Man seems like you know how to do alot of cool stuff..

Nah. I've just learnt stuff. Not a thing special about me. All I have is a history of making leather craft to older Texas culture. Leather craft I observed since a child. Influenced greatly.

Here's a history lesson. I'm not stitching the belt until Monday. Below is what was used to burnish edges. Gum Arabic. I have no idea what it's for but Hob Lob sells it in the oil painting section. Wood pegs, what I used to do it with. On the right is 2024. Japanese.

Here's a tool. Can't say I made it. It's used to, "bone" leather. Used to form holsters around a particular sidearm. Leaving the tale tell slick lines on the surface of the leather. Sounds intense huh? Nothing else will make the same rub marks.

All the money talk this morning got me to spending money. I can afford it after I get over being sick to my stomach spending it.

After a month of research. Forums, videos, Amazon, and more videos. Then went back through it twice again. I ordered three round edgers from Ron's Tools. #1, #2, and #3 size. The prices are lower once in the cart but they're still expensive.

https://ronstools.com/round-edge-edgers/


I wanna see how the other guy lives. Being from Ron's, I've noticed they keep a good bit of their value. At this level, even if the company goes out of business. There's still a market for the premium tools. Not like I'll sell them. Throw them in my coffin for all I care.. Hopefully they'll out perform the tools I made.

More leather coming. I'm rethinking the card holder I have to make. The chrome tanned Horween leather is some really nice stuff. Ordered a panel of 19.5" x 11". 4.5/5.0 ounce thickness. Plum color.


https://www.buckleguy.com/horween-cavalier-leather-panel-plum-multiple-sizes-weights/


Bare with me. I'll get to stitching my belt. There's other things dealing with the household I have to do. One's mopping the floor while it's warm out. It's supposed get to chilly here soon.

Whatever. Stitching isn't my favorite thing. It's not bad after you get the rhythm. It still beats working on a Dodge.

Get up to go take a leak. Re-wax the thread. Beeswax keeps the thread fibers stuck together. White wax on top as lubrication.

What time is it? I've already sat through one movie. What they never tell you about hand stitching. It takes hours. I estimate this belt will have 4 hours labor just on the main strap. I gotta stretch my back. Walk around.

Waxing the string, waxing the string, waxing duh string. It should lay like cable. No kinks whatsoever. Back to it...

One side is officially done. Three and half movies worth of time.

Here's what the back side looks like.

Sips coffee*.

I have to mentally prepare for today. I have no idea how long it took me yesterday. It's a mental game. Folding yourself from within. Some high level meditation assembly work. Left to right, right to left. Loop, tug. Left to right, right to left, loop and tug.

There's no speed up. There's no slowing down. All that matters is getting it done.

I bet some of y'all thought this was going to be some kind of hobby lobby craft class you take your kids to. Watching them swing a wood hammer. Insert tab A into slot B.


Nah. We're going next level spirituality. Running 45" of saddle stitch. What did it take me yesterday? 6 hours?


Another sip of coffee* We're doing this again today.

Did I mention waxing the string....

Can you see the difference between straight off the roll verses waxed? Of course the string comes waxed. Genuine made in Germany. However, that means nothing. You still need to polish the thread like it's a pair of shoes. Using a rag of some sort to burnish the string after you rub it through the beeswax. Then do it again after the white wax.

This is why it takes so long. Having to feed all the thread through. It's also why I only did one side. Broke it up into sections. 45 inches times 5. 225inches of thread. Imagine 450" in one go. Not me. Oh No.

I'm about to enter my little world of stitching. I'm not coming back out until the main strap is finished. Once you get into the groove. You don't wanna stop until it's done. I have movies lined up. Starting with, "Threads" (1984). England gets nuked. Then they start acting, extra...English.

We're going SciFi. Can't do the old movies. The Arrival. Plus, my stitching pony is a POS. Last time I'll use it. I'll build a better one.

Almost half way. Back stretch time.