Author Topic: Needing something to do (Read 530 times)

oldandslow · « **on:** April 19, 2022, 12:51:55 PM »

Well, there are a lot of things on my calendar but the constant wind sort of puts a damper on most of them. Looking for something to keep me out of trouble that I could do inside I decided to drag out my leather working tools and make the two oldest great grand daughters belts. I decided on concho belts with carved flowers between each concho. I bought a couple of belt blanks, measured and cut, punched holes, traced the flowers and found both my swivel knives didn't want to swivel. It's been at least 20 years since I have done any floral tooling so first thing was to get the knives to work smoothy and I sharpened both blades while I was at it. I found that the knives weren't the only thing that wasn't working very well as I was pretty rusty too. I just kept plugging along and it came back to me pretty quick. Kind of like riding a bicycle I suppose. I did an antique finish on them and topped it off with neat-lac out of a spray can that I don't know how old it is. Neat-lac hasn't been made for years and I figured the rattle can would be dead but it worked perfectly. I gave the kids their belts this afternoon and they seemed quite proud of them. I had a serious case of sticker shock when I payed for the two blanks and the conchos. Gas and steak is not the only thing that has gone up in price.

Now that I am back in the saddle so to speak I think I need a new belt. I have a really pretty rose pattern to use on it. Considering the price of good leather I may need to talk to my banker/wife to see if I can afford it.

Mule 11 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 19, 2022, 01:06:27 PM »

I have an interest in this. No direct experience, but good with tools. Thanks for the post. I do have some leather working tools and no stranger to problem solving. In my youth I have done leather work.

Dee · « **Reply #2 on:** April 19, 2022, 02:25:49 PM »

Have you got any pictures of the belts? Real hand tooling is harder and harder to find. About 26 years ago I ordered a gun belt from Dillon gun leather. Been wearing it every day since.

phalanx · « **Reply #3 on:** April 19, 2022, 04:10:06 PM »

Quote from: oldandslow on April 19, 2022, 12:51:55 PM

Well, there are a lot of things on my calendar but the constant wind sort of puts a damper on most of them. Looking for something to keep me out of trouble that I could do inside I decided to drag out my leather working tools and make the two oldest great grand daughters belts. I decided on concho belts with carved flowers between each concho. I bought a couple of belt blanks, measured and cut, punched holes, traced the flowers and found both my swivel knives didn't want to swivel. It's been at least 20 years since I have done any floral tooling so first thing was to get the knives to work smoothy and I sharpened both blades while I was at it. I found that the knives weren't the only thing that wasn't working very well as I was pretty rusty too. I just kept plugging along and it came back to me pretty quick. Kind of like riding a bicycle I suppose. I did an antique finish on them and topped it off with neat-lac out of a spray can that I don't know how old it is. Neat-lac hasn't been made for years and I figured the rattle can would be dead but it worked perfectly. I gave the kids their belts this afternoon and they seemed quite proud of them. I had a serious case of sticker shock when I payed for the two blanks and the conchos. Gas and steak is not the only thing that has gone up in price.

Now that I am back in the saddle so to speak I think I need a new belt. I have a really pretty rose pattern to use on it. Considering the price of good leather I may need to talk to my banker/wife to see if I can afford it.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #4 on:** April 19, 2022, 04:18:41 PM »

Pictures, we need pictures.

phalanx · « **Reply #5 on:** April 19, 2022, 04:39:13 PM »

Quote from: phalanx on April 19, 2022, 04:10:06 PM

Quote from: oldandslow on April 19, 2022, 12:51:55 PM
Well, there are a lot of things on my calendar but the constant wind sort of puts a damper on most of them. Looking for something to keep me out of trouble that I could do inside I decided to drag out my leather working tools and make the two oldest great grand daughters belts. I decided on concho belts with carved flowers between each concho. I bought a couple of belt blanks, measured and cut, punched holes, traced the flowers and found both my swivel knives didn't want to swivel. It's been at least 20 years since I have done any floral tooling so first thing was to get the knives to work smoothy and I sharpened both blades while I was at it. I found that the knives weren't the only thing that wasn't working very well as I was pretty rusty too. I just kept plugging along and it came back to me pretty quick. Kind of like riding a bicycle I suppose. I did an antique finish on them and topped it off with neat-lac out of a spray can that I don't know how old it is. Neat-lac hasn't been made for years and I figured the rattle can would be dead but it worked perfectly. I gave the kids their belts this afternoon and they seemed quite proud of them. I had a serious case of sticker shock when I payed for the two blanks and the conchos. Gas and steak is not the only thing that has gone up in price.

Now that I am back in the saddle so to speak I think I need a new belt. I have a really pretty rose pattern to use on it. Considering the price of good leather I may need to talk to my banker/wife to see if I can afford it.

Nice day today 80 and no wind. Worked in my shop reloading,wifey keeping me company.

ironglow · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2022, 02:08:20 AM »

I have some leather tools, left by my son who passed away. I have been threatening to try them.
I did some leather work in the post craft shop while I was overseas..and could do with some knife sheaths as I forge them now.

Some knives want Kevlar..others cry out for leather.

oldandslow · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2022, 03:02:25 AM »

I would have included pictures but unfortunately I'm an ol' analog guy living in a digital world. I have finally figured out how to find the pictures on my windows 11 computer but haven't managed to get ingur to be able to load them. My computer geek son has been no help as he had some health problems that he is dealing with. I didn't even take any pictures of the belts because of this.

Dee · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2022, 03:15:45 AM »

Well, we now live in a world of kydex holsters, and web belts made totally of synthetic materials. I reject all that, and say "make mine leather".
Nuthin beats a quality leather belt, or holster.

oldandslow · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2022, 05:09:31 AM »

I feel the same way. Even a Glock shouldn't be made to ride in a plastic holster rig. "Synthetic", nope, it's all just some form of plastic whatever name is hung on it. I will admit that in some uses it is better than natural materials but belts and holsters certainly isn't one of them. All my leather projects have been made from Herman's Oak for years. USA product and the price reflects that but it is worth it.

oldandslow · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2022, 05:22:25 AM »

I might have figured out something on posting pictures. Although it doesn't fit the belt thing it is picture of a rifle I recently put together with a fore end of my making. If it works I will get some belt pics for you to look at.

Edited to add: It worked. Hooray, I'm not totally worthless with computers it seems. I blew out the background with editing to get the stock to show up. I know the fore end and stock color don't match at all but I can't bring myself to use a tinted finish on wood. Later this summer the stock will get refinished to see if I can get a better color match. A lot depends on the area the walnut comes from though. Now to get some belt pictures.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2022, 05:23:15 AM »

Quote from: oldandslow on April 20, 2022, 03:02:25 AM

I would have included pictures but unfortunately I'm an ol' analog guy living in a digital world. I have finally figured out how to find the pictures on my windows 11 computer but haven't managed to get ingur to be able to load them. My computer geek son has been no help as he had some health problems that he is dealing with. I didn't even take any pictures of the belts because of this.

If you have the pictures on your desk top you can post them as an attachment.
Here's an example.

Mule 11 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 20, 2022, 10:13:16 AM »

Quote from: oldandslow on April 20, 2022, 05:22:25 AM

I might have figured out something on posting pictures. Although it doesn't fit the belt thing it is picture of a rifle I recently put together with a fore end of my making. If it works I will get some belt pics for you to look at.

Edited to add: It worked. Hooray, I'm not totally worthless with computers it seems. I blew out the background with editing to get the stock to show up. I know the fore end and stock color don't match at all but I can't bring myself to use a tinted finish on wood. Later this summer the stock will get refinished to see if I can get a better color match. A lot depends on the area the walnut comes from though. Now to get some belt pictures.

That is one fine looking forend

ironglow · « **Reply #13 on:** April 20, 2022, 11:33:45 AM »

Frustrating... Just about when I think I have the system figured out for my meagre computer skills..they go and change the whole thing !!

BUGEYE · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2022, 01:56:29 PM »

Quote from: oldandslow on April 20, 2022, 05:22:25 AM

I might have figured out something on posting pictures. Although it doesn't fit the belt thing it is picture of a rifle I recently put together with a fore end of my making. If it works I will get some belt pics for you to look at.

Edited to add: It worked. Hooray, I'm not totally worthless with computers it seems. I blew out the background with editing to get the stock to show up. I know the fore end and stock color don't match at all but I can't bring myself to use a tinted finish on wood. Later this summer the stock will get refinished to see if I can get a better color match. A lot depends on the area the walnut comes from though. Now to get some belt pictures.

Is that Myrtle wood on that forearm??
Whatever it is, it sure is purty.

DDZ · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2022, 02:10:14 PM »

Its been a rainy cold April here. Just had two days where it was windy and snowing. Was 28 degrees this morning, but ended up being a nice day today. I got a Kibler flintlock kit I started working on when its not nice enough to do anything outside. Wish I would have ordered it sooner. I ordered in December, and just got it the end of March.

ironglow · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2022, 01:39:37 AM »

I can't handle the cold as well as I used to, but with the weather moderating, I am planning to spend more time in my forge.
I have some knives I want to make...mostly in the smaller sizes. Probably nothing over 9"-10" length over all..most being 8" and under.. but with handsome woodwork/handles.

Last warm day, I roughed out a hunter/bushcraft blade..about 8" LOA...

oldandslow · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2022, 06:16:23 AM »

I am about ready to give up on windows 11 and pictures. I just loaded the belt pictures on my computer (I thought) and they are nowhere to be found. This has happened before.

I'm off to look for tutorials on how to load pictures on 11.

The fore end is walnut as I mentioned in the post.

Bugeye, read the post. It's walnut.

phalanx · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2022, 07:33:47 AM »

I’m inside working on our house. Wife wants the lady’s touch. New curtains , New dishwasher, new vacuum cleaner.
Wives can be expensive, and stop eating that nuke food your too thin. And take out that trash and i want the 380 pistol.
Yes dear lol.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2022, 10:43:48 AM »

Quote from: oldandslow on April 21, 2022, 06:16:23 AM

Bugeye, read the post. It's walnut.

I went back and reread it.
The only mention of walnut was in regard to the "stock."
I think of the buttstock and the forearm on those guns.

Nice rifle.

oldandslow · « **Reply #20 on:** April 24, 2022, 05:15:38 AM »

Fiddling around here and there I think I have the picture posting problem solved. Two belts, one 26" and the other 32", Herman's 8-9 oz. Oak leather, Feibing' antique finish , shown with a quick picture taken with an old Canon DSLR.

I am currently working on a full floral carved western style belt for the oldest GG kid that will be 14 years old May 1st and can't make up her mind to be a cowgirl or girly-girl.