Henry Rifle Forums

I started the next belt, a much nicer oak leaves and acorn belt. I took my time and used an illuminated drafting plate to transfer the pattern to the tracing paper. I made sure the leather was exactly 1-1/2 inches wide. I took care to stay exactly on the template lines. I should have been beautiful.

Each template section is about 10" long and you have to shift the template and reposition it each time to move down the belt length. Then you move down the template, tracing the pattern to transfer it to the damp leather. Slow and careful gets it done. I was slow, I was careful, and made sure I stayed right on the lines.

What I didn't notice until I was done, is that the template shifted on one section. The pattern was OFF, and nearly to the edge. The belt pattern is supposed to have a 1/4" border down both sides. That's a stitching line. Nope... time to start over.

I took a long break, that way you don't throw things, or cut off a finger.
(That's always a good thing, NOT cutting off a finger.)

The NEW pattern is called, Feather's and Arrows, and honors my Grandfather's Bloodline. Choctaw and Blackfoot. I've just gotten started, but you get the idea.

I had a second session yesterday and got the beveling done. I got back in the shop today for a bit of work til the hands cramped up. The tooling is bad enough, but the backgrounding is a killer.

I added the details and it really starts to bring it to life....


Then, when you begin to background, putting in the shading... it adds to the 3D effect and makes the rest pop.
Unfortunately, the tool I really like for this is small, and has to be to get into the areas I need to background. But I don't have the larger matching tool for the open areas, which means a lot of tap, tap, tap in those areas. Kills the hands. You can tell where I took my break.


I'll get back at it after lunch... or this evening, or ...

tomorrow.

There are those who like to paint these type designs after they are done. Nothing wrong with that. I prefer to add a touch of antique to bring out the tooling then finish them in either a light dye or natural. Miss T doesn't care for the painted belts, thinks they are a bit gaudy... I think it comes from Riding Western and English shows and seeing all the outfits and costumes all those years. Me? I have always liked subdued things. Cars, clothes, trucks...

I'll paint it if it's for someone who requested it. (Granddaughter... )
Duh....

But prefer natural.

Sometimes, when I make the holsters and the sheaths, I don't even tool them, just do a rich dye and finish and like them like that. Subdued. But, I need to practice my tooling, can't improve without practice.

It looks really good. Another nice project.

Ditto the above.

Interesting how the fletching feeds right into the feather, I like that.

Joe Meling design, not mine. I learned a lot from watching his videos. One line from a tutorial stood out.

Someone sent him a comment that said, "I wish I could carve."
His reply was, "I used to think the same thing, so I just started carving. Practice, it just takes practice."

That last design, the template slipped. I'll use some of that leather to make vise pads. I'll carve the other sections for practice during down times, practice. Never hurts. I remember my dad telling me how he got so good at golf... He kept buckets of balls in the back yard, and every chance he got, he walked out and putted or chipped his way around his makeshift course. My woodworking buddy hated dovetails. So he made a set a day using scraps, until they were easy. Lol.

It's fun to practice the things we like. Or we are good at.
When I was competing, I'd shoot six rounds or so at seven yards. A dozen at fifteen. I was good there. The bulk at twenty five and fifty. Most at fifty. Fifty was work. It paid off, my scores continued to climb. Lol.

Another session in the shop. Worked until the hands asked for some time in the heating pad.
A bit over halfway with the backgrounding. JUST a bit. Two more sessions should see that done. Then on to working on the extra highlighting details, then dyes and finish work on all the parts and components before assembly. Seems like a lot of work, but it passes the time and I'll have something to show for it.

That little scrap laying in front of the belt strap on the granite? I use it to test punches or the sharpness of the swivel knives after I strope them before cutting into the real project. Always have scraps laying around. When I am ready to dye the belt, I'll use that to test the dye color, then test the antiques to decide which one I want to use. Scraps are very handy. LOL.

Ordered a few things from Tandy while they have the Black Friday sale in progress. Three orders in as many days. Some antiques, a couple tools I needed, and today I ordered a couple styles of buckles for the belts rather than use the old recycled ones I planned on while they had some that matched the belt styles perfectly, on sale for Black Friday. I was going to order one of each, but just for grins, I marked the order up to two of each and the shipping didn't change, so four buckles it was.

I was about to post up that the backgrounding was completed after my afternoon session, but when I resized the picture, I noticed a couple small sessions I missed. Ten minutes of work, and they will be done and the backgrounding WILL be completed. Uh... duh. Tomorrow we'll be making that long five minute drive to a friends for Thanksgiving. But, I'll likely find ten minutes to knock that out. Can't do much more until the Buckle comes in from Tandy, I'm guessing midweek next week?


Yeah, yeah, the colors will match once the working area dries.

I have the billets cut out and ready to cut the buckle holes and the holes for the buckle bar in them, but THAT will also wait for the tools I ordered. A 1 inch oval punch for punching out bullet slots, which should work for belt slots as well.

We are moving right along. Until then I can burnish the edges on the parts and pieces, and do some staining.

I see you keep a supply of butt wipes close by. Never know when you can’t trust a fart,

RetiredSeabee wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 28, 2024 6:09 am

I see you keep a supply of butt wipes close by. Never know when you can’t trust a fart,

Well, that, and knowing that butt wipes are great for taking off the gunk I get on my hands working with leather, woodworking, or in the making of knives. The soft wipes are great for blowing my nose when the chemicals get it running, and will remove some of the index marks I put on metal. Between the wipes and paper towels, I'm covered for "most" things.

With four kids and seven grandkids, what else would you call them when you are holding a kid by both ankles?

Wow a beautiful piece of work!

Got out for a few minutes this morning and shaded (Backgrounded) the area(s) I missed. I think it's all backgrounded now. I'll be able to burnish the edges and do a few other minor things while I wait for the orders from Tandy. I might even cut out the 2-1/2" blank for the gunbelt while I wait. I have to check the leather I have under the bench and make sure I have what I need.


People are always telling me that I should turn my hobbies into a business. Ever get that? You could make a living at this.
Back when I was working patrol, it was woodworking. Why risk your life on midnights when you could make boxes and cabinets for a living? Um... I make these things to relax and I enjoy it. If my hobby was my job, what would I do for fun...?

From that camera angle you have very small feet. Have quite a few of the same self portrait shots.

10-1/2. Those are my lined moccs. Keep my tootsies warm in the shop.
Surprised they showed. Guess my diet is working.

One Tandy Order was supposed to arrive today, the other tomorrow. They weren't quite as quick as the earlier orders, I guess ordering from the Black Friday Sale saved a chunk, but with same many orders they were a bit slower getting them out. No Biggie, I'm not going to whine and complain, I needed the rest. Today's order didn't come but both have arrived safely at the UPS hub that delivers to our area and should arrive together tomorrow. I'll be back in the shop and working in the afternoon, unless UPS is swamped and delivers after dark, then it will be Friday.... Our guy runs until the stuff is delivered. We have a great UPS guy, and we treat him well.