Whacha Been Up To......

Horsewright said:
No I haven't. How are you applying the Bag Kote? I've seen finishes crack before that were applied too heavy. I use an old t shirt stretched very tightly over two fingers. One application of the Bag Kote to the t shirt by just making contact and turning the bottle over and then turning it right side back up was enough to do a whole belt edge today. That's a very attractive belt above that you've made.
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Thanks Dave. Maybe I put it on too heavily. I'll try again with the next belt.

I love the water buffalo overlay suspenders you just posted.
 
iamunique127 said:
Thanks Dave. Maybe I put it on too heavily. I'll try again with the next belt.

I love the water buffalo overlay suspenders you just posted.
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Thanks. They are made from the veg tan water buffalo so it's a completely different leather than the water buffalo we use on the overlay. Same critter of course just a different tannage for different purposes. Those suspenders are not as an easy project as they would seem. The geometry on that patch joint where they come together on the back is very complex. There is also a plug/welt that all three pieces have to fit in. After trying several times we talked our ranching partner out of an old pair of his and took them apart just to figure the geometry out. That worked. The first pair we ever made a guy wore every day straight, for three years. He finally wore the elastic out. It was a very easy fix to replace the elastic.

Yeah on the finish try that old t-shirt trick. That's the only applicator I use. On very large items like rifle scabbards I don't use the Bag Kote. It's hard to apply without getting streaks. I use Oak wood, a conditioner. It buffs to a pretty nice finish on a bigger item.
 
I agree, the geometry is tricky. I made a set of suspenders from a distance for my brother-in-law, working only from a photo of his existing suspenders. The geometry didn't turn out completely correct but they are wearable. It has been difficult getting together so I can re-adjust them but hopefully we'll get together this summer.

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We were both happy with the unusual belt loop connectors. I'm sorry to say they are not my own design, I saw a photo online that I used as inspiration.

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This is the best photo I have of him wearing them.

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iamunique127 said:
I agree, the geometry is tricky. I made a set of suspenders from a distance for my brother-in-law, working only from a photo of his existing suspenders. The geometry didn't turn out completely correct but they are wearable. It has been difficult getting together so I can re-adjust them but hopefully we'll get together this summer.

QPUx5kM.jpeg


We were both happy with the unusual belt loop connectors. I'm sorry to say they are not my own design, I saw a photo online that I used as inspiration.

1DXDD9N.jpeg


This is the best photo I have of him wearing them.

F0yKCeE.jpeg
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Very nice!! Those are cool!! That is an interesting connector for sure. Yeah two straps one just crossing over right? Nope! Ya know the trick of using a half round punch to help with clean tapers? Thats a place I use that Dremel 1/2” sanding drum too.
 
Horsewright said:
Very nice!! Those are cool!! That is an interesting connector for sure. Yeah two straps one just crossing over right? Nope! Ya know the trick of using a half round punch to help with clean tapers? Thats a place I use that Dremel 1/2” sanding drum too.
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I'm not familiar with using a 1/2 round punch for tapers. I have some punches that are maybe 1/4 round and compared them to my taper templates but none of them had a useful fit. I did look up some 1/2 round punches. Do you place it at half way on the punch to make the taper?
 
iamunique127 said:
I'm not familiar with using a 1/2 round punch for tapers. I have some punches that are maybe 1/4 round and compared them to my taper templates but none of them had a useful fit. I did look up some 1/2 round punches. Do you place it at half way on the punch to make the taper?
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Not so much that its half way on the punch just that its consistent. I make two marks. One at the top of the taper and one above it at the outsider edge. How far apart those are depends on how steep you want your taper. Now as long as those two marks are exactly level with the same two corresponding marks on the opposite side of the strap and you line the punch up with marks the same from side to side you get a pretty nice taper. Its actually quicker to do than it is to type it out. There are some taper templates out there too, but I’ve never used them. I use to cut tapers by hand but I had a system of marking that was very involved. Even then above is quicker, easier and better. A full round works too if you have one large enough. Nichole has some 1/4 round punches but I haven’t played around with them.
 
Some recents:

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Went to help a friend process a small group of cattle:

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He was going to ship one out for breeding the next morning. I recommended he keep one of his others in the pen with her. He thought since she was the boss of the herd that the others would come and hang out near her. He thought it would be easier to load the next morning if he didn't have to sort off that extra head. Best laid plans of mice and cowmen:

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So we went back over again the next morning and helped him gather, sort and load what he needed. Kinda funny he'd asked for a new belt. He'd put on some weight lately and his old belts that I'd made him weren't fitting quite right anymore.

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He and another buddy bought a small group of steers and he asked us to come over and rope them so they could be branded. John had his new belt, a Paisano with Horizontal sheath and a Leatherman sheath:

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Fun swinging a rope again. Seemed like I was more rusty than Nichole.

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I have never missed four hoolihans in a row before in my entire life! Heck, Hoolihan Man is one of my nicknames. Cause I DON"T miss that shot! Except last Sunday.

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Finished this Mestano with mesquite for a cowpuncher down Texas way:

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And this pair of his and her Paisanos for a local elk guide and his wife:

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More coming.
 
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Finishing off:

A long time customer sent this old California Coyote model in for a new sheath. The customer is a farrier and a rancher and has worn this knife and sheath daily for years.:

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The knife still fits very well and the sheath has great retention:

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I was real pleased with how well the edges had held up:

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With its new sheath:

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And a matching belt:

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Whacha been up too?
 
Horsewright Horsewright Dave your work never fails to impress and your belt work is intense!
I just got a belt blank and a Weaver buckle and keeper, solid feeling belt now as my old belt had lasted a long time but needed to retire

https://flic.kr/p/2qWFhJx

I didn’t do anything fancy just solid carry, a big difference.
G2
 
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