Chef niloc

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That is some beautiful wood, mauls not to shabby either When last I checked with Beary he was not making anything this heave, has that changed? Well I guess that last question is obvious, I'll have to drop him a email.He makes the best mauls I have come across. They are not only the best looking but what ever that compound ( / brand / mix ??) he's using has the best feel to it. It's not to hard but by no means soft, no tool slip with his mauls at all.

I agree with much of the above. I find that quality/ custom made tools not only preform better but that they make you do better work. Let me explain, for me I find that when using good tools that the maker put pride in that I take more pride in my own work. I'm a chef by trade so I have had a " working knife" in my hand 6 days a week, 10-16 hours a day for the past 25 years. Back in the day before I was conferrable sharpening my own knives I use to keep 2 sets. When one set would get dull (1-2 weeks) I would send it out to get sharpened by a pro sharpening service. Then I'd start using the 2nd set, this way I always had sharp knives in hand. Pro sharpening services at the time charged $0.50 a Inch, kitchen knives are kind of long so it ran me about $15.00 to get my work set sharpened. So with it costing me about $30.00 a month and knowing most custom makers offer free sharpening services for there knives I thought to my self " nice knives would pay for themselves in less then a year". I started with two 10" chef knife that cost me $600.00 for the two of them ( more then a weeks pay at the time). I built up my set over a year or so and then one day decided to get a set from a deferent maker. This is about the time when my knife obsession started, expensive obsession. Well sorry for the long side story and back to the topic. I love Arkansas stones I was born there after all. By I will admit I hardly ever use them anymore, they are way to slow when compared to Japanese water stones or diamond hones ( I prefer the Japanese stones). About 8 years ago I found the best thing ever!! Harbor fraught 1x30 belt sander fitted with a leather belt. The set up will run you under $50.00 at today's prices and will "true up" a edge in less then a minute. I find that there is more of a learning curve to using wheels, and a buffer/ wheel set up will cost more...also like the edge from the leather belt better.

The beadier blades that they make for a swivel knife, are they used together with or instead of the "push beadier" tool? I.E. do you cut the bead with the knife then shape it with the push beadier or is it just a preference thing?

Sight shows that they are no longer avalabule

I would like to go to a trade show to hopefully get to see some of the "masters" work 1st hand and two see and hopefully pick up some good or hard to find tools. what and when would be the biggest trade shows in the U.S. 2. Are there any worth going to in or close by to N.Y.? Thank you Colin

I would like to complement you on what I think is the best setup leather web sight. It is attractive, very easy to use and navigate. I love how the pictures are interactive and zoom in, nice touch. PayPal interface works great. Lastly the fact that your sight does not require "flash" is a big +++ as my self use a iPad almost all the time to shop on line. I have placed 5 or 6 orders from your sight and your turn around time is consistent and fast. It goes without saying that your tools are top notch! One suggestion that I can think of:Being new to leather work (about 3 years now), and living on the east cost (NY) I have found it very hard to find sources of good leather tools. Your sight and this sight have been a big help! That sad there seems to be a void in the vintage tool area for those of us who can not travel to the leather shows and or don't have the "good shops" like you guys out west have. Maybe you could try and put together a vintage tool section on your sight? I could be wrong here by saying this but I have a feeling you know a lot of people in the business? Your sight would be a great way for them to sell vintage tools on consignment?

Your new stuff looks great!! Not that your old ones didn't, best maul I have

I have been using one made by Paul Zalesak of leather wranglers and like it alot. I got a email from Bill Burke today saying that my new knife is ready!! Been waiting a Long long time for that email...dam when will that post mane come

This place sells them, but they won't ship to the US http://www.bowstock.co.uk/acatalog/Stitching_clamps.html

I get most of my belts from , they have a great selection. The leather belt they sell is the surgisharp. http://www.trugrit.com/belts1. For the belt I like to use a green chrome diamond mix compound that I made my self. I took a bar of green compound melted it, added the diamond dust and stirred it till it got to thick to stir. Then I stuffed it into a Papper towl tube and let it cool over night. the diamond make the job go quicker and on harder steel, I also think that diamond compounds give a better "feel" to a cuting edge. http://www.diamondte...2_4_micron.html This is the best green compound I have found, 100x better then the barkriver stuff http://japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=01.098&dept_id=13100

These pictures might help? What way is right, A or B? A)

Thank you for the info When approaching the belt do you start in the center first or go right to left, or hold the blade so the tips of the knife are runing up and down?

I do a lot of my knives on a belt sander (modified for knife grinding) but have never done a round knife this way. Anyone here sharpen round/head knife this way? Seen any YouTube videos or any others? Better yet a video of a knife maker makeing one?

Would you list some of these tool makers here for me? I love custom tools and would love to check out some "new" makers. I have a nice small collection as I have only been working with leather for about 5 years now. My way of thinking is buy the best tools you can and one they will last a life time, two you will do better work as you kind of build a respect for the tool in your hand and thus the work your doing. Good after thought is the good custom tools seem to gane in value over the years so they make a good inheradence to pass on.

Thanks all, this thread and some of you helped me out alot! Bob had lost the papper work for my order but remembered talking with me and the order, we talked the other day and got it all straightened out. I never contacted him all these years as I thought he was just that backed up with orders. I don't like to contact guys like Bob to ask " hows my order comeing" as I feel like I'm being pushy, I guess checking in every 6 months to a year would be ok, and in this case would have been a good idea.

Good point

Ok no fighting! I do t want a mod to delete my thread till I get my tools (:

Thanks guys watch one of you is Paul?As for the weight I have waited up to 5 years for some custom knives to be made. I'm a sucker for top end tools. Best things in life one has weight for. Ps I'd also like a Bill Buchman round/ head knife if any of you know some one who's willing to part with one? I'll pay top $$. Colin

Is there a way to get around the waiting list for his tools? I have been on his list for over a year now so I guess he's very back ordered in work load. Ways i have thought of. I have herd that he does shows from time to time, is there one coming up? What are his offering at these shows? Is there a store in his town that carries his tools or does he offer some for sale right out of his shop? Anyone here friends with him and can put in a good word for me? I want a few of his stamps but would also like a set of swivel knives. I would think he would make the knives in bunches and have some "extras"??

Looking to get one or two of his tri-weave stamPs w/o haveing to wate a long long time, any one have one they are will ing to sell? Niloc@optonline.net