Jump to content

zuludog

Members
  • Content Count

    1,283
  • Joined

  • Last visited

1 Follower

About zuludog

  • Rank
    Leatherworker.net Regular
  • Birthday 04/25/1950

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Northwest England
  • Interests
    Backpacking, Car mechanics, Model aeroplanes, Knifemaking, Leatherwork

LW Info

  • Leatherwork Specialty
    Knife sheath making
  • Interested in learning about
    general leatherwork
  • How did you find leatherworker.net?
    Google

Recent Profile Visitors

13,146 profile views
  1. AFAIK Rocky Mountain's own brand linen & synthetic thread is Yue Fung, under their own name, and it's good stuff I've tried Ritza thread and I too don't see why it's supposed to be so good The threads I've settled on are Artisan Leather's own brand braided polyester - Chinese from a UK supplier - and Yue Fung
  2. Ah, we're definitely going Off Topic and rambling here, but during the decline of the Roman Empire they had the choice of bringing wheat for bread or animals for the Circus from Egypt as there were only a few boats available - they chose animals
  3. Fortunately I have already stocked up, and anyway I drink more coffee than tea If any Americans or others are wondering about the importance of tea to the British Way of Life -- a couple of years ago there was a terrorist bomb threat in London, and the police were going door to door to clear people from rooms & buildings that faced onto the street When they got to a cafe the customers refused to leave as 'we haven't finished our tea yet'
  4. Thanks Meanwhile I've been Searching supplier's websites, and in the UK at least, Identity Leathercraft, Metropolitan Leather, and others have alternative edge finishing gums, and gum tragacanth of course. Although I haven't tried these they are reputable suppliers, and the alternatives should be OK
  5. Do we know the current situation with Tokonole? I've heard there is a shortage It's out of stock with a couple of UK suppliers, but still listed on several Etsy UK suppliers, but of course that doesn't mean you'll get it if you order it
  6. Knife making looks like it is a popular hobby in the USA, and I also think there are a few knife makers on here. I'm sure that if you made a request on this forum or a knife making forum someone would make a head knife for you I have a Barnsley head knife, it is made from sheet steel about 1,5 to 2,0 mm thick. Barnsley probably stamp out the shape but it shouldn't be too difficult for an experienced maker to cut it out. Then just make a long gently sloping bevel. The handle is simply turned with a brass tube ferrule.
  7. I see you live in the USA, so I thought you might be interested in this. I think it's more expensive than those from Barnsley or Osborne, but I know that RMLS is a reputable supplier Rocky Mountain - Half Round/Head Knife - Sharp! (rmleathersupply.com) You might also consider a Japanese Leather Knife, I use one for straight cuts and skiving. They are easy to sharpen, and as with most leather tools prices range from cheap to expensive. If you're not familiar with it, Search YouTube
  8. It is a head knife, so called as the side view looks like a bird's head. Watch YouTube videos by JH Leather, she uses one for most of her work www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk usually have one, but don't appear to at the moment. In fact they seem to be reorganising their range of knives as it looks like they are selling off a lot of old stock at reduced prices Osborne also offer a head knife, but you'll have to do your own Search Generally, although these knives are not very cheap they are reasonably priced for the quality you get. They are an alternative to the more common round knife, which has two points, as they are usually cheaper, and the single point makes them easier to use. Typical price for them is about £40, say $45
  9. One time I bought a couple of bellies in a sale that were fairly thick, about 3mm in the middle and 5mm at the ends I made axe covers and chest protectors for spoon carving, with an extra thickness glued onto the centre of the chest protector.
  10. Diverting slightly -- I have visited Fort George in NE Scotland, find it on t'Net This was built in the 1700s, and is still an active military base, though this is reduced, and a large part of the fort is now a museum The gunpowder store, now part of the museum was once lit by candles, as a naked flame was the only source of illumination at the time. The candles are placed in a small windowed enclosure that juts out into the magazine, and is sealed on the magazine side. Access and ventilation is made from outside the magazine, on the other side of the wall For similar reasons, the tools and equipment used were made from wood, copper, and brass
  11. Also, in the days of gunpowder, knocking and scraping a leather bucket wouldn't cause a spark This was still a consideration during WW2, when troops manning gun positions would change out of their usual nailed/studded boots into boots with plain leather soles for working in the magazines and handling ammunition
  12. As chuck123wapati has commented, you know your work is good enough when people ask you to make things ....... and from there it shouldn't be too difficult to ask around and sell a few items to help recover the costs of your hobby and bring in extra income....... but turning it into anything like full time employment and income would be much harder ...... and without meaning to be harsh, if you need to ask if you're ready, then you're not.
  13. Just my opinion but ...... I think you should try to make something as soon as you can, even if it's something simple like a key ring or a basic card holder or simple sheaths/slip covers for your knives and stitching chisels, there are several videos. These are simple enough to learn as you make. Or make your own pattern/mock up from card or thick paper Making these small projects will show you most of the techniques used in leather work - drawing out a pattern, cutting out the leather, making the stitching holes, saddle stitch, edge finishing, gluing up, threading a needle, waxing the thread, treating/greasing the finished article, and possibly dyeing leather and using an awl. To thread a needle cut the thread on a slant or taper/feather it with a knife on a board, then wax it, again there are videos I started out locking the thread as shown in many videos, but then I thought - Why? I don't do that when I sew fabric. So for several years now I just fold over the thread and it works well enough - I do wax the thread though.
×
×
  • Create New...