Question:
I did learn a lot from a boot maker that I worked with, I was making
artificial limbs at the time, so I got to use my craft for very
practical no-nonsense applications. I was better than the old timers
when it came to leather work (they dusted me when it came to other
skills though), except for the boot maker, whom I learnt a lot from.
How to make a shoe pattern in about 5 seconds was one trick I wasn't
going to learn by myself.
A sad thing, I know a very competent saddler, unfortunately "everyone"
wants international saddles, so this talented craftsman spends his days
making bondage gear. He makes a really healthy living out of it too,
but I think he longs for the old days when Australian made saddles were
valued.
Answer:
Aussie leatherwork is just outstanding- some of the best stuff in the world.
I've made all sorts of stuff- bondage gear included. It's so near other
'harness' work that it's really easy for me to make- the disconnect is that
they want costume stuff and that's not what I do.
The ornamentation is mostly to hide 'wear' marks and upgrade surface
blemishes. The 'Best' quality work, without ornamentation, was cut from
premium hides and boned to a 'clear' finish. It's actually harder/far more
expensive to produce a perfect unornamented piece than a heavily tooled one.
It's just the awl-head, a piece of good hardwood and a sole-leather stack on
top so you can hit it.
I don't generally work with light leather, 'book-binding' aside. 'Box calf'
is about the lightest that I ever work with otherwise- and that glued, by
and large.
I cut my teeth on heavy duty wallets, could hardly bend the first ones.
Tooling hide but definitely not butt leather, thanks for the tip though.
Even an old dog can learn new tricks, I showed him how to "really"
stretch leather, as in Comedia del Atre mask making. He's working on a
mask with a phallus for a nose, entitled Tyrano-sore-arse... he does
have a wicked sense of humor.
