simontuntelder

Zack White and other similar cheap places will suffice, but if you have some place local - go there as it takes some effort to pick the best hides... Are you making wallets or accessories for wallets like reigns, lanyards and such or both? I wasn't sure from reading your post.

Hey mate, I'm looking for upper trunk mostly, but ear is also nice (and cheaper)

I reckon you could have a quick look at it to see if the handle and workability is suitable for your style?

Would be very interested to see one of the leather crafters from our community work with more exotic mammalians.

I'll look into it...

And I don't think I saw any upper trunk. I wouldn't know what to look for either... :-)

What is an Iron Thorn?

In many European countries the "prong" is called a "thorn". And making the prong in steel, while the remaining parts of the buckle is made of brass, is how buckles for harnesses were made in the past.

And old saddler explained that detail to me, but I can't remember the purpose. There is one.

Cheers mate; it's not a Dolce Vita though, custom-made somewhere in California.

If you end up getting some elephant ear or trunk, do let me know ...going to retire these after the Roy x Cone contest.

Are you looking for elephant ear, Mike?

I can get as much, as I like (well, not quite, but I can get a lot), but never paid it much attention... Should I look into it?

Dude, what is your burnishing secret?

It's pretty commonly known, that half/half of beeswax and paraffin makes the best burnishing agent. I heard it from and old saddler as well - he talked of a similar mix for waxing your old thread.

The neatsfoot I have never heard of before though.

That is exactly my next project.

Very nice!

I'm not religious. But oh jaysus, that's AMAZING!!!

Well said, Corter. I completely agree that product testing is of the utmost importance, and yet oftentimes, regardless of the field, products are pushed to market before they are ready. I know that I won't consider selling an item until half a dozen or so have been used for a number of months. I was out with a group of friends last night and we had 15 of my pieces and prototypes between us that we were all testing the durability of.

That's good, that you are doing that. Kudos.

But you are both just assuming, that Barrett Alley is just putting stuff out - without having tested it. Not all wallets are meant to be carried in the back pocket for instance, some are meant to be carried in the jacket pocket.

I'm just saying, don't badmouth another craftsman, when it's based on rumours, assumptions and the likes. It can really ruin a man's reputation.

Seriously Great!

I seriously don't think, anybody here should be talking negatively about another craftsman's work. At least not in public. Especially, when you have nothing bad to say about his work.

What I mean is that you can charge whatever you like for a product. You charge according to the customers, you want to attract also. If you want to sell -what is supposed to be perceived as a luxury product- then you don't price it at $10. If you set the price for your wallet at $1000, then you might not sell anything, but if you sold one to one happy customer, then I don't see the problem.

But I think, that many of you probably feel a bit insufficient, when it comes to your work. This could be because most of you are self-taught. Because you know the limitations of your current skills. Because you see all the tiny mistakes in your product. Or because you just don't realize how talented you are. Therefore you don't dare setting the price, that your product really deserves.

I know this is the case with myself.

I get the thing about getting only the essential tools and using only very basic, however you need to understand, that it takes a lot of tools and a lot of time consuming steps to make something, that looks good.

It's that simple. Or actually complicated.

@Hollows: I get, what you are saying, however I think Barrett Alley has been around for a long time.

And pricing is totally individual. Price as you want.

@Marinebilly: VERY NICE WORK! I hope, I can rep!

Very cleanly cut and nice choice of colour!

Kudos

i have actually just bought an antique one a couple of days from an older saddler. I'm waiting for it to arrive.

I need to put some leather on the top ends and add some varnish, but other than that it looks good.

My stitching horse is way too tight for many projects, which has sometimes made small indentations, if I'm not careful.

It is called a stitching clam, opposed to a stitching horse...

Pretty descent job, Ray! Beautifully done!

Have you thought about adding a nice, chunky all black or black/nickel Riri zipper, like we discussed?

Hollows, how can I give you a lifetime's worth of +rep?

By the way, where do I get a good, solid 7 or 8 ply linen thread? (pre-waxed por favor) I'm a bit tired with polyester thread at the moment.

Looks good. Rosewood is the tree to go for.

I have also read pretty good reviews on Leatherworker. Which has lead me to contemplating about ordering it. However I like to burnish by hand.

I think the thing about soft leather is that you need a sewing machine to appreciate it. It just isn't meant to be hand sewn, although you can of course do so, as you have proven yourself.

Fine work.

I would think twice about working with goat leather. I find it a bit too flimsy most of the time.

Have you considered using vegetable tanned pig skin?

Great idea, although I have made leather caps for all of my knives. Most of my other tools are basically just Tandy's cheapest and many of them need replacing, so I'm not going to be making anything for them right now.

- I appreciate the input however.

Regarding the embossing, I'm in doubt myself. The grain pattern is slightly uneven and irregular, so it doesn't look like the typical embossing. I'll take a scrap to an older man I know, that knows tons of stuff about leather. Maybe he can give me some insight, or just spark a conversation.

It is a bovine leather. But if you don't know so, it could give you the impression of being from fish, bird or some exotic... Or alien, possibly?

If you want to know more about the story, here is a small write-up

Sorry for all the shameless plugs. This is basically the only place on the internet, where I blatantly advertise for my blog.

So what leather are you guys using at the moment?

Some time ago I received this batch of experimental Horween leathers. What do you guys think?

IMG_3601 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3600 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3599 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3598 by tuntelder, on Flickr

Lastly I have possibly found an European source for Chromexcel, which is not cheap, but I think it is a great pull-up.

Other than that I'm usually using Baker leather for belts, but my supply is running out. And different German and Italian hides for other stuff. I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a pilgrimage to Tärnsjö in Sweden, as I want to buy some of their bark tanned leather - also because I like the concept of a Scandinavian made product, but mostly because some of their leathers are superb.

Interesting work, Corter. That's something you don't see every day. Well done.

In regards to edge kote. If you don't like it, then don't use it.

Another iPhone case that I did - for myself. This one can be used for both the 3 and the 4.

Vegtable tanned leather and 5ply waxed linen thread. Please keep in mind, that it hasn't been oiled and edges haven't been burnished yet.

If you need more info, read here

IMG_3603 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3604 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3605 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3606 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3607 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3609 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3610 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3611 by tuntelder, on Flickr

IMG_3612 by tuntelder, on Flickr