Evolution of Leather Goods: Before and After Pictures

[Cameland]

I have noticed that all the belts and wallets here turn to an orange/red brown. Why doesn't anything turn to a chocolate brown and what characteristics must leather have to eventually turn chocolate brown?

I think some turn choc brown with more usage and time (5+ years). Theres a HR01 on RedMoons site which they say started out sdSD and is now a very dark choclate brown.

[drapygo]

I shall try to achieve that with my Flat Heads. Though I'm afraid it might not hold up for that long.

[eastcoastrider27]

A wallet should last decades.

[corter]

corter, how did you make the nickel snap? is there a kit?

i'm looking at making a bag for myself and will have lots of questions for you very soon.

no, i bought them. they're not real, they're fake but they look cool so i went for em.

[anders]

Sugar Cane belt after 3 months. Nothing too exciting but for people that want to know...

Applied Obernauf's Oil twice and tanned in summer sun for an entire day or two. Only wear it 2 or 3 times a week.

Pictures taken with flash. The color is a darker orange/brown than in the pictures, but on-screen color really depends on your monitor and what angle you're looking at an LCD. The white area is from scratches. Plan on putting some Obernauf's Oil on it to blend in the color but been too lazy.

[corter]

here's this weekends creations, just some small card holders to keep my hands busy:

[beatle]

Lovely...............

[kenthenoob]

it'd be cool if home ec teaches how to make leather accesories. it'd be cool if my old high school even had home ec.

[Charlie Delta]

It'd be cool if I could find materials and tools in this fucking town, Corter is doing what I also had planned to do but can't find the stuff to do it with here, 'll have to order things I guess.

Nothing but respect for you though, keep going!

[40ozprophet]

that first one is great! the contrasting colors of those two are awesome.

[rome1]

Corter are you using a burnishing tool on the edges of these creations? Some of the edges look a little rough and could use it. All in all though wonderful stuff.

[knucks]

How much is all the equipment running you? + cost of leatheR?

[corter]

Corter are you using a burnishing tool on the edges of these creations? Some of the edges look a little rough and could use it. All in all though wonderful stuff.

yea, i am those arent burnished yet, i took those pictures right after i finished them. the edges on the midlength are burnished, you can see it in the pics, i just got lazy. it's all done now though.

knucks- equipment so far has cost me maybe $80, i've spent more on hardware. Total with leather and stuff i don't know how much i've spent, it's a lot of $5 here and $10 there, but i'd say no more than $200 on tools, 2 shoulders of leather, dyes and supplies etc. i'm not posting everything i make, just some of my favorite stuff, but i've probably made 5 wallets i haven't posted here to give to friends, so 8 leather wallets and a bunch of misc. goodies for that amount of money is a pretty good deal i'd say. its all manhours, the materials don't cost so much.

[40ozprophet]

so what tools are you using and where did you get them? and the leather?

[corbu]

again, i'm impressed. those look even better than the ones before...

what thread are you using and from where?

[corter]

so what tools are you using and where did you get them? and the leather?[/quote

basic leatherworking tools include an awl, thick needles, a hammer, a ruler and a t square, a #2 exacto, and a cutting board. I use saddle thread and 4-5oz leather, although i'd like to try thicker leather on the outside and thinner leather for pockets and such. Then I'm slowly collecting a bunch of buttons, rivets, zippers, dyes, burnishing gum, etc.

I get my supplies locally, but i'm sure theres places online to get stuff too.

[40ozprophet]

So, I'm wondering if it is worth it to shell out the extra 150 to get a similar style redmoon instead of a KC. I've heard from you all that redmoon is superior, but is it worth spending that much extra?

[rome1]

40 oz. I just recently recieved a KC's wallet as a really late present. The attention paid to details like the quality of the leather and the stitching are astoundingly beautiful I stayed away form the RM wallets because they are hyped up on here a whole bunch, but offered me very little in \what I needed in a wallet (no room for CC's in most of their models). Go for the KC's you won't regret it one bit.

[irbe78]

Paul Smith wallet worn for 6 months was a much lighter brown before, but used Obenaufs oil on it and it went DARK. Hope it will lighten up after some wear.

[kenthenoob]

6 monlths, eh? gonna wash it now?

i've decided to get a skull wallet that is half the price of the flathead mid-length.

haven't ordered the skull yet, though...

deciding on the colorway... solid red, black, white, or white with black?

http://www.fabfour.co.jp/netshop/babe/showcase/BC015.html

intending to coordinate with the flathead leather chain i got at selfedge..

thanks

[Dick Danger]

I really like my Skull wallet, I think you'll like it.

[kenthenoob]

I really like my Skull wallet, I think you'll like it.

thanks, dick. i'm sure i'll enjoy it, as it's thinner than the flathead, which means it'd be less of a bulge against my cheek. still trying to decide on a color, though.

[Cameland]

So, I'm wondering if it is worth it to shell out the extra 150 to get a similar style redmoon instead of a KC. I've heard from you all that redmoon is superior, but is it worth spending that much extra?

I have a KC's wallet myself and have owned an RM, I'd say if your looking for a wallet that will age well then definitely get an sdSD RM, the colour they get is so much richer than what KC's get. If your getting a tanned one, then consider the KC, their details are slightly better, but I've always been a fan of the trademark red moon buttons.

You can check the RM thread on mynudies for some comparisons, worth a look to help you decide.

[edmond]

got these from a friend that cultures bees bees wax for leather pure bees wax ...

[jpgm]

thanks, dick. i'm sure i'll enjoy it, as it's thinner than the flathead, which means it'd be less of a bulge against my cheek. still trying to decide on a color, though.

the skull wallet is great, im really happy with mine aswell dick....i think the stitching design on the medallion wallet (which i have) really makes it stand out from a lot of the other japanese wallets.

normally, i would go for the understated option and get something very plain...i was considering a few red moon wallets, but i didnt like the internal zip, and basically wanted something that had at least 6 credit card slots without being prohibitively bulky.

definitely get the natural leather ken....no other option in my opinion.

[jpgm]

irbe78....i like that paul smith wallet.

sorry to say it, but thats not going to get any lighter with wear.

for what its worth though, i actually think it looks good quite dark.

[Cameland]

^Actually it can get lighter, I've seen an overtanned dark brown RM turn into a caramel colour after a couple months.

[jpgm]

really?

thats surprising.

is that a result of there being excess oil/polish etc on the surface, it not soaking into the leather, and then being rubbed off over time?

or a result of stress/pressure being applied to the leather?

my wallabees (brown leather) for example - the wear developing on them is much lighter. if i press my big toe upwards against the leather, i can see the imprint of it show up then gradually fade after i stop applying pressure. the shape of my foot is slowly but surely emerging.

[irbe78]

Yeah that is what im hoping for, to get to a camel color. It was so drastic how dark it got. Like i got a complete different wallet. I knew the OB oil darkens, but not that much. Maybe next time i will use the LP stuff.

[Dick Danger]

LP will not change the color as much as the oil will, but it will still darden light colors. I usually use the oil, but I apply it very lightly.