Leathercraft Tips

Measuring for a Custom Belt

Posted April 6, 2016 by Don Gonzales

Measuring for a custom belt can be a little confusing but getting a good measurement is crucial to insure a proper fit. We also require a good measurement so that any lettering, brands or figures within the artwork are balanced when the belt is being worn.

In this short video I show exactly how to get a true belt size for you using a belt that you currently wear with the type of buckle you plan to use.

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Leather Conditioner

Posted February 12, 2016 by Don Gonzales

Are you wanting to bring life back into that old saddle or your favorite pair of boots? Are not getting the soft feel you are looking for by using just oil? There is a reason for that. Continue reading →

My Leather Floral Carving Tool Roll

Posted January 18, 2016 by Don Gonzales

In this video, I go through the tools that I use everyday for my leather floral carving. Everybody has their own preference when it comes to stamping tools and this is what I use. Continue reading →

Cutting Ears on Custom Saddles

Posted October 24, 2015 by Don Gonzales

One of the most difficult steps in building custom saddles is fitting the saddle seat and cutting the ears. In this post I will show you my trick for insuring that every saddle ear you cut will be perfect. Whether you are a beginner or you are a seasoned veteran, this tip will take the fear out of tackling this step. There are many different ways to accomplish this, but here is my process. Continue reading →

Tooling a Leather Wallet

Posted October 13, 2015 by Don Gonzales

For many of us that start in leather work, we start by making small leathergoods such as wallets, belts, and knife sheaths. In this video I show you my process of tooling a leather wallet. Everyone has a different approach to tooling floral design so keep in mind there are other ways of doing this. Continue reading →

Fitting a Saddle Seat on Custom Saddles

Posted October 8, 2015 by Don Gonzales

Putting in a saddle seat when building custom saddles is a process that can be a little challenging even for a seasoned saddle maker. In this video I show the process I use for getting the initial fit on a saddle seat during the build process. Continue reading →

Slicking Leather Edges

Posted October 6, 2015 by Don Gonzales

Everyone has a different process when it comes to slicking leather edges on their leather projects. There are always more than a few ways to skin a cat, but this is the process that I use and it works well for me. Continue reading →

Photo Album Layout

Posted September 23, 2015 by Don Gonzales

Detail work of a Feather

Posted September 19, 2015 by Don Gonzales

This video is my first shot at doing a bit of video instruction. I have had a lot of emails coming in asking how I go about the detail work on my feathers. I figured I would try a video to show my process and I hope it helps you with your feather artwork.