread one would think anything less the the best is crap leather, nonsense.  I buy what I can afford and make it look like it should cost more, it's what craftsmanship is about.  I also don't sell; I do occasionally make to order with the "customer" selecting and paying for the leather, labor is free, it's my hobby not a business.

Cheap leather is just fine...

There is a lot that can be done with oak tanned leather or chrome tanned or oil tanned. Each one has a purpose and use...it's not "all about the Craftsman" making the items....it's about what the end user will use effectively and like. 

 

Sure I like the look and feel of certain leathers when working with them and some work better than others...but ultimately it isn't exactly about what I want...I'm just the guy putting it together. It's the people who use this stuff and like it that matters most.  

 

I have no need for a phone case to hang off my belt other than to show off my work...if I was inclined. But I'm not inclined...

These people we make stuff for...they are the ones that count. If I can make it happen...great. if it requires something special they are going to have to cough up either for the leather or tools or both.  Maybe I can find a workaround... maybe not. I can always try. My latest workaround was using a clothes iron, cheap iron letters and embossing tape.  Worked like a charm. 

[Spyros]

11 hours ago, Squid61 said:

There are a lot of very good leathers that don't cost what Herman Oak costs.  To read this thread one would think anything less the the best is crap leather, nonsense.  I buy what I can afford and make it look like it should cost more, it's what craftsmanship is about.  I also don't sell; I do occasionally make to order with the "customer" selecting and paying for the leather, labor is free, it's my hobby not a business.

Don't worry about it, it's just me being a contrarian as per normal.

[Klara]

@johnnydb  Thanks for reminding me of the iron - should work for heating a creaser...

Edited October 25, 2021 by Klara

[Klara]

10 hours ago, dikman said:

ANY hobby I take up (and there have been a few) always seems to turn out expensive!

Compared to most forms of horseback riding leatherwork is ridiculously cheap. And I have feeling that you can spend a fortune on model airplanes - without having anything to show for it (except to other enthousiasts). Whereas with leather we make things we can actually use in daily life.

[Spyros]

1 hour ago, Klara said:

@johnnydb  Thanks for reminding me of the iron - should work for heating a creaser...

For stamps and stuff I just bought the cheapest heat gun from the hardware store, $20 or so

Just easy and fast... useful for activating glue as well.

Edited October 25, 2021 by Spyros

[Handstitched]

On 10/24/2021 at 3:45 PM, Klara said:

Because with the cheap stuff I'm not afraid of messing up. 

Cheap leathers are good for 'prototypes projects, or that thingame-bob you've just invented.

On 10/24/2021 at 5:38 PM, RockyAussie said:

Don't  start with crocodylus porosus.

I have worked with Salty leather, a few back straps,  I didn't dare stuff it up   big $$$$$ if I did  !!! 

@dikman My Mother did cake decorating in a past life, damn good at it too. She made a cake for a fancy do, very  pretty and ornate delicate lines &   scroll work,   about 6 -8+ hrs work.. at the do, ..some stupid kid  destroyed  it in  less than 5 secs.    I could see the the expression on Mums face, like she wanted to do something rather unpleasant to the kid. 

HS