jasj

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

Hi Cogs, As a base for floating dyes for marbling, I use wallpaper paste mixed as per instructions for hanging wallpaper. It is ready to use straight away. The only science to know is that you should use oil or spirit based dyes, as they will float on the surface of the water based paste, just like the dreaded oil slicks on waterways or the sea. Water based dye will tend to mix with wallpaper paste. This is my experience here in Australia, so I don't know about wallpaper paste in USA. Marbling is a good way to use discolored or 'pink' veg tan, but best results come from clean fresh leather. Cheers Jim

Last week I found the series by Pete Gorrell in the LCSJ. Issues are 1999 May,July, Nov, 2000 Jan,May ,July,Sept, 2001 Jan,May, July, Sept,2002, March, July, Nov, 2004Jan, 2007May. There was also a series by Dave Jones from July 1987 to Jan 1990.[not all issues] Hope this helps Jim

The knot you describe was shown in Make It With Leather many years ago was called Rein End Knot, but it is known here in Australia as a Kimberly Knot or a Gulf Knot , named after the regions in Northern Australia it has been used. Cheers Jim

Patterns for U S Cavalry Saddlebags were featured in Leathercrafters and Saddlers Journal Vol 4 No 6 Nov/Dec 1994 by Karen Thompson Bullock, and Jan/Feb 2004 and Mar/Apr 2004 Vol 14 Nos 1&2 by Verlane Desgrange. Cheers, Jim

Hi Spindrift57 The patterns you are looking for were printed in the Leathercrafters and Saddlers Journal in an article by the late Verlane Desgrange. I will check which one tomorow and let you know . Cheers, Jim PS . A search on Verlane Desgrange on Leatherworker.net will give you some information

Hi Newbie 29 Greenhalgh Tannery near Ballarat, Victoria do veg tan cowhide and also do roo skins. Check out www.gretannery.com.au Cheers Jim

Hi Kilanya, I suggest you start by obtaining "Beginning Leatherwork" by Ron Edwards, available from Greenhalgh Tannery (near Ballarat) www.gretannery.com.au . They also have a well stocked shop with tools, hardware etc. Another excellent book is "Leatherworking Handbook" by Valerie Michael, try ebay. Lefflers in West Melbourne are well stocked suppliers also. www.leffler.com.au . The Dimensions in Leather Conference in Brisbane this coming July would be well worth checking out. www.dimensionsinleather.com . I have attended several times and it is a great opportunity to study under masters of the medium. You may find a local saddler at australiansaddlers.com Trust this is of some help and happy hunting, jasj

Very interesting discussion about the use of resin. I had the good fortune to come by tools and gear from a distant relative who was a saddler in NSW Australia during the 1930s. Among the awls, punches etc was some single strand thread and a small 2 ounce tin labelled "SAYERS VENICE TURPENTINE". On the back of the tin it claims to be "A valuable home remedy for cuts sores ulcers, veterinary purposes etc" It is still over half full of a treacle consistency liquid, smelling a bit like turpentine. I wonder if anyone reading this knows if it was used in the saddlery trade,or was just for the uses on the label. Regarding the use of resin, I took a workshop with Stohlman Award winner Peter Main at the Dimensions In Leather Conference in the 1990s and he used resin on his threads. Have a great day wherever you are! Bye from Jim