tlowry

My wife and I are planning a trip to Dallas/Ft. Worth prob next month(Sept). She has an old friend there she hasn't seen in years. While they visit, I want to browse around at some of the local leathercrafting supplier stores. I see there are 3 Tandy's in the area. I also think I see where the Hidecrafter's is closed. Can anyone verify this and also do yall know of any other retailers that might be interesting to see. Also, what state is the Stohlman Museum in, if it still exists?

Thanks jacotranch, Good to hear that guys with the same equipment have the same prob. It just didn't seem sharp enough when I pulled it out of the box. I will also have to purchase some different leather. My wife and I have an old friend that lives in Dallas and she has been wanting us to come visit. I'll let her and the wife visit while I run over to Ft. Worth. I hear there are some nice leather retailers there. Also, has anyone heard of some kind of museum dedicated to leatherwork there. Thanks for all the responses.

Thanks Bruce, That was one of the things I suspected when I first got it a couple of weeks ago. Just got home for my 7 days off yesterday and will start on this project this AM.

I can check when I get home Wed AM. I have one in the shop I have never used. I traded a guy a log peavey for it. Needs sandblasted and painted, I'll get around to it one day. If I forget to respond, send me a message.

Thank you Joel, The blade on the splitter of the Hansen is prob 1/8" thick and the cutting edge is a single bevel. I am going to sharpen it first and try that. I even thought of fabricating a thinner blade. Like I said before, I'm sure there are folks out there with Hansens that don't have any problems, I would sure love to hear from them. It is a very well made pc of equipment. I hope by January when I retire , that I have all this figured out and I can concentrate on learning some braiding. One other thing I read was that some people strip and bevel on one pc of equipment and split on a dedicated splitter. Any thoughts. Thanks guys, and I'd still like to hear from some that have the Hansen.

Thanks Big Sioux, That answers a couple of items I was thinking about. I was experimenting with some Latigo straps I had around the shop. May not be a type that splits to lace thickness real well. Also about the sharpness of the cutter blade. Mine is def not razor sharp. I am going to work on that and try changing leather.

After wanting one for several years I finally broke down and got one. I'm able to strip to width and bevel OK, but I can't split at all. I know several of yall have this tool and was wondering if you may have had this problem. I'm sure it is something I am doing wrong, I hear to many great comments about it. I'll pass on some things I'm thinking and if yall would please chime in. 1st, does the Splitter blade need to be super sharp? Also I read where some people split with the leather wet(or is that just rawhide?). Another thing I was thinking about was the angle of the bevel on the blade, seems steep to me(but I'm no expert and I'm sure the late Mr Hansen would have corrected that if that was a problem). One other thing is I'm trying to split leather down to the same thickness as the spools of 3/32" wide lace that Tandy stores sell. I'm not knocking this machine, like I said above I'm sure it's me. Just looking for some ideas from yall more experienced leatherworkers. I am brand new to making my on lace. Thanks in advance for any ideas and keep this forum going, It's the BEST. Tim

someoneelse, There is also a leathercraft store in Lafasyette on Johnston St., the Leather Pouch. I'm a little west of you in Jennings. Years ago, back in the 70's the Tandy store on Government St. in your town was the only lesther supply store I new about. Nice to hear from a fellow leather worker so close. Drop me a PM sometime, I make it to BR ocassionally.

For anyone interested in reading a little on vaccum systems used in the woodworking field, check out the April 1993 issue of "Fine Woodworking" magazine. Page 72, an article, New Tools Make Laminating Easy: Big baggies and vacuum pumps put the squeeze on veneers. Explains the differences in the types of pumps. If you already own an air compressor you can get into a system relatively cheap. Sure gave me some good ideas.

where would someone find some white tannery dressed leather. I too am starting a couple of white projects and all they have our local leather shop is a white deer hide.

i voted books. In '71 the internet was not around, if I was starting now it would to be this site. back then I didn't know anyone who did leatherwork so i had to read from books i bought at one of two Tandy stores, Jackson, Miss or Baton Rouge, La. That was during the flower power days and i sold a lot of simple belts thru a head shop in Natchez, Miss. In the mid '80s I had a set back when my entire leather tool collection was stolen. It's taken a long time to accumulate everything all over again.

I work 7 days on and 7 days off. I live at the dock for the 7 on. While at home the 7 days are mine to do what I want. I usually work 3 or 4 hrs per day while at home. I carry lacing and hand sewing projects to work with me on the weeks I have nights ( every other hitch) me and the other site mgr rotate. If it is slow at night I lace the project then. I wouldn't trade 7 and 7 for anything. Both my boys are grown, just me and my wife. tlowry

Well, I did my 4 days and 3 nights of camping at Camp Edgewood, Calcasieu Area Council. I had 16 boys in the morning session and 24 boys in the afternoon session. The 24 were almost uncontollable. I was the only adult in the class. Next year for summer camp (7 days and 6 nights, I've already volunteered for that), I plan on talking to the camp director about limiting the class size (maybe 10 per class). As expected I had some that were not interested, just wanted the badge, however I did have a few in each session that were extremely interested. I made notes of what caught their eye and what did not. For anyone interested in passing along this craft to todays youth, this is a great opportunity. If any of yall have any similar experiences or advice about teaching youth (11 to 17 year old boys) I would love to hear from you. Johanna, keep up the good work with the site. thanks, tlowry

johanna & wildrose, I just signed up with the BSA as a leatherworking MB counselor for 2 Boy Scouts troops in my area. Next I went to a troop meeting to show some leather and projects to spark some interests. One of the mothers is the Cub Scout pack leader and wants me to attend a couple of meetings and help the guys start and complete a small project. While at the troop meeting the Scoutmaster invited me to Winter Camp (4 days). So now I need to go back to the Council office and register as a leader and pay the small fee. While there, talked to the executive and let him know I wood be attending Winter Camp and offered my services to help the camp in the best way. Now I am the leatherworking MB instructor for 2-80 minute sessions per day for 3 days. I hope we can complete the MB before they leave camp. I plan on using your excellent Leader training info along with the handbook and also some of my material from home. No idea how many boys I will be instructing or what kind of tools and equipment and supplies the camp has. I'll let yall know how it goes after I get back on the 21st November. Johanna if I have sidetracked this topic please feel free to move it wherever and i apologize. It's just a freak thing that the 4 days of camp are during my 7 days off and am able to attend. I work 7days on and 7 days off. tlowry

Great post Johanna, I guess this is a good place to post an observation on a merit badge site. They were ranking the merit badges by how many were awarded each year. The leatherworking MB was the 4th most awarded in 1993 out of 102 merit badges (I believe), by the year 2000 it has slipped to 9th, still a good ranking, but I hope it doesn't slip anymore. I can not find any stats past the year 2000. Might be interesting. I would urge any leathercraafters to get involved to stop this trend. BSA does review and drop MB's from time to time, don't think there is any chance of this as long as it's ranked this high. One other item, Wildrose if all you're doing is MB counseling I didn't think there was a fee, unless you want to be a member of BSA and recieve the magazine. Keep up the good work on this site. tlowry

I hate to hear that about Mr. Hansen, He wa an elderly gentleman in the picture I saw of him in 2002. The leatherworking art has sure lost some of it's pioneers in the last decage. I hope thru mediums such as this forum, magazines(Leathercrafters Journal), and others, that it can be passed along. thanks again bruce, tlowry

bruce, i just found a picture of the one I was talking about (Hansen String Cutter) in a 2002 issue of Leathercrafters Journal. You mentioned you thought someone was making this item again, what happened to Mr. Hansen. Also how does his compare to the few you mentioned in the previous post. Thanks again, tlowry

Billsotx, don't let your guard down, they are going to try to bring back the assault weapon ban, if not before Nov. '08 for sure after that. Just pick up any gun magazine. My only hope is that some of the newly elected dems from some of the more gun friendly states remember that it probably cost Gore the election. Not sure some of them want to go on record as supporting some anti-gun legislation, even assault weapons are dangerous territory for them. Look what happened to the writer or commentator for one of the gun mags, Zumbo I believe and the comments he made about prairie dog hunting with an AR-15. It cost him his job and his employer a lot of large advertisers. Whether you like the NRA or not, its the best thig we have going for us.

Can anyone direct me to a tool I thought I saw on this forum some where. Believe it is bench mounted and strips lace to various widths and also may bevel. It was kind of pricey I think. Name and source would be nice. Also do some of yall use this tool or use another method. thanks, tlowry

Art, you're right, if worried about wear, leave it in the box, however with the collectors value of some handguns, one tries to keep wear to a min. I have a 6" blue Colt Python my wife paid $379.00 for, check that price today for a used one, new no longer available. Thanks again for all the great ideas. I have holsters from Safariland and Bianchi, but like to have something I made myself, plus have a project to work on with the grandson. tlowry

Excellent info. I was just fixing to post a question about what type of leather touse for the lining of a holster. Never thought about some types reacting with the bluing. I'm glad I saw this. Another item I was curious about, was what type would be less likely to prematurely wear the bluing off, I guess less fiction. Once again great post and thanks.

Thanks everyone, that is just what I was looking for. Didn't realize the trees were so reasonably priced. I'm sure the rest of the components won't be. This will be the first attempt at a saddle. I'll have to break out the 3 volumes of Saddlemaking and start from there. the last vol. I just just purchased from wildrose on this forum, which was my first post. Thanks again and keep up the good work on an excellent forum.

wildrose, I'm a new guy on the forum and your post is about a month old, but if you still have a copy of Vol. 3, I am interested at the price you mentioned. It is the only one I don't have. What a deal. Shoot me an email at gaillowry@bellsouth.net with details on where to send payment. I usually pay for everything I buy off the internet with postal money orders if that is acceptable. thanks, tim

Does anyone know of any companies that make trees for youth saddles. I'm not familiar with the sizes but it would be for a kid, say 3-6 years of age. I do other types of leatherwork but havenever tried a saddle. Our first grandbaby was born a few months ago and I would like to start collecting the materials to build his first saddle. thanks, tlowry