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Another successful way of rust removal is by electrolysis, using a washing soda solution, immersing the rusty item in the solution, attached to the negative clip of a 12 volt battery charger and the positive to a piece of sacrifice iron or steel. there are plenty of Youtube clips of this method, just be aware that hydrogen gas is produced by this method. This method does not remove any metal from the item compared with filing or grinding.

Obviously, a sharp edge beveller is required, but I have found that lightly dampening the edge with a wet sponge just before you bevel makes it an easier operation, especially with dry veg tan leather.

From the close up photo of the makers name it is obvious that it has been made with alphabet letter stamps, which may mean that the maker did not yet have his or her custom made stamp. Just an observation, not a criticism. Jim

I have found the compound action lever version very good, but a word of caution, due to the extra pressure exerted on the punch tubes, they may end up being lodged too far into the rotating holder. The levers themselves may distort, as I found out when I loaned the punch to an over enthusiastic friend.

You may wish to check out the Youtube of Eli Hernandez making a Mexican Swivel Honda [popsicle]

The knot on the snap hook looks like what we call in Australia, a Kimberley knot or Gulf knot. It is mainly used to attach reins to a snaffle bit using only a sharp knife only, and no threads or thonging. It was first shown to me by Gippsland horseman Jeff McMahon in the early 1960s. Its' construction is mentioned in the 1973 edition of "Bushman's Handcrafts" by R M Williams, was also in "Make It With Leather" magazine in 1976, "Bushcrafts 1" by Ron Edwards and in Bruce Grant's Encyclopedia page 46 called 'Twist loop reins' Depending on the width of the strap, two or more slits may be made when forming this knot. Trust this is of some help.

Hi MarieH, Help is at hand for you in Australia pending Covid restrictions. Check out Dimensions in Leather from Brisbane, Birdsalls in Sydney, Makers Leather in Tasmania or perhaps some of my contacts here in Victoria are just some starting suggestions. All the best Jim

May I suggest you try electrolysis to remove rust from any iron or steel components. There are youtube instructions available. You need a charger for a normal car battery, a plastic tub, a piece of scrap iron as a sacrifice object and a sodium carbonate solution. This method does not remove metal from your piece to be cleaned compared with filing or grinding. Trust this helps Jim

mtown, there are few options for workshops at present, but Birdsall's in Sydney or Leffler's in Melbourne are worth a try once things get back to 'normal'. I am in northern Vic, and am a member of Goulburn Valley Leathercrafters, but we are not meeting at present either. Keep plaiting Jim

Well done for a first try mtown, could I suggest that you attend a workshop or two at one of the leather merchants in Eastern seaboard capitals, or with an experienced plaiter . This will set you on the road to success. All the best, Jim

Thanks for your interest Brian. Claimed to be the "World's Longest Whip" when made in Echuca in 1885, is the 115ft kangaroo hide whip on display at the Echuca Museum, along with displays relating to the city's Paddlesteamer history. Well worth a visit following Diversity of Leather event.

Diversity Of Leather is being held in Echuca, Victoria , Australia on March 7th and 8th 2020. Featuring demonstrations and workshops by a master saddler, harness maker, bit and spur maker, a tanner as well as braiding, leather art, beginner and advanced leather carving and tooling. There will also be trade stands by major suppliers to many facets of leather industry and crafts. Contact DiversityOfLeatherfb or diversityofleather@gmail.com Event organised by Jenni's Shed Tongala and Goulburn Valley Leathercrafters Association Inc.

Hello Handstitched' I believe the "Tom" who was the owner of the Bohlin saddle book, may have been the late Tom Lay, a very keen West Australian leatherworker who attended some of the 'Dimensions in Leather' conferences in Brisbane, Queensland during the 1990s. He sometimes submitted articles to The Leathercrafters and Saddlers Journal and had also attended Leather events in USA. Although I only met him a couple of times, he struck me as a very kind and friendly person. I remember him telling us how he had seen a Native American design in an old Western movie, and in the days before dvd or video cassettes he had a friend run through the reel to reel film to find a "still" of that design that he then transferred to leather, and displayed at the conference. Hope this may be of some help, Jim

I have a Blanchard knife exactly the same as the one pictured. Its original owner was a saddler from NSW Australia whose name was Charles Arnold. His father was renowned Sydney saddler Frank Arnold, maker of 'Bosca Saddles'. This was in the early 1900s. The saddlery was in Sydney near Randwick racecourse and Charles and his brother[also a saddler] travelled around to cattle and sheep stations repairing saddlery . I would estimate the knife would have been purchased new in the 1920s. It has been well cared for, with a nice ''ring'' to it, and it keeps a good edge.

To ensure a better result with drive punches and my rotary punch, I have a cake of beeswax that I use to lubricate the inner and outer surfaces of the punch. I just poke the punch into the beeswax and rotate it once or twice before punching. In theory and practice, this helps the punch through the leather. Note that punching into oily or waxy leather is always easier than dry leather. Hope this helps someone, Cheers Jim