Thank you very much! It might have been a little softer. Leather is strange stuff, not really all that even sometimes. This could have been closer to the belly also where it's softer.
Same with yours! It would be fun to combine the two.....A friend was making barn wood picture frames and had me make a leather trim insert. It turned out pretty neat.
Looks great Gary! I miss doing that type of stuff but my health has degraded to the point I can't anymore. Still enjoy watching it done though! Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
@@kengamble8595 Before I had my hip replaced, I could just barely walk. There was so much I wanted to do and couldn't. I know how you feel! I was lucky and got a second chance. Now I'm determined to wear out this new hip!
Honestly, that is pretty slick! For some reason I always thought that those deeper lines were burnt in and not hammered. Thats something I'd like to learn.
Thank you! Really, it's not that hard to do. If you can pick up a few leather stamps a a garage sale or someplace, just play with it awhile. You can do it!
@@tomkeltescheverythingoutdo2379 It's a Tippman Boss Stitcher. I like it because it is not electric. I've had it since 1996 or so and haven't had very many problems with it.
You do really nice work, Brother! I have the same sewing machine that I inherited when Dad died. It is brand new. He bought it and then his eyesight went. Has never been used. I'm hoping to start doing some leather work soon. Thanks for sharing this video. Best wishes my Friend!
Thank you very much! Those little machines are great! I think you'll like it. I've had mine since about 1996 or so. It has broken a few times, but minor problems. I like it because it's not electric. I've even used it on the tailgate of my truck.
It's amazing to watch the carving emerges from "nothing". True Art, well done!!! Your carving tools make me a little nervous... about ones being looked like dental))) Ha!
Muskrat, that is absolutely beautiful. Awesome job buddy!!! You can make videos just on that right there and your channel would go off the charts. With all of that oil you use I bet you that your finger joints stay oiled really well and your joints never get sore:-) Thank you for sharing this is just awesome...MTJOA
HA! I wish that was true! Arthur Itis is not a nice guy!! In fact the whole Itis family are not very nice! Thank you for the compliment!! I got a lead on where the wolves might be. Any luck with yours?
@@MuskratOutdoors I have not had any sign of wolves in my area yet. I'm going to let him soak for a couple more weeks until Bobcat trapping season is over. Then I will move them over 5 miles away to another road on the other side of the canyon. I have been having wolves howl at me at night when we go out calling for them. I have an electronic collar that I use an Antelope Valley. The wolves have been coming in right at dark white now. So after Bobcat trapping season is over I'm moving my traps over there. Stay safe I love your channel is awesome!
It works pretty well. I used to use beeswax, or even just a piece of canvas a scrub until the fuzz was gone. It's better probably, but takes forever and is hard to do. This works well, and is easy.
You can do it! Mostly it just takes a little practice to figure out what each stamp does. Like I showed here, I trace the animals. I can't draw them, but I do draw the flowers and things. Watch at garage sales, you can find leather tools cheap sometimes.
@@MuskratOutdoors ok! Thanks! One of my cousins has started doing leather. Making sheaths and stuff. I could probably get him to help me. He doesn't do the designs like this. But I am pretty artistic so I probably could figure it out What would to say are the most important or necessary tools to look for?
I know this is an old video, but I hope I get a reply. I'm very new to leatherworking. Like, less than a month in. However, I noticed that you did some things contrary to most of what I've seen in other videos, and I'd love to understand why you did things that way instead. 1. Everything I've seen has said to stamp/carve the leather before you dye it. I could be mistaken, but it looks like it was already dyed when you started. 2. I've seen it suggested that you should cut a v-groove down the center when doing a fold over sheath, since it allows the leather to lie a little more flat. 3. You took the neatsfoot oil down inside the sheath as well as the backside of the buckle loop. Is there a reason that you did that after all the stitching and not before? 4. Is there a reason you waited until after full assembly to slick the top and strap edges until after assembly? It seems it would have been easier to do beforehand. 5. It's my understanding that slicking/burnishing is to pack down the fibers and make the edges less susceptible to the elements. So it makes sense to me when I see others take the time to sand and smooth out the main edge of the sheath before slicking. Is there a reason you left it somewhat rough? 6. I know there are a lot of options for what is used for slicking the edges. I'd love to understand why you use Tan Kote instead of something like Edge Kote or gum tragacanth. As in, what are the differences and what led you to that choice? 7. Everything I've seen says you should let things dry before moving onto the next layer of coating. So, dye, dry, resist, dry, antiquing, dry, topcoat. I may have missed if there was a cut between the neatsfoot oil and the Saddle Lac, but it appeared to me that you applied it, buffed it, and sprayed it consecutively without any dry time. Does it still being wet not have any effect on the top coat's adhesion? 8. Yours is the first video I've seen that uses Saddle Lac as the top coat, so it doesn't seem to be a popular option. I guess, based on what I've read, that it has a tendency to crack. I really don't know. Is there a reason you go with Saddle Lac instead of the more popular options I've seen like Leather Balm, Leather Sheen, or Resolene? 8. Taking a step back to the assembly, and this is more my own curiosity rather than other people's "best practice." I understand why you wouldn't want a rivet inside the sheath; it can easily scratch up the blade. But I just imagine that frequent use the sheath would have the sharp blade scraping across the stitches, eventually causing them to fray and break. Have you found this to be the case or am I just imagining an unrealistic scenario based on my inexperience? Since this video is 3 years old, I'd love to know how this sheath has held up. Your artwork is absolutely beautiful. I hope I can reach that level of skill. I've followed a couple beginner tutorials that have turned out well. Unfortunately, I'm not an artist. Without following some sort of tutorial, I'm not sure I'm going to be very good at figuring out where to apply shading and details, so I don't see myself being able to go very far in the carving aspect of leatherworking. Thank you for your video exhibiting your talent.
Hello! Wow where to start? Ok, here go's.... 1) The leather is pre-dyed at the factory and is saddle tooling leather, I don't use any dye at all. 2) You can, but don't need to. 3) The glue won't stick to the oil. 4) The sewn edge usually needs trimmed a little after sewing, so it's easier just to do all the edge polish at once. 5) Slicking the edge only really makes it look more finished. It had nothing to do with the weather. 6) I like gum tragacanth better, but I haven't found any for sale lately. It works better than this stuff. 7) I don't use any dyes. Neatsfoot oil is water soluble, but it better put on dry. This was almost dry before putting it on. The saddle Lac Spray doesn't seem to affect drying at all. 8) Saddle lac doesn't crack. It's not paint, it a wax/oil finish. It waterproofs the leather somewhat, and gives it a shine. Thanks for watching this, I hope I answered your questions. Good luck on your leather work. It is a lot of fun to do!
Give it a try! Really it isn't that hard to do. Just your basic tools. A swivel knife, a stylis (the pen looking thingy), and a few shading tools is all you need. The one I use the most is a bevel shader. Flowers and things I draw, but animals I trace onto the leather when it's damp. The leather should be damp but not wet. I have found that with animals, a side view is easier to do than a front on view. I think the main thing is to start making small things and play with your tools until you learn what each one does, then move up to bigger stuff. I enjoy doing it, but you have to be in the mood to do a good job......and clean hands! Something that seems rare to me! HA! Good luck! If you decide to do it, please send some pictures!
I want to learn how to do something like this! You make it look so easy but how long does it actually take to learn how to use the tools used in the video?? Thanks for sharing Your knowledge and Artwork!!
Actually, not very long. You can get the leather tools from ebay pretty cheaply. Just playing with each one on a scrap piece of leather will teach you a lot about what each one will do. Like anything else, the more you do it, the more easy it will get. Give it a try!
@@MuskratOutdoors definitely will be practicing then!! Just polished up all the tools yesterday so they'll slide on the leather easier and getting ready to print out a simple design on vellum to make it easier to transfer. Played around with a feather design and everyone tells me it looks great but then I tried another piece and failed right from the start but I'm going to finish it up and try some undercut techniques I've seen done on floral designs. Thank You again for the Confidence Building, I really appreciate Your Time and Motivation!! 😊
Pretty cool stuff. Curious what type pistol in the shoulder holster Birds head 45? Do you live off grid? I thought of moving out to Idaho ,but then read some things ,and said no . Utah maybe . But I live in the Mountains of the Appalachians or Blue Ridge mountains , so I've got it all here . Even Bigfoot. Had them outside the house last night. They were carrying on , screaming their heads off My wife was not impressed. I always think it's cool. But she's not a big fan. First time here , looks like you live a lot like me. I 'm not handy with anything but guns ,trapping ,,hunting , camping , fishing, etc. Trained by a Cree injun. Laziest human being that ever existed. But one hell of a teacher. Peace.
NEAT!! My job is seasonal. I take care of the Fairgrounds here. It leaves me open to having winter off and hunting and trapping. Summer months, I'm pretty tied down though. I haven't lived in town since I was just a small kid and hopefully never will. The gun is my trapping pistol, a 22lr/22mag. Idaho is a great state, but a hard place to live. Not a lot of high paying jobs, and we are allowed only 1 deer a year. Our hunting has become really bad the last 10 years or so also.
I just started working with leather - looks like I have a long ways to go!!! Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship - if you don’t mind me asking what is that stitching machine called?
You can do it! Really, all it takes is a little practice and getting to know what each tool does. The machine is a "Tippman Boss Stitcher". Maybe two "N"s in Tippman?
They call that a "Slicker". I made that one from a piece of cow horn and a ceramic dresser knob. The cut edge of your leather will always be a little fuzzy. That "Tan Kote" stuff is a wax type finish similar to car wax. You use the "slicker" to polish the edge and get rid of that fuzzy look. Both the horn and the dresser knob are smooth, so it works really well.
@@MuskratOutdoors Yeah, everything is good. The little ones are keeping me busy and I started a new job recently. If that's not enough we plan on moving within the next year. How you been?
@@ChipsOutdoorChannel I'm happy to hear that. We have been mostly good here. Our old dog died from lung cancer about two weeks ago. That was hard...Our Daughter is having some problems, but seems alright too.....other than that, life is good!
I don't. If you email me at muskrat14@hotmail.com I'll try to see what I can do. I have a snakeskin, but I'm not sure it will work. I might be able to find one this Summer also. This last year, there was quite a few around.
Hey great job. Robert208 sent me here i was wondering if you had the time and if your willing to do somthing similar for me? I have a knife about the same a the one your working with and it from the same guy that built Roberts knife. If you dont have time I understand I just figured it did not hurt to ask. I just sub and will be watching your great work have blessed day
Thank you! I am way behind on leatherwork, and can be slow getting it done, but I will have time until March or so. I do have quite a bit to try to get to...what's one more? My email is muskrat14@hotmail.com
