03/30/2025
Why Choose Rig Hides Books?
With 22 years in the oilfield, I’ve worked as a pump hand, progressed through coil tubing, worked with tubing motors, and served as a completions consultant. The tally book was always a constant in my career, and I’ve worked to improve it while out in the field
Every book is made and finished by hand. The artwork is laser-engraved, but everything else—the stitching, the edge work, the little touches—is done the way I would've wanted mine while working in the field. Durable, reliable, and built with those small features that end up mattering when you're three days deep into a job and need something to work right every time.
• Hand-Stitched Quality: I do every stitch by hand. It takes time, sure, but saddle stitching holds even if a stitch gets cut. One cut in machine stitching and the whole seam unravels. Mine doesn’t. And if one does break, hit it with a lighter and melt it down. You’re back in business.
• Stitch Groove Detail: The stitch runs in a hand-cut groove. That groove protects the thread from wear, especially in the spots that take a beating. It’s a small touch, but one that keeps your book together longer.
• 8–9 oz Hermann Oak Leather: I use thick Hermann Oak leather for every cover. It’s been around since the 1800s, and their tanning process is second to none. This leather doesn’t just look good. It works hard.
• Edge Dye, Grit & Wax Finish: No slicking agents needed. I’ve got a process. I sand the edges smooth (is 1500 grit overkill? Nah), dye them, and seal them with melted wax. It’s not fast, but I’m not shipping out the ordinary. You’ll feel it the moment you pick it up.
• House-Made Mink Oil Conditioner: I make my own conditioner. That way, I know exactly what’s going into your leather. Nothing added. Nothing fake.
• Elastic Strap Tab (Rig Hides exclusive): Most elastic straps are stitched in permanently, so when they wear out, you’re stuck with a floppy mess or you have to cut it off and live without it. I got tired of that. So I designed a clean, low-profile tab that holds the strap in place while still letting you replace it when the time comes. As a bonus, it happens to sit inside the stitch line in a way that keeps the inner sleeve from folding over when the strap pulls. Problem solved on both fronts.
• 275 Paracord Bookmarks: I use 275 paracord because it holds up, and it matches the feel of the book. Rugged, clean, no-nonsense.
• Pencil Holder (optional): I’ve lost enough pens in the field to know better. This holder rides just above the pocket line. Easy to grab, always there when you need it. I made my own Pencil molds and the learning curve combination of fusion360 and a Chinese 3d printer (g-code, python) is crazy.
•Inner Sleeve Calculations (optional): I can stamp permanent archival ink quick-reference formulas on the inside cover. You’ve got enough on your mind without digging for your phone every time you need a number..
•The Artwork: Every piece is original and built from the ground up. I combine photography, illustration, and digital layering to create each design. The composition, the tone, and the style choices are mine. Many of the photographs I use regularly were taken by me with my wife’s DSLR (Yes, she let me borrow it), and some of those shots are worked into the artwork when the piece calls for it.
*AI assisted, if you know how to use it.
Built for the Field: These books are made to take the same kind of beating you do. Oilfield-tough. Day-in, day-out reliable.
Order Info: Current lead time is 3–4 weeks. I’m a one-man shop and I focus on quality, not cranking out volume. I handle everything: the making, design, shipping, customer service, R&D, bookkeeping, and even the social media. Keeping up the hype is tough when you're also in the shop making. If you’ve got something custom in mind, just let me know and I’ll do my best to make it happen.
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