Yep. Notice the thickness in big bold script. 1/4" (6mm). A regular western fashion belt will be around 3-4mm thick.

As for the buckle, Ugh...that's fugly.

Here's a place that makes some of the most authentic Texas style of buckles. You can get them for a 1.5" wide belt, Alpine, Texas is where they're located. Been there a few times. I don't know about today but years ago. They made some the best leather craft you could buy. Not sure if the artist is still with us.


https://bigbendsaddlery.com/Buckles-c72469641

Stamping practice. This geometric shape is easier to line up then basket weave.

It's official. I'll use it on the card holder. Gotta get out the mindset of old leather police gear having nothing but basket weave. Thinking that's the only way to go.

Burnished before stamping,



Burnished after stamping,

Card holder front is done tooling. It needs stitch holes punched and glued to the liner. Back half has been glued already. The tooling isn't perfect but I'm not using up more leather when it's perfectly fine.



Here's the liners, rough side out,

Dye test. This camera is giving them a lighter shade. The chocolate looks like actual chocolate (that's going to be paired with red stitching) The second piece is the saddle tan that's been oiled ( it's getting white stitching).


Also biting the bullet and ordering a 24oz maul. The 16oz is a good weight for stamping. It's the 9 tine pricking iron I need more punch for. 88" of stitching on a belt that's close to 6mm thick is no joke. And dealing with leather mauls.

There's three common sizes, 16oz, 24oz, and 32oz. 32oz is two pounds of maul. I can't see myself needing one except for using a belt end cutter. The cutter that shapes the tongue of the belt into a point. For the price of these things verses how much the cutter cost. If I need more then 24oz. I'll go get the two pound shop hammer out the garage.

The two halves are done. They need to dry. Then oiled and buffed. Two stitch lines across the open end to hold the liner. Then both sides are glued together and stitched. Finally sealed with acrylic.

Now we wait hours for the dye to dry. How long? Don't know. Until it stops smelling like alcohol.

If you ever get the chance. Shake the hand of a saddle maker. His hand will feel like stucco. Mine don't. I'll be bleeding at some point. Probably stick myself harder then I have.

First stitch line done.

I believe I jacked up my card holder. It's all about the order of assembly and watching other crafters doesn't help. I know how to do it but white noise has thrown me off.

Using pricking irons. Holes punched before the halves are assembled or punched after. Punching before is trying to make mirror image holes on two separate pieces. It's tricky. But, the stitch holes ain't as big from sinking the iron so deep. Card holder number 3 is happening unless I can correct some mistakes.

And Weldwood contact cement is garbage. It doesn't hold for [censored]. So a trip to Murdoch's is in order. 2oz tube of Barge all purpose cement.

MO money. The belt main strap is 9-10oz veg tanned. 4-5oz Horween. The billets can't be that thick. So guess what? Another $30 something for some 1.5" 3-4oz Horween has been ordered. It'll make the billets slightly thinner. It'll be easier to cinch up and buckle.

Leather knife. I've used a replaceable bladed knife for years. Either I've changed or it's always sucked for leather. So I dusted off my scalpel. Number 11 blade.

24oz maul shows up today. Weaver brand. Straight sided vs tapered like my Barry King 16oz.

.......


It's going to be another week for the 3-4oz Horween to show up. But I'll be able to make the main strap until the leather for the billets show up.

The card holder pictured above is officially trash. There's so much wrong with, I can't stand the thought of a Jerry rigged wallet. The edges are horrible and the stamping is crooked. I needed the practice anyway. It's time to get serious. I have a skiving knife coming. The liner needs thinning on the edges so the card holder won't look so bulky and blocky.

Third time's the charm or so I've been told. Supplies for the belt are due Friday and Monday. Free or paid shipping isn't making a difference.

Well, [censored]. If I'm going to take this serious. I can't do it ghetto slammed together. I've been stamping using a small oak table. It's the most sturdy thing I have available. Problem is, even though it's solid oak, it has some cushion to it. Plus, stamping on it is tearing it up. I like my little oak coffee table. It's government office furniture. Commercial. I bet to buy one it'd be around $300 bucks. Government probably paid $600.

Weaver sells what's called a, "Tooling Slab". It's a small piece of flat marble, 6"x6"x2". They also sell 12x12x2. Well, I want something thicker for the weight. So Amazon it is. Going all out, overkill, I bought a, "Granite Surface Plate", 12x9x3. Shop grade, "B". Which means it's flat enough to use a height gage for measuring metal. More flat then I'll ever need. The slab itself is a tool. 40 pounds of granite. It'll protect my table and the leather stamping will come out crisp. It'll also be an excellent surface to use the pricking irons. Of course using a 1/4" thick square of vinyl so the slab isn't scratched.

I thought this project was gonna be quick. That was a lie to myself. If I'm going to get back into leather craft and do it right. Gotta have the proper equipment. I already have a couple of friends asking for stuff. One friend wants a hand tooled shotgun sling. Suede lined. The other wants a bi-fold wallet. Tuesday of next week is the last day of things showing up.

So hang in, we're getting there. The holidays is really dragging shipping times out.

Progress looking good

Thanks Yee! Appreciate it. Pretty soon I'm gonna work my way up and I'll look at exotic leathers. Stingray and ostrich. Always wanted a holster covered in full quill ostrich. Just like boots. But before that, I gotta pay my dues on the cheaper stuff.

Enjoy some of my previous work as I wait on supplies. This sheath was made about two years ago. It's for a Benchmade bushcraft knife.

I’m watching this too but you’re throwing out some terms I doubt many of us know.

Looking good though, GG!

Thank You, Mr Tommar.


This has been a lifetime of a journey. I started leather craft as a kid but never really got into it. I've made thumb snap holsters to iWB holsters to spur straps. Never paid it much mind, just did it out of need. The only thing I've never made, that I wanted to, is a saddle. But I ain't got horse anymore.

This time is different. Instead of making all my tools. Using a ball peen hammer with stamps. I'm going luxury. Putting out the money for ready made tools. My days of having to drive to Tandy in Austin has morphed into mail order.

This slow holiday shipping is a blessing. It's giving me time to practice on new techniques. Practice with better tools. Experiment with dye colors. And one thing for sure. Leather craft just looks easy. In reality it's a struggle. However, in my opinion, only leather craft can let you express a certain style that can't be replicated by another person. The work is too personal for it to be copied exactly.

Watched a video yesterday of a spur maker. Tampa Texas. He said he's sold some for $10,000. Good grief, I use to beat them out in my father's garage as a kid. Guess I missed that calling.


Tools..Man, have tools gotten expensive. There's only a handful of folks in the USA that make them. They're shipped all over the world. Another calling missed. Here's one guy and what makes his tools high dollar is the metal he uses. 154CM. It's said, he makes the best. Check out the prices,


https://ronstools.com/