2021 what did you do today?

[Longcruise]

The commercial production stuff is done with rollers.  I've only made a few belts and they are more work than they might seem.

Belt blanks are pricey.  If you plan to make more than a few it becomes economical to cut them out of sides.

[Pat B]

Back in the 1970s I owned a custom leather shop in Savannah with a few friends. Belts were one of our big sellers and I stripped out, beveled, tooled, dyed, oiled and finished thousands of belts along with other stuff. I also custom made all leather, hand cobbled sandals. All of the sandal straps were beveled too. Beveling the sharp edges on hard leather really makes a difference in their comfort and and softens the appearance.

[Mad Max]

You got that long hair from the 70's too
Me too

[Jeff Freeman]

Appalachian Hillbilly I didn't know what it looked like either, until Kenny M sent me those veneers. I looked it up and there are lots on my father-in-law's property.  GRHS..😢 JF

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Jeff, went wood shopping yesterday and they had some ! Got to tag along with Mike Treadway and he was showing me what to look for in wood slabs and wood blanks. Going back in a few weeks to pick up some more.

I am going to start with a 3 piece bow until I get a little more experience and then I want to do a 1 piece longbow.

[Flem]

You got that long hair from the 70's too
Me too

70's was fun. Miss the simplicity.

Damn Pat, wish I had known you are a real leathersmith, I was anguishing over what to use, to finish the inside of a holster with.

[Pat B]

What did you come up with, Flem?

[Roy from Pa]

Ya quick draw what did ya use?

[Flem]

Ya quick draw what did ya use?

I wish, more like slow hand

I ended up making a concoction of seed-lac, crystallized Ponderosa resin and paraffin. I warmed it up to about 120deg and brushed it in. After it dried, I buffed the crap out of it with a soft brittle brush. Firmed it up pretty good, but its still flexible enough. I would have rather used beeswax, but was afraid of getting the ingredients up to melting temp, plus I did not know if it was a good idea or not putting the hot mix on leather.

[Pat B]

I would have used bees wax. Heat it up just enough to melt the wax then wipe off the excess while it's still warm. That would give you a slick finish without saturating the leather plus protect the gun metal from moisture in the leather.

[Flem]

I would have used bees wax. Heat it up just enough to melt the wax then wipe off the excess while it's still warm. That would give you a slick finish without saturating the leather plus protect the gun metal from moisture in the leather.

I had a feeling I was fussing with it too much. I even did the edges with de-waxed shellac and resin, in case I decided to glue the seam   Oh well, I will let you know how it held up next thanksgiving.

[Pat B]

You are probably getting the same results as my method would; basically sealing the leather and making it slick on the inside.

[Crooked Stic]

Yesterday actually. One limb for glue and some wrap cutting. This bow will have the carbon twill on the front only for comparison and charcoal veneer belly.

[Pat B]

 I was clearing some brush along my driveway this morning and I caught some movement along the ground. When I looked closely, sure nuff there was a timberdoodle, aka. wood cock. I haven't seen one here in over 20 years. The area where he was is old, planted white pines with springs and drainages so it looked like a perfect place for this little guy with a long, prehensile beak. I hope he likes it enough to hang around for a while.

[OldRawhide42]

I have not seen a wood cock in 20 or 30 years. We used to have a lot of them.

[Flem]

Stic, what's the green stuff?

[Pat B]

Yeah, James, we used to have grouse here too 30 years ago.   

[Bvas]

Haven't seen a grouse in probably 20yrs, but we still have woodcock. Never hunted them though. Seem to only see them in the off season.

Glued up the second limb for a takedown this evening. No pics, so it might not have happened. 

[Appalachian Hillbilly]

Made and dyed my first sheath. Simple design.

[OldRawhide42]

We still have some grouse . But we have a lot of canada goose. I must see 50 a day