J Hayes

I went with the Weaver because of good reviews here and it put me over the minimum for my first order for my business account, it came sharp enough to split out of the box. Some of the new stuff I've bought from Osborne hasn't been close to sharp, and I didn't want to mess with sharpening a splitter again. You can also check with Bruce Johnson, he will sometimes have spliters for sale and those will be ready to work when you get them. One thing I think the Weaver lacks is a spring to push the stop up but its not a deal breaker. I have not run much leather through mine yet.

So I've split 5/6oz crazy horse pull up from Zack White down to 2oz, maybe the oil tanned waxed stuff is just firm enough to be able to split on a pull type splitter. That's the only chrome tanned I've split. Steve's splitter is nice, sometimes wish I could split wide stuff like that

I have a Weaver Heritage, the 8" one, pretty nice( Keystone or Osborne 84 clone) Also had an Osborne 86 6", worked good. Have a Spittlers Patent Champion lap skiver and splitting machine by H F Osborne, 6" that ones for sale. Anyway the HFO and the Weaver do lap skives very well, the 86 didn't really have the capabilities. None of these can edge skive as far as I know. I have split chrome and veg tan on all. Blade needs to be really sharp to do the soft chrome tan with out distorted it. Widest I've pulled was 3.5" veg , and 2" chrome through the Weaver Heritage. How wide of pieces are you splitting? Kinda like any tool, everyone has their favorite. Jeremy

What round knife do you have? 10oz should be no problem at all for a sharp knife. I cut 10 oz veg with ease using my knives, press to hard and I bury the tip in my cutting board.

Yes, ball peen. Old ones from a garage sale actually. 3 of them but I forget the weights.

Polished hammer works well. I have a few with near mirror surfaces that work excellent, I usually hammer the glued area on my holsters with them. In the description for that pliers it states jaw width of 3 1/8".

Sheet metal vise grip http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000TFGFU?pc_redir=1406285030&robot_redir=1

Offers? Trades?

Yeah it is crazy, what sucks is that's the going rate. Plus if you go to college you get to pay that 4 times and take a bunch of classes that are just there for the school to make money. I know way to many people with 4 or 6 year degrees that are not using them or cannot find work in that field. In 1998 I went to school for goldsmithing, one guy teaching and an assistant or 2, 8 hours a day and no BS classes, cost 16 years ago $1000.00 per month. Hey guess whay though, I still learn stuff every day :-) but that money was well spent I feel. I have 2 children, 5&8, I'm truly frightened to know what college will cost in 10 years and how worthless that education may be. I will certainly try to pass everything I know on to them .I've had 3 or more college educated people apply in the goldshop, people with 4 years of schooling to do what I do and unfortunately I believe they all wasted their money and the schools did not prepare them one bit to work in my field, it actually makes me sad to see them misled like that.......so if that 14k for a year or the 7k for a half truly prepares them gor being able to actually do everyday work its really not that bad, at least its over with fast and you can start paying it of 3-5 years sooner! :-) Jeremy Sorry for the rant Jeremy

Nice looking group.

I think black river laser makes acrylic templates for the English point in several widths, you would then trace and hand cut each one. Also don't be afraid to "adjust" your punch to fit your needs, just don't get it hot and you'll be fine. Plus the sander Dwight mentioned is extremely useful.

I saw those too and was wondering the same thing. Much easier to start with ones that are half done.

Tor that's pretty interesting you have one marked Newark with the round handle, happen to know if yous is Rosewood? My handle is just hardwood. Bruce, here's some spit and polish on the maker's mark. The knife sharppened up nicely, hopefully it'll hold an edge, I currently only have a new CSO to compare it with so....

Thanks Bruce, do you know if its the same steel and just a cheap handle? Do you know an approximate age? The fit of the handle is sloppy and the ferrule is steel, I like the size of the blade though, hopefully it'll keep an edge.

Picked up on eBay, handle is different than any on a knife that I've see. Looks like an edger handle. Anyone seen one like this? Blade is 4 5/8" tip to tip.

Really hard to beat a good round/head knife. I was cutting 8/9 veg with a utility hook blade with limited success, lots of sanding. Picked ud a Osborne new manufacture (not recommended unless you have time to shape and sharpen it) anyway I can cut tight corners both inside and outside. It has become that I cut pretty much right on with ease and drastically reduced sanding time on my holsters. Bruce Johnson usually has a few ready to work, and of course there are custom makes as well

I see some in the Barry King catalog, but you seem to be doing a pretty great job with what you have, and that Salmon is just plain awesome!

Thank you all for the kind words. Camano, I bet I could make another one. This one just kinda "happened" no real plan, just started cutting.

Well the time looks well spent, that's a pretty awesome piece. What did you use on the pebble background? I've heard that river is a lot of fun in the fall, I've been meaning to get over there for years. You'll definitely be looking good on the river with that strap!

Made this the other day, what do you all think? Been thinking of making some more. Stainless steel, probably 316, it started life as a 1/4" x 5 bolt. Need to knurl the shaft yet. Jeremy

Joe had it right, foldover clasp. Common in jewelry, try Rio Grande or Juels Borel, might need a tax number for them, not sure

Very impressive work.

The stuff from Bingham's states its rosin and beeswax

http://www.binghamprojects.com/proddetail.php?prod=1721 One more option. I ordered 3 from them and they were very accommodating on the shipping, padded envelope for something like $3. Works really well on my Barbour's, nice and tacky plus I like the smell

Some of mine hang from nails, also about 6 in a drawer on my desk, one or two on top of said desk, possibly even one on each sewing machine table as well.......but they all belong on nails in floor joists of the basement shop.....ah organization at its best, ha!