Pablo27

I am looking for some opinions on an experiment i am trying. I had a couple of Osborne punches(1/4,1/2) from garage sale that were not real sharp. I stamped the punches 1/2 way through the leather, then rubbed stropping compound in the impression left by the punch. Then I put the punch in the impression and rotated it back and forth and it stropped the punch inside and out at the same time! Has anyone else tried this? It seemed to do a very good job so I'm curious what you all think. Paul

I have some Stainless steel straightedges and have used both Gorilla tape, and good shelf liner to solve the problem. Put the shelf liner on there with double-sided carpet tape. Works on triangles also. But marking then cutting like Oldtimer said is the best way I've found, but you still need your straightedge to stay still to mark it.. Paul

Just ran across a book cover that was bought for me about 20 years ago, so, I am looking for some help from the old hands around here. It is veg tanned and stamped and laced, in a natural color. The finish is glossy and has been a little sticky ever since it was new, like if you put something paper under it some of the the paper stuck. I just tried to take some of the stuck on paper off with rubbing alcohol and it REALLY made it very tacky. The question I have is what type of finish is it and can I remove it and re-finish it with something else, if so what else. As I am just getting into leather after a long long time I'd like to save this if I could. Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated. Keep the sharp side down! Paul

I was in business for myself for 17 years dealing with the public and rawcustom is right on. The people that pay the least want the most. It is a lot harder to learn to say no and back away than almost anything else. What is you time worth in messing with her? You would be better off to spend that time on customers that are paying a decent price. It boils down to being right or being happy. Toxic customers just continue to suck the life out of your business and time. Good luck.

That is Exactly the thread I am refering to! If fact "Jimsaddler" is in that thread and states that right-handed people should use right twist. God Bless America Paul

I have spent hours and hours reading threads on threads!! It seems I purchased a new spool of Barbours #6 Natural Unwaxed LEFT twist linen thread. After lots of different posts I believe I should have bought RIGHT twist since I am right handed. Is there any chance of a Lefty out there that has a spool of Right twist 5 or 6 thread that would be willing to trade. there is about 2 ft missing off of this roll, but I'm not sure I want to wrangler this spool for as long as it will last me!! Or maybe someone that is getting ready to order left would order right and swap. I can't afford to buy another spool and have this one too. I am hoping someone out there can help me on this one. By the way I boulght this off and individual so can't return it, it is in the original box and bag. Thanhks Paul

Thanks WyomingSlick, I thought that was the general message. I was just trying to wrap my mind around the explination they gave.

I am quite familiar with clocks and watches, the question was: if you are pulling your knife in a straight line toward you, how is that considered clockwise or counter-clockwise? There is no curve to a straight line. Surely someone here knows what I am talking about, I hope.

Can someone please help me to understand the following: "You have an outside and inside border line for the meander If you are doing the outside borderline on the right side pulling to you than you would be carving clockwise. If you were doing the left outside borderline pulling straight to you, than you would be carving counter clockwise. " For the life of me I cannot figure this out. It comes from a statement that if you cut the borders in different directions they will not be parallel. I am sure this is true, however I can't seem to figure out how they determine the "clockwise" or "counter-clockwise" direction. What defines this? Is anyone familiar with these terms? Thanks in advance. Paul

You can get those mats in the sewing dept of Wally world or Hobby Lobby, that is where I got mine.

Sure looks like the disks I cut from a cutting board I bought at Wally world for about $5. You can get 4 or 5 disks out of one board.

Great tutorial thanks Rawhide, and I love all the other comments too. So much to learn here. I have had trouble figuring out the correct angle also, what worked for me was to take a protractor and cut an 18 degree angle piece of poster board the hold it between the stone and my knife to check the angle and get used to holding the right angle. It just takes a lot of practice to get it right and get comfortable with the process. I spent hours and hours just sharpening head knifes. Love these forums. Paul

Great tips Bruce, thanks so much for sharing the pictures they help a lot. Any tips for those of us that just have the standard Osborne blades that don't have the handle on them?

How about a used cookie sheet or sheet pan?

http://www.goodsjapan.jp/

Could you elaborate on how and why to lay out the "grain" correctly? Not sure what you mean here? Thanks so much.

FYI for all of you that have a hard time sharpening your tools or just don't know how. I just purchased this video and Everything you wanted to know about sharpening tools is on here. Knifes, edgers, groovers, all types of tools, and I don't know about you all but it is much easier for me to learn something by seeing it done. Best money I spent in many years, and only about $20 on Amazon.. Leather craft Instructional DVD Use & Care of Hand Tools by Andy Stasiak Paul

I have bought a couple of CS Osborne knives on Ebay at a decent price, but they need some work, and the learning curve is beating me up! I understand that the Ones Bruce has are real nice and are ready to use when you get them. Just giving you a couple of options. Personally I would love to buy one from Bruce but the funds aren't there right now. Good luck. I would love to see another video or two on sharpening round knives, the one from Leather Wranglers is good just would like to see some other ideas.

You might try this site, he does hundreds of different knots, and fun to watch too! http://www.youtube.c...ngItAllTogether Here is another great one. http://www.animatedknots.com/

I knew I shouldn't have gone to that website!! LOL Great prices and WAY to easy to buy things. Thanks for the heads up though I did pick up a couple of things I needed, and four that I really didn't!! Ha!

Don't hear much about Obenauf's, I have some, could you share your experience, and how you use it, please. I read about a lot of other products but would like to hear form someone that uses it regularly. Thanks for sharing these heavy duty holsters with us.

You can also get new cough syrup/medicine bottle at your pharmacy, mine gave me three or four. and they shouldn't be too much at wally world.

You might try lighter fluid. or alcohol. Give the lighter fluid a minute to dissolve the glue then peel very carefully and slowly. Has worked for me.

Try using lighter fluid, I have used it before on other types of permanent glues. You have to soak it and pull very easy, also once it starts coming off squirt the fluid right between the two layers and pull slowly. Be very careful with the lighter fluid it is very flammable so use it outside away from fire. It will take a couple of days for the fluid to dry out of the leather but I don't think it will stain it. I tried it here and it worked quite well. Good luck and label those glue cans!!!

Here are a couple of mods I made to my Tandy stitching pony.