Entered

Entered!!!

As an actual artist I feel the same way about my art 😂😂😂😂. Go Ohio! Really like your whole thing! One Ohio craftsperson to another

Great tutorial!

Love ya!!!!!

Awesome congratulations

Enjoying the videos. New subscriber

I have always ordered the rivet diameter, I want and trim the post length to fit my project.

Love it

I had to start charging half up front for customized pieces. Most everybody is happy to do that, and if they do back out for some reason, at least the material and some of my time is paid for

OLD Leather Smith here, I know what U R saying. I have people work 4 me that get 125.00 an hour but couldn't make it in my Leather work. So now I get 125.00 4 the 1st hour & 62.50 every hour after that. 1 very important thing I only do custom work nothing 4 Sale so my clients usually come we me because I work on their imagination with some input by me. God's Blessings ✝️ 🥎 🙃

Amazing. Congrats. We love you ❤

I'm a handyman. I charge £30 an hour for my time. Plus materials. If I was trying to sell leatherwork I'd do exactly the same. I've had a few people tell me that £30 is too expensive for them. I will not reduce my price. Problem for leatherworkers is that if you're prepared to drop your price to compete with mass produced stuff then you end up working for almost nothing.

Craftsman and artist are different

Who is the silverado supplier you mentioned alongside buckleguy/tandy? Difficulty finding it on a search.

Just a suggestion make this holster take it to the gun shop and leave it for customers to see. Leave business card s for interested customers.

People just don't appreciate the time required or the actual cost of leather to make.a custom product. Also there is so.much foreign stuff available for sale on the Internet. Analyzing your cost is a good idea so you know to markup and sell it for

One of those Japanese leather school packs that can be carried like a brief case or slung like a backpack. Slim and low profile. Long straps, so I can wear it over my fur suit.

I took up leatherwork during the pandemic , when i was in my late 50s. People always tell me i should start a business, like doing so is easy. Thing is, i already have a job and i doubt i could produce enough to make a living from it. I dont invest in all kinds of equipment, because i can't afford to. I do it for the pleasure of it, and give away most of what i make. I discovered your videos today, and enjoy your straightforward approach. Nothing turns me off more than how-to videos that involve all manner of expensive tools and machinery. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and experience

Do you go to a local barber? Can you find one who will hand out your business cards, maybe they need a new strap? What about leather coasters (Belly) with your Co name/contact info stamped or pressed - in case they get stolen? A local Hardware store usually has a bulletin board at the entrance for people to put up fliers. Does your Blacksmith know any other Blacksmiths? Try to find the person who everyone listens to; Interior decorators, travel agency, Mayor, Judges. Local papers need local stories. Anyways, interesting video... Thanks.. Best of luck!

Very helpful and I respect you for your willingness to get into this generally taboo subject. It proves to me that you sincerely want to help people, which I value highly wherever I see it. All my best to you and yours always. 🙂

Thank you for putting this together.

1/2 inch thick A3 size PU SHEET is good for punchiñg.

Had to comment. Great down to earth video. I mean, didn't ask for much, included the leather and mentioned the next steps. Thanks for not making these "10 essencial tools every leather worker must have" click baits.

Lovely explanation, really valuable to start with leather ambitions...

Paramedic for 25 years, former Army medic in 90s, I'm new to Leatherwork, I like the outlook. I've failed alot so far, a few nice looking projects. I know I'll fail way more, that's how I'll learn, videos like yours and others, I treat as tutorials. Subbed!

Imma the kitchen table, Brother. And I agree...

A carpenters work can be inspiring and even breath taking but its not art. A wood carver on the other hand is creating art. Sculptures or folk art. The same can be said for evety trade and leatherwork is more like a trade than art. Ive been doing it professionally (part time) for 3 years now and some things i do is art. Tooling designs most definitely is art. But when i make a bag, sheath or rifle bag with inlayed exotic skin, intetsting coloured thread stitched in, conchos and rivets and even stitching styles might make an imaginative and visually pleasing creation but its not art. Its just like a beautiful kitchen with brass taps and marble bemch tops with fashionable colours. Haha that's a long winded way to say i agree with you. 😂 Subbed btw

Some things I agree with, some are just nonsensical. Yes, you need to understand who you want to sell to and what they will buy and pay for. But it takes 2-5 years to really get a business rolling. Just depends on what you are willing to invest to get TO those buyers. I would rather sell one $300 backpack a week, rather than 300 little pouches. It takes less time to make one backpack verses 300 pouches. Your breakdown for your business is a recipe for disaster. You'll never make any real money with those margins. 15% tax? Yup. Labor should be about the same as materials, or at least a lot closer to it. You want to make good money per man hour, then you need to make products that command a higher price tag. A welder makes more money an hour compared to the person taking your order at the local fast food restaurant, because the welder makes the company more money per man hour. The crafter selling 20-30 dollar items can't get paid the same per hour as the crafter who sells 100-500 dollar items. And your business profit margin should certainly be more than single digits. More like 20% or more. "Profits" is what grows your business and makes investments in machines to be more productive. Profits pay for better tools that outlast cheap bargain junk. Profits pay for advertising. Profits are the tools to GROW your business. Profit is not a dirty word. Let us know where you are getting hides exactly the same size too. No matter who you buy from it varies. Your square inch cost per hide is bunk. One may be 22 foot, another 25, another 21. It varies. I get there is no need to be super precise, but with a whopping 5% margin, you have zero room for error. Raising prices is a NORMAL part of business. Has postage held it's price since 2017? Has your blacksmith's been holding off prices? That sheath makes part of the VALUE of the knife. They are not going to go back to selling bare knives and think they will get the same business. People will shop elsewhere. My prices go up 3-10% every single year. Why? Because my costs go up, both personal and business. How many years are you working someplace without a raise? No one is going to do that. Look, I own a business and leather craft is a side business/enjoyable hobby. You can run your business any way you choose, but you will never really make any money screwing around. You worry about competing with other people like the Amish. Why? No matter what you are competing with someone. Welcome to the global market. Just because you don't sell online, lots of people do. Lots of shoppers buy online too. You are competing with leather crafters, and you are competing with import goods. People who aren't willing to compete are generally the people who make shoddy stuff. You don't make shoddy stuff do you? People either want your stuff at the price you set, or they don't. It's your job to convince people why your stuff is worth the money. Why it's better. If you can't do that, then they don't have any real reason to buy from you.

Bwahaha im right there with you on the backpack

Thanks for your perspective

I love my sheath and holster u made! I show them both off every chance i get!

"15% God damn them"...😂😂😂😂 u aint lying there man!!

Looooove your videos. I'm Tanzanian. Started learning and making leather pieces as a side hustle and I'm learning everyday. So many things make sense listening to your videos. I prefer hand stitching too. Love when real leather lovers walk to my stand at a pop up market and touch, sniff and gaze at a piece in a way only a leather lover do. I don't necessarily make millions but the satisfaction of making special pieces for my happy clients is so satisfying. Thank you for this 🎉

Every project I work on requires me to solve a problem or fix a mistake.

I appreciate the honesty! That in itself is going to be a help for a person to push themselves to start a new skill.

This was superb!

The cheapest source of leather is a thrift shop. Go in and check out women's purses and other leather items. If you go out walking, you will find leather items that have been thrown out that may be useful.

Hey Christian, my buddy just watched this video and had a suggestion for the top knot...he suggests to using a surgeon's knot. Thoughts?

The Donald Is Gonna Win And Google Is Wrong In Banning It!!!

Why do you put the strap on the blade side,should be over top so it cant be cut

Genius! I love your calm admission to failure and fortitude to getting it done with a great solution.

Could have done without the music being three times as loud as the rest of the video. The rest of the video is excellent.

Very helpful! Thank you!

Thanks! It helped me!

I have been in that situation of cutting the 1 1/2 to short. I like your fix :-) and the video was entertaining.

Thanks for making a video that isn't just an amazon cart. Those of us that like to buy tools at auctions/garage sales/retiring tradesmen probably have most of these things, or could make them, or have something that would do the job instead of buying more cheap crap that you probably already had. I love the sacrificial-make-your-own-tool bin!

Leather thimble. Freaking ingenious.

"Once you discover the joys of dieing"

Great video. I'm just getting started in leather work that really helped. Thank you.