Endstub checkbook cover

[jimwrench]

 Being closely related to Neanderthal man I still use end stub checks. For you younger ones a check is a piece of paper you use to reduce your bank balance. Anyway I desire a leather cover for my checks (they seem to be impossible to find commercially) Found one at auction several years ago and have worn it out. Decided to make my own after getting these tools at auction recently. Anyone have any warnings or advice on leather working. I have $8 invested in these tools and $10 in a piece of leather so I'm pretty much commited.

[Twilight Fenrir]

https://www.checksunlimited.com/tan-side-tear-checkbook-covers.aspx


But, good luck to ya! :P

[1930]

Sounds like my kind of project, post your results and good luck

[Papaw]

All my leatherworking was in my teens, and that was a LONG time ago. but I seem to remember working the tooling on damp leather after LOTS of practice on scraps.

[turnnut]

Leatherwork, sorry, I am no help, just want to wish you good luck with your project.

when I hear leatherwork, Tandy rings a bell.

[Papaw]

Still around- https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/en-usd/home/home.aspx , how long?

RadioShack Corporation (formerly Tandy Corporation) is a bankrupt American electronics retail chain. Founded in 1921, its stores operate in the United States and Mexico. The chain left the United Kingdom in 1999, Australia in 2002 and Canada in 2004. On February 5, 2015, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection under US bankruptcy law after 11 consecutive quarterly losses.[2]

RadioShack is headquartered in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.[3] The company owns 4,297 US stores (of which 1,784 are slated to close) and 274 Mexican stores; an additional 900 locations are operated by independent dealers, primarily in small towns.

Unless they split- Tandy could disappear.

[bill300d]

I don't think Tandy Leather Factory and Radio Shack are related anymore.

Tandy Leather, which later grew in to the Tandy Corporation, was a family-owned leather goods company based in Fort Worth, Texas. Tandy Leather was founded in 1919 as a leather supply store, and acquired a number of craft retail companies, including RadioShack in 1963. In 2000, the Tandy Corporation name was dropped and entity became the RadioShack Corporation, selling The Tandy Leather name and operating assets to The Leather Factory.

bill

[Papaw]

Probably correct. The store I went to about 2 years ago was Tandy Leather Co.

[Aunt Phil]

MOST IMPORTANT
Do not have finger between mallet & tool when striking tool with mallet.

Chili can tell you the rest.

[jimwrench]

 You are supposed to practise on scrap leather first but I had none, Used my swivel knife without dampening leather. Solved my problem;now I have some scrap leather.

[bill300d]

In my cashe I have a few tools that I didn't know what they were or were used for. Was told that since no one knew what the were they were probably leather working tools. maybe I should get them out and have at it.

bill

[Chillylulu]

I have a lot of scrap leather Jim, PM me and I'll send you some for your kit. For a checkbook cover you want it down around 3-5 oz thickness. I probably have some beginning tutorials I can send also. I bet I even have some patterns with instructions in thst size.

Good and wet while working it, you can only tool veg-tanned leather. Finished leather won't tool. Nicely veg-tanned tools well with burnishers as well as with stamping. 

For a first project, if you want to guarantee success, I would use a basket stamp and avoid the cutting knife. A single basket stamp is what you see on a lot if holsters and belts, as well as billfolds.

Tandy was going downhill, fast. Some of the employees had better ideas on how to fo things and started The Leather Factory.  After competing for a bit they bought out Tandy. I visited their factory and main showroom 4 yrs ago in Ft. Worth, TX.

The main showroom has a small museum named after Al Stohlman, who wrote all those leather craft books from when I was a kid.

It is a quick sidetrip if you get down around Ft. Worth.  The best thing for me is how nice those leather stores smell.

Chilly

[jimwrench]

Chilly, Thanks for the generous offer for scrap leather. I went ahead and used the piece I started with . Not doing anything fancy just a little stamping and lacing. Not planning on taking this up as a hobby. I got a piece of leather from Hobby Lobby;enough for two checkbook covers. That should last my lifetime. If I get this thing laced up I'll take a picture from across the room and call it good.

[Bill Houghton]

In my cashe I have a few tools that I didn't know what they were or were used for. Was told that since no one knew what the were they were probably leather working tools.

Whereas on some fora, you'll be told they're tire vulcanizers or parts from a cream separator...

[bill300d]

In my cashe I have a few tools that I didn't know what they were or were used for. Was told that since no one knew what the were they were probably leather working tools.

Whereas on some fora, you'll be told they're tire vulcanizers or parts from a cream separator...

That's a lot of truth right there.

bill